Star Wine List of the Year South Africa – 16 Sept
On September 16 we will return to South Africa to celebrate the best wine lists and the teams behind them for the second time, in cooperation with the South African Sommeliers Association (SASA). All South African restaurants and wine bars are welcome to enter, free of charge.
South Africa will be our first stop on our 2023-2024 International tour, and this is the second time we are running it in South Africa. Star Wine List of the Year will be held at the Best Sommelier of South Africa event in Stellenbosch on September 16.
The awards are open for all restaurants and wine bars in South Africa.
Important dates
Last day to enter was 30 July 2023
Event day 16 September 2023 at the Hazendal estate in Stellenbosch, along side the Best Sommelier of South Africa 2023 Competition..
Time: ca 5pm-6pm.
The Jury is filled with sommelier champions, including two world sommelier champions:
• Marc Almert, ASI Best Sommelier of the World 2019
• Julie Dupouy-Young, Several times Best Sommelier of Ireland
• Tawanda Marume, Best Sommelier of Zimbabwe
• Raimonds Tomsons, ASI Best Sommelier of the World 2023
Categories and criteria
Star Wine List judges the wine lists in several categories such as the Best Sparkling Wine List and Best By the Glass List. These categories are the same across all of the awards. In addition, local categories may be added. We have commercial partners for certain categories, such as the Best Sparkling Wine List, presented by Nyetimber. The commercial partners are, however, never involved in the selections of finalists or winners — that is completely up to our independent jury panel.
The criteria for the jury are straightforward but not simple: Vote for the most exciting wine list representing the category.
THE CATEGORIES
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES:
• Grand Prix, presented by Winterhalter
The best list overall
• Best Long List, presented by Winterhalter
For wine lists with more than 600 references.
• Best Medium-Sized List, presented by Amorim Cork
200-600 references.
• Best Short List
<200 references.
• Best Sparkling Wine List, presented by Nyetimber
• Best By the Glass List
• Best Newcomer List
• Sustainable Wine List, presented by WWF Conservation Champions
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.
The winners in the international categories will qualify for our International Final in June 2024, where they will face off with the category winners from other countries and continents.
More categories, the jury and other news will be presented in this post later.
Read about the terms and how Star Wine List judges the wine lists here.
Commercial partners
For commercial opportunities, please contact Star Wine List at sales@starwinelist.com
Saturday 16 September
Do like the Pros - search 2500+ wine lists
Nyetimber
English sparkling producer Nyetimber is the leading producer of sparkling wine in the country.
Amorim Cork
Amorim, the world’s leading supplier of cork stoppers and cork products, was founded in Portugal in 1870. The ethos of tradition and the values of a family business remain the cornerstones of a company committed to excellence and innovation, supported by modern scientific research and a continual drive to ensuring products of supreme quality.
WWF Conservation Champions
Through a voluntary membership model, WWF works with the environmental leaders in SA’s wine industry, known as the Conservation Champions. These landowners commit to biodiversity-friendly and regenerative farming practices, conserve their natural areas and continually improve their water and energy efficiencies.
