The Buyer | Global winners announced in Star Wine List International Final

The Star Wine List awards have gained international recognition as it remains the only global competitoin that looks to reward sommeliers, wine teams and restaurants for the work they are doing in their invidivual venues against their peers not only in their home country, but in terms of where they then sit against restaurants and bars in major cities all over the world.

They are also judged by some of the world's leading sommeliers who have each gained the respect of their peers by winning various national and global awards in their own right.

This year's finalist panel included.

• Salvatore Castano, ASI Best Sommelier of Europe and Africa
• Arvid Rosengren, ASI Best Sommelier of the World
• Marc Almert, Asi Best Sommelier of the World
• Heidi Mäkinen MW

Here are the runners, riders and winners in the 2023/ 2024 grand final of the international competition.

Grand Prix– The best list overall

The category is presented by Premium Estates of Austria

Gold Star:
Haoma, Bangkok

Vishvas Sidana, director food and beverage at Haoma, joined the celebrations on Zoom.

”I didn’t prepare any speech, but I just want to say that I wish to welcome you all here. I didn’t see this happening, I’m just very, very happy," he said.

”Many of us in the jury were touched both by the team’s philosophy as well as the incredible selection of wines offered, with a very strong focus on sustainability. It is one of those lists where you know that it’ll take a table of somms long to decide on a bottle – as there is so much exciting listings to choose from. All of the judges appreciate the fact that it is often more challenging to write a medium-sized list rather than an encyclopaedic one, as you have to carefully select the wines – and vintages! – you list. This venue has done this to perfection, and included a great personal touch with the portraits of some of the selected winemakers. Congratulations!” said jury member Marc Almert about the winning list.

Best Long List

– For wine lists with more than 600 references

The category is presented by Domaines Paul Jaboulet Aîné

Gold Star

Geranium, Copenhagen, Denmark

Finalists:
Aubergine, Cape Town, South Africa
Park Hotel Vossevangen, Voss, Norway
64 Wine, Glasthule, Ireland
Restaurant Sans Cravate, Bruges, Belgium
Noble Wine Bar, Riga, Latvia
Time to Wine Rotermanni, Tallinn, Estonia
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Dubai, UAE
Maison Pic, Valence, France
Mountain, London, UK
Eleven Madison Park, New York City, US
PM & Vдnner, Vдxjц, Sweden
Savoy, Helsinki, Finland
Restaurant Le Coureur des Bois, Beloeil, Canada
Grapes Weinbar, Munich, Germany
Heunisch & Erben, Vienna, Austria
Park Hotel Vitznau, Vitznau, Switzerland
Robuchon au Dфme, Macau

Best Medium-Sized Wine List

– Recognizes the best wine list with 200-600 references.

The category is presented by Dreissigacker

Gold Star:
Fjällnäs Restaurant, Tänndalen, Sweden

Finalists:
Culture Wine Bar, Cape Town, South Africa
Spontan, Trondheim, Norway
Uno Mas, Dublin, Ireland
v.Lo winebar, Copenhagen, Denmark
Convento, Leuven, Belgium
Barents, Riga, Latvia
Restaurant Pacai, Vilnius, Lithuania
Chin Chin wine bar, Tallinn, Estonia
Nobu Dubai, Dubai, UAE
La Régalade, Clermont-Ferrand, France
Etch by Steven Edwards, Brighton & Hove, UK
Contento, New York City, US
Café Savoy, Helsinki, Finland
MotherVine, Adelaide, Australia
Colonnade, Lucerne, Switzerland
Horváth, Berlin, Germany
Restaurant Esskultur, St.jakob In Haus, Austria
Inddee, Bangkok

Best Short List

Recognises the best wine list with fewer than 200 listings.

Gold Star:
Haoma, Bangkok

Finalists:
Grub & Vine, Cape Town, South Africa
Hot Shop, Oslo, Norway
Bar Pez, Dublin, Ireland
Grimal, Copenhagen, Denmark
Ta-nnin, Antwerp, Belgium
Lowine bar, Riga, Latvia
14 Horses, Vilnius, Lithuania
38 Restaurant, Tallinn, Estonia
Soirйe, Dubai, UAE
Oktobre, Paris, France
Hjem, Wall, Hexham, UK
Ardesia Wine Bar, New York City, US
Bord, Stockholm, Sweden
Pцllцwaari, Jyvдskylд, Finland
De Nieuwe Winkel, Nijmegen, Netherlands
Barra, Berlin, Germany
Weinrefugium Brolli, Gamlitz, Austria
Haoma, Bangkok

Best Austrian Wine List

The best list with wines from Austria

The category is presented by Austrian Wine

”This was one of the finest Austrian wine lists we had encountered in a long time. It featured an exceptional selection of producers, offering a remarkable array of wines that truly highlighted the depth and diversity of Austria’s viticulture. Each choice on the list reflected a keen understanding and appreciation of the country's wine heritage, making for an unforgettable experience,” said the jury’s Salvatore Castano.

Finalists:
Happolati, Oslo, Norway
Monty's of Kathmandu, Dublin, Ireland
Kadeau, Copenhagen, Denmark
Paul de Pierre, Maarkedal, Belgium
Barents, Riga, Latvia
SOMM The Wine Bar, Vilnius, Lithuania
Time to Wine Rotermanni, Tallinn, Estonia
Ossiano, Dubai, UAE
Maison Pic, Valence, France
Newcomer Wines, London, UK
Wallsй, New York City, US
Heaven 23, Gothenburg, Sweden
Savoy, Helsinki, Finland
ECK Restaurant, Bratislava, Slovakia
Freundschaft, Berlin, Germany
Park Hotel Vitznau, Vitznau, Switzerland
Chi-Fu, Osaka

Best Sparkling Wine List

Recognises the best list with sparkling wines.

The category is presented by Nyetimber

Gold Star:
Alchemist, Copenhagen, Denmark

"An amazing and well thought through offer of sparkling wines, mainly from Champagne, but even with some local sparkling wines in the mix. The vintages (of sparkling!) span half a century, and offer a broad selection both of the Grande Marques but also smaller producers, carefully selected by the Wine Director, who is an inspiration to many sommeliers around the globe. It should also be mentioned that despite the list’s length, the guests can look into the disgorgement dates of the wines prior to ordering their selected bubbles. Santé!" said jury member Marc Almert about the winning list.

Finalists:
Culture Wine Bar, Cape Town, South Africa
Skigaarden, Hemsedal, Norway
64 Wine, Glasthule, Ireland
Alchemist, Copenhagen, Denmark
Restaurant Sans Cravate, Bruges, Belgium
Barents, Riga, Latvia
Time to Wine Rotermanni, Tallinn, Estonia
Restaurant Pacai, Vilnius, Lithuania
Chin Chin wine bar, Tallinn, Estonia
Al Muntaha, Burj Al Arab, Dubai, UAE
Le Wine Bar by Le Vintage, Reims, France
Les 110 de Taillevent, London, UK
Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills, New York, US
Operakдllaren, Stockholm, Sweden
Palace, Helsinki, Finland
Ristorante del Lago, Bagno di Romagna, Italy
Grapes Weinbar, Munich, Germany
Restaurant Amador, Vienna, Austria
The Chedi Andermatt, Andermatt, Switzerland
Ensue, Shenzhen

Best By the Glass List

Recognizes the best by the glass list.

The category is presented by Brännland Iscider

Gold Star:
Park Hotel Vossevangen, Voss, Norway

Finalists:
Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa, Johannesburg, South Africa
Park Hotel Vossevangen, Voss, Norway
UNioN Wine, Bar & Kitchen, Waterford, Ireland
Bar'Vin, Copenhagen, Denmark
Zilte, Antwerp, Belgium
SOMM The Wine Bar, Vilnius, Lithuania
Time to Wine Rotermanni, Tallinn, Estonia
Ossiano, Dubai, UAE
La Table de Yoann Conte, Veyrier du Lac, France
Noble Rot Mayfair, London, UK
Terroir Tribeca, New York City, US
Operakдllaren, Stockholm, Sweden
Vinho, Turku, Finland
Ten Minutes by Tractor, Main Ridge, Australia
Heunisch & Erben, Vienna, Austria
Sticks & Stones Winebar, Munich, Germany
Wunderbrunnen, Opfikon, Switzerland
Inddee, Bangkok

Best California Wine List

The best wine list with wines from California

The category is presented by Louis M. Martini

Finalists:
Park Hotel Vossevangen, Voss, Norway
Monty's of Kathmandu, Dublin, Ireland
Geranium, Copenhagen, Denmark
Terminus, Watou, Belgium
Time to Wine Rotermanni, Tallinn, Estonia
Tauro Riga, Riga, Latvia
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Dubai, UAE
Vignobles et Chвteaux Wine Bar, Saint Emilion, France
The Vineyard at Stockcross, Newbury, UK
Eleven Madison Park, New York City, US
Grand Hфtel, Stockholm, Sweden
Restaurant Le Coureur des Bois, Beloeil, Canada
Griggeler Stuba im Burg Vital Resort, Lech am Arlberg, Austria
Napa Grill, Zьrich, Switzerland
Sticks & Stones Winebar, Munich, Germany
Park 90, Singapore

Best Newcomer List

Recognises a venue that recently opened

The category is presented by DAOU

Gold Star:
Sticks & Stones Winebar, Munich, Germany

Finalists:
Signature Restaurant Umhlanga, Durban, South Africa
Hermetikken Vinbar, Stavanger, Norway
Bar Pez, Dublin, Ireland
Josephine Vinhandel & Bar, Copenhagen, Denmark
Restaurant Imprйvu by De Barrier, Houthalen-Helchteren, Belgium
Chin Chin wine bar, Tallinn, Estonia
Lowine bar, Riga, Latvia
14 Horses, Vilnius, Lithuania
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Dubai, UAE
Les Parcellaires, Annecy, France
Mountain, London, UK
ILIS, New York City, US
Brasserie Draken, Gothenburg, Sweden
Minne Champagne & Wine, Helsinki, Finland
Enoteca Boccaccio, Melbourne, Australia
Colonnade, Lucerne, Switzerland
nineOfive Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Sticks & Stones Winebar, Munich, Germany
Cristal Room by Anne-Sophie Pic, Hong Kong

Sustainable Wine List

For the Sustainable Wine List category, not only the wine list is evaluated, but also the stated actions of the venue, as described through a questionnaire in the application

Gold Star:
Chambers, New York City, US

Finalists:
лlgr restaurant, Cape Town, South Africa
Kontrast, Oslo, Norway
Darуg Wine Bar, Galway, Ireland
Restaurant ARK, Copenhagen, Denmark
Convento, Leuven, Belgium
Fotografiska Tallinn, Tallinn, Estonia
BOCA, Dubai, UAE
Les Rйsistants, Paris, France
Apricity, London, UK
Chambers, New York City, US
Julie, Malmц, Sweden
Restaurant Grцn, Helsinki, Finland
Esters Wine Shop & Bar, Santa Monica, United States of America
Barra, Berlin, Germany
Haoma, Bangkok

2024/ 2025 Star Wine List Awards Dates

The dates have also been announced for the 2024/2025 tour of Star Wine List Awards including new events in Spain and Miami and the return of the UK Star Wine List of the Year with The Buyer on March 3.

2024:
• 2 Sep, Denmark, in Copenhagen
• 15 Sep, Baltics (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), in Riga
• 13 Oct, Norway, in Oslo
• 15 Oct, Ireland, in Waterford
• 17 Nov, Belgium
• 9 Dec, UAE in Dubai
• Date to be decided: International Open, as a digital event

2025:
• New! 3-5 Feb, Spain in Barcelona
• 10-12 Feb, France in Paris
• 3 March, UK in London
• 17 March, Finland in Helsinki
• 31 March, Sweden in Stockholm
• 5 May, New York in New York City
• New! 7-8 May, Florida/Miami
• 27-29 May, Asia, in Singapore
• 16 June, International Final, location to be decided
• Dates to be decided: Germany, Switzerland and Austria

NB: Dates and destinations may change.

The international panel of sommelier judges have also been announced:

Rajat Parr, Author, Sommelier, Winemaker
Paz Levinson, Best Sommelier of Argentina and the Americas
Véronique Rivest, Best Sommelier of Canada and The Americas
Arvid Rosengren, 2016 Best Sommelier of the World
Marc Almert, 2019 Best Sommelier of the World
Pascaline Lepeltier, 2018 Best Sommelier of France
Heidi Mäkinen MW
Piotr Pietras MS
Raimonds Tomsons, 2023 Best Sommelier of the World
Julie Dupouy, Best Sommelier of Ireland three times
Salvatore Castano, 2021 Best Sommelier of Europe
Doug Frost MW, MS