Star Wine List of the Year Belgium & Netherlands 2025
We will host a joint event for Belgium and the Netherlands on 29th September 2025.
Entries are now open for our combined competition across Belgium and the Netherlands. This is our third year celebrating the wine lists of Belgium after events in Ghent (2024) and Antwerp (2023), and it is our first time recognising those of the Netherlands in a physical event – we are very excited to make our Star Wine List of the Year debut in the country!
The 2025 categories include new, recurring awards for the Best Italian Wine List (for wine lists featuring impressive Italian selections) and a Special Jury Prize (granted to one venue that the judges believe is doing something out of the ordinary), plus updated criteria for the Sustainability Prize. Gold Stars will be handed out to winners from each country, in each category, at one awards event in September, to which we will invite all finalists.
Star Wine List of the Year Belgium & Netherlands 2025
Entry details:
Who is eligible?
All restaurants and wine bars in Belgium and the Netherlands. Category finalists and winners will be decided country by country, but announced together.
Where do I register?
Click the link in red, above.
How are the awards judged?
A panel of top sommeliers and wine experts will assess all wine lists entered. More details below.
What if I'm shortlisted?
We will invite you to our awards ceremony to announce the Gold Star winners.
What if I win?
You will receive a Gold Star in the form of a physical certificate and digital badges. Winners in our international categories will automatically be entered into the Star Wine List of the Year International Final, in June 2026.
Key dates:
Entries open: 3 July 2025
Deadline for entries: 10 August 2025
Finalists announced: 4 September 2025
Awards event: 29 September 2025
Judges:
Nina Jensen – Second-Best Sommelier of the World, 2019 and 2023 (ASI)
Mikk Parre – Best Sommelier of Europe, Africa and Middle East 2024 (ASI)
Toru Takamatsu – Master Sommelier
Jonathan Gouveia – Master Sommelier
Categories
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES:
• Best Long List, presented by Smaragd Wijnen
For wine lists with more than 600 references.
• Best Medium-Sized List, presented by Arínzano
200-600 references.
• Best Short List
Fewer than 200 references.
• Best Sparkling Wine List
• Best By-the-Glass List, presented by Cloudy Bay
• Best Newcomer List
• Sustainability Prize, presented by Puike Wijnen
• Best Austrian Wine List, presented by Austrian Wine
• Best Italian Wine List
• Special Jury Prize
The Special Jury Prize will reward a wine lovers' place that does something out of the ordinary.
LOCAL CATEGORY:
• Best California Wine List, presented by Pahlmeyer
Terms and conditions
Read about the terms and how Star Wine List judges the submitted wine lists.
View Star Wine List’s legal terms.
Commercial partners
Please email sales@starwinelist.com to discuss commercial opportunities at this or other Star Wine List of the Year events.
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Austrian Wine
The Austrian Wine Marketing Board is based in Vienna, and is a national service body for the Austrian wine industry. The aim is to strategically support, coordinate and maintain quality and sales.
Arínzano
Read more about Arinzano by clicking the logo.
Cloudy Bay
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Puike Wijnen
Read more about Puike Wijnen by clicking on the logo.
Smaragd Wijnen
Read more about Smaragd Wijnen by clicking on the logo.
