California Stars
Following the successful California Wine Weeks in Europe, the California Wine Institute and Star Wine List have launched a new program to highlight and promote restaurants with the most impressive selections of California wines: California Stars.
Running as a separate initiative to Star Wine List's Red/White Stars, and our global awards, restaurants can now apply to be listed as a ‘California Star’ on the Star Wine List website and app. If approved, these restaurants will be assigned one, two or three stars for their Californian selections.
These listings will be promoted with extensive social media and influencer campaigns, and staff at the successful establishments will be eligible for extra training. Early applicants also had the opportunity to apply for a special ‘California Dreaming’ sommelier study trip in the summer of 2025.
Following the first wave of successful venues, announced in January 2025, applications remain open on an ongoing basis.
“We are excited to showcase the best wine lists featuring Californian wines all over Europe with the California Wine Institute,” says Krister Bengtsson, Star Wine List's Founder and Publisher. “It will connect even more wine lovers across the region with great wine places.”
Marco Tiggelman, Trade Director Programs at the California Wine Institute, adds: “After four years of promoting California Wines on the menu through our California Wine Weeks campaign, reaching over 500 restaurants across 13 countries, we are very pleased to be joining forces with Star Wine List, bringing our 55,000 engaged social media followers on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn @californiawineseurope to this unique platform.”
If your wine list features a strong selection of Californian wines, apply via this link. Venues with up to 10 examples will be eligible for one star, while those with 11-50 can apply for two stars; those with over 50 can qualify for three stars.
Star levels and restaurant benefits
California 1 Star
Free listing of restaurant profile on the California Stars section of the Star Wine List platform. If restaurant/wine bar is not already listed by Star Wine List, they will receive a free application for a profile listing on the White/Red Star section of the Star Wine List platform.*
Free Capstone California Level 1 course for staff (equivalent value: €75 p.p.). Social media and influencer promotional campaign driving traffic to the California Stars restaurants from the Star Wine List website.
California 2 Star
All the above, plus:
Free Capstone California Level 2 course for staff (equivalent value: €200 p.p.)
Extra social media campaigns.
California 3 Star
All the above, plus:
Free Capstone California Level 3 course staff (equivalent value: €575 p.p.)
Restaurants can apply for a special influencer promotion, including an in-person restaurant visit, followed by social media coverage by a leading wine and food influencer (25,000+ followers; to opt in, the restaurant must cover the cost of a meal for two). These social media posts will be supported by additional advertising investment to boost influencers’ reach, increasing traffic to each restaurant’s profile page on Star Wine List’s website.