The finalists are set to come together on February 20 at The Winemakers Club in London where the winners in the 2023 Star Wine List of the Year UK with The Buyer will be announced. See the end of the article for the full shortlist in all the categories.
Guillemette de Couesnongle, marketing manager, Nyetimber on why it is supporting the Best Sparkling Wine List category.
Nyetimber’s stunning winery and headquarters
Why do you want to support the awards?
We feel strongly about recognising the individuals and teams who make continuous efforts to create the best wine lists in their respective countries. We fully appreciate the dedication that goes into making original and diverse choices, which ultimately enhance the dining experience of consumers. We are delighted to collaborate with a community who shares our passion for exceptional food and wine pairings, and look forward to the inspiration we will undoubtedly get from it.
What do you look for in a good wine list – what makes them stand out?
We look for wine lists that represent the embodiment of a restaurant, whether traditional or contemporary, and also that challenge consumers to think outside of their normal drinks repertoire so they can consider brands and cuvees they might have not been exposed to before.
How would you like to see English Sparkling Wine represented on the best wine lists?
We like to see England as a separate section on a wine list, alongside other significant and notable sparkling wine-producing nations. At a time when provenance is increasingly valued, we feel that it provides a clear and concise way for consumers to identify choices at a glance. Gone are the days when the sparkling wine section of a wine list had just ‘France’ and ‘Rest of World’.
How important is the on-trade to Nyetimber and what sort of activity do you do to promote your wines in the sector?
The on-trade is a key channel for us. It offers a tailored experience to consumers as they get to try our wines, often by the glass, in an environment which is designed for maximum enjoyment. Recommendations from sommeliers can be extremely powerful, as they share their discoveries with enthusiasm and expertise, becoming advocates for the wines they like. We work with accounts to identify what works best for them, and develop initiatives that suit their audiences.
What do you do to get good relationships with key restaurant partners?
Ultimately, it is about keeping in close contact with our accounts, understanding their development and the challenges of the industry. We like to work with people who are as passionate as we are about food and wine, and strive to create elevated and memorable moments for their guests.
Laura Catena, managing director of Bodega Catena Zapata on why it is supporting the Catena Zapata category.
Laura Catena says the on-trade is key for Catena Zapata’s wines in all its markets around the world
Why do you want to support the awards?
We have just opened a restaurant in Argentina at our Catena Zapata pyramid winery, “Angélica – Cocina Maestra,” with a “Wine-First” concept. People choose a wine flight first and then a “food pairing” as opposed to the usual food first, then wine pairing. Although there are many awards for great food, there aren’t many awards for exceptional wine lists, and this is what we are most passionate about.
We want to support the Star Wine List Awards because we want to support restaurants that put a lot of thought behind their wine lists. Also, in a world where diversity is important to most people, it is hard to do this with food, because food is often regional, thematic or specialized. However, wine is so diverse that it allows a restaurant to embrace diversity through its wine list, and this is a way for a restaurant to communicate and represent diversity to their customers.
What do you look for in a good wine list – what makes them stand out?
I look for a robust by the glass or flight wine program because it is so fun to taste many different kinds of wines. My favorite lists have different kinds of wines from many different places. I prefer a list of wines by the glass and a few select wines, rather than a gigantic list. And then a more elaborate list with old vintages and more rare wines that can be requested for special occasions.
How would you like to see Argentina represented on the best wine lists?
We make wonderful food wines because of the high altitude freshness and minerality and the smooth tannins that come from our long hang times (also alcohols are moderate because of the cool climate). Our Catena and Catena Appellations wines are wonderful by the glass. Our collectible cuvées, such as Catena Alta, Malbec Argentino, Nicolas Catena Zapata and the Adrianna Vinos de Parcela, should have a place next to other icon wines from around the world such as Grands Crus, Supertuscans and other Grands Vins.
How important is the on-trade to Catena?
Very important. Our Catena Zapata wine educators around the world work hard to develop relationships with sommeliers and chefs so that our wines are selected by the best restaurants. Many restaurants are asking for aged cuvées from Catena Zapata, and that is a sign that our wines have acquired notoriety and that they have a special place on wine lists.
What do you do to get good relationships with key restaurant partners?
We do many tastings with the trade and with wine lovers. My favorite tasting is called “Let’s Talk about Grands Crus and Grands Vins.” It’s a tasting where we put our Adrianna Vineyard wines side to side with French Grands Crus and other Grands Vins and debate the singularity and virtue of each wine. Every time we do these tastings the guests become passionate about the beauty of our Argentine wines and the need for them to be present in the best cellars.
The 2023 Finalists
Grand Prix
The best large wine list, with more than 600 references. This category is presented by Bibendum.
Chez Bruce, London
Core by Clare Smyth, London
Hide, London
Les 110 de Taillevent, London
Noble Rot Soho, London
Pollen Street Social, London
The Clove Club, London
The Vineyard at Stockcross, Newbury
Best Austrian Wine List
The category is presented by Austrian Wine
Moor Hall, Aughton
Newcomer Wines, London
NoMad, London
Pollen Street Social, London
The Ledbury, London
Trivet, London
Best up-and-coming Wine List
The category is presented by Château Palmer
Bordeaux’s prestigious Château Palmer is a new supporter of the awards in 2023
Climat, Manchester
Restaurant St Barts, London
Sète, Margate
Studio Frantzén, London
The Terrace Rooms & Wine, Ventnor
Veraison Wines, London
Best New Zealand Wine List
The category is presented by New Zealand Winegrowers
Chez Bruce, London
China Tang at The Dorchester, London
Hide, London
Oxo tower restaurant, London
Pollen Street Social, London
The Vineyard at Stockcross, Newbury
Best Medium-Sized List
The best wine list with 200-600 listings
Chewton Glen Hotel, New Milton – New Forest
Climat, Manchester
La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels Seven Dials, London
Noizé, London
Sager + Wilde Hackney Rd, London
The 10 Cases, London
Trivet, London
Wild Corner, London
Best By-the-Glass List
A category presented by Catena Zapata
Catena Zapata is a new partner in the UK Wine List awards in 2023
Carters of Moseley, Birmingham
Corkage, Bath
Les 110 de Taillevent, London
Noble Rot Lambs Conduit, London
Noble Rot Soho, London
Pollen Street Social, London
The 10 Cases, London
Wild Corner, London
Best California Wine List
The category is presented by Louis M. Martini
Chiltern Firehouse, London
China Tang at The Dorchester, London
Core by Clare Smyth, London
Goodman City, London
Hide, London
Pollen Street Social, London
The Clove Club, London
The Vineyard at Stockcross, Newbury
New Generation Bordeaux Wine List
The category is presented by Bordeaux Wines
Maison Francois, London
Noble Rot Lambs Conduit, London
Noble Rot Soho, London
The Drapers Arms, London
The Terrace Rooms & Wine, Ventnor
Veraison Wines, London
Best Sparkling Wine List
A category presented by Nyetimber
Hide, London
Kitchen Table, London
La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels Seven Dials, London
Les 110 de Taillevent, London
NoMad, London
The George, London
The Ritz Restaurant, London
The Vineyard at Stockcross, Newbury
Sustainable Wine List
The category is presented by Spier Wine Farm
Spier has built its reputation on its own sustainability credentials
Apricity, London
Carters of Moseley, Birmingham
Coast Saundersfoot, Saundersfoot
Farmyard, St Leonards-on-Sea
Holm Somerset, South Petherton
Pale Hall Hotel, Llanderfell, Bala
Restaurant St Barts, London
Best Short List
The best wine list with fewer than 200 listings
A Wong, London
Carters of Moseley, Birmingham
Dinings SW3, London
Farmyard, St Leonards-on-Sea
Ikoyi, London
Levan, London
Planque, London
Restaurant St Barts, London
Special Jury Prize
Recognises a venue that has done something out of the ordinary. The winner will be announced at the event.
- To find out about the other Wine List of the Year competitions that Star Wine List runs around the world and also check out its award-winning guide to great wine bars and wine restaurants around the world go to its website here.
