All the wines on offer at this Newtown wine bar are made by women winemakers, and the warm, inviting space is ideal for a memorable night out
Review
Famelia
55 Enmore Road, Newtown
Rating: ★★★★☆
Famelia, the intimate wine bar tucked along Enmore Road in Sydney’s Newtown, is immediately inviting. Two big windows frame the small space, with a bar-top table in one corner, a round table tucked away in the other, and a disco ball hanging from the ceiling. It’s both cosy and lively. The brick walls are lined with shelves of wine bottles, each one with a story about the woman behind the wine label.
Founded by Amelia Birch (above) in 2023, Famelia was created with a powerful philosophy: every wine on offer is made by a female winemaker. It’s a celebration of the women shaping the industry; their craftmanship, perspective and creativity poured into every glass. Now just over two years old, the wine bar has made a name for itself, earning two glasses at the Australian Wine List of the Year Awards announced in September.
Famelia manages to be both cosy and lively.Supplied: Lily Austin
Each month, Famelia curates a new wine tasting menu, showcasing 12 wines from regions around the world. On our visit, we started with the wine flight: three half glasses of wines from the tasting menu ($39). Each glass was introduced by Danielle, the bar manager and sommelier, whose expertise turned the tasting into a fun experience. Her knowledge of each wine, from flavour notes to backstory, painted a vivid picture of the story behind every bottle.
Our flight began with a glass of the 2023 Domaine Jousset Exilé Gamay, Grolleau Rosé Pétillant, from France's Montlouis-Sur-Loire, made by Lise and Bertrand Jousset. It’s a smooth sparkling Pet Nat with fruity and floral notes and was a perfect start to our night. This was followed by a glass of the 2023 L’Insolente Chenin Blanc, also from Montlouis-Sur-Loire, made by Laura David: citrusy, dry and crisp.
Danielle had a recommendation for our final glass: a wine that smells like banana bread — and it didn’t disappoint. The 2017 Rocca delle Campane Carricante, an orange wine from Mt Etna in Italy, made by Alice Bonaccorsi, which was by far the standout of the night.
The pairing of the food and wine is carefully considered.Photos: Louisa Reid
Along with the wine, we enjoyed a charcuterie board ($76). A delicious mix of creamy brie, a hard goat’s cheese and a strong blue, alongside sliced meats (our pick was the truffle salami), pickles and grapes. We paired this with the fresh sourdough from Iggy’s Bread, crisp crackers, olives and moreish truffle crisps. Although on the pricier side, the quality and presentation of all the food was top-notch, and the balance between food and wine was clearly the result of thoughtful curation.
If wine isn’t your thing, Famelia still has you covered. We also tried the liqueur flight ($33), which showcases the floral and fragrant spirits from Full Circle Spirits in South Australia made by distiller Rose Kentish.
We started with the Orange and Bay gin & tonic, a floral yet savoury G&T and a perfectly refreshing drink for a warm afternoon. Next came my favourite: the Wild Herb liqueur. It was strong and potent when served over ice – a bit too much for me – but when served as a spritz with tonic, it transformed into a thirst-quenching, pine/lime-splice-inspired drink. And the finale was a light yet flavourful chilled limoncello. It’s a great alternative to a wine flight, keeping the same sense of discovery and fun.
As someone in my early 20s, I felt the spend, but compared to other wine bars in Sydney, it’s standard for the level of care and quality you get. It’s the kind of place where you could easily mark a special celebration: intimate enough to feel personal, elevated enough to feel memorable.
Each wine on offer has a story about the female winemakers Photo: Louisa Reid
Famelia also functions handily as a bottle shop. Customers can browse the shelves, pick up a bottle, pay the $20 corkage fee and enjoy it on the spot. We ended our night sharing a bottle of the Domaine Jousset Exile Blanc Chenin Blend, a medium white. The powerhouse behind Famelia, Amelia Birch, topped up our glasses. Chatting with her made our experience feel even more personal, the kind of touch that turns a good night into a memorable one.
Famelia isn’t just a place to drink wine, it’s also a community hub. The team regularly hosts tasting events and social evenings, inviting guests to connect, learn, and celebrate the women behind the bottles. There’s a real sense of purpose here, woven into the pleasure of good wine and company.
In a city full of polished wine bars, Famelia stands out for its heart. From the moment you walk through the door to the last sip, there’s a warmth that makes it clear this isn’t just about what’s poured, it’s about the people behind it.
I’m sick of throwing good food in the bin. What can we do about it?