Star Wine List of the Year UAE – 29 Jan
On January 29 2024 Star Wine List will be heading to Dubai for our very first event in the UAE where we will be celebrating the best wine lists and the teams behind them. Deadline for registrations was December 17.
The UAE awards will be included to our 2023-2024 International tour and the winners of the international categories will qualify for the International final in June 2024. Star Wine List of the Year UAE will be held in Dubai on January 29.
The awards are open for all restaurants and wine bars in the United Arab Emirates, free of charge. Last day to enter was Sunday December 17.
Jury
The jury for the first Star Wine List of the Year competition in the UAE has been confirmed, and includes a crack line-up of esteemed wine experts who will be poring over the wine lists of some of the UAE's finest wine bars and wine restaurants in an attempt to identify the very best.
The four-person panel will consist of:
Heidi Mäkinen, Master of Wine
Piotr Pietras, Master Sommelier
Paz Levinson, named Best Sommelier of Americas
Ben Kouider, Champagne expert and educator
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 our awards. In addition, local categories may be added. We have commercial partners for certain categories, such as the Best Austrian Wine List, which is presented by Austrian Wine. The commercial partners are, however, never involved in the selections of finalists or winners — that is completely up to our independent judging panel.
The criteria for the jury is straightforward but not simple: to vote for the most exciting wine list representing the category.
THE CATEGORIES
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES:
• Grand Prix
The best list overall
• Best Long List
For wine lists with more than 600 references.
• Best Medium-Sized List, presented by Brancott Estate
200-600 references.
• Best Short List
<200 references.
• Best Austrian Wine List, presented by Austrian Wine
• Best Sparkling Wine List, presented by Nyetimber
• Best California Wine List, presented by Louis M. Martini
• Best By the Glass List
• Best Newcomer List, presented by DAOU
• 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.
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.
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
Monday 29 January
Do like the Pros - search 2500+ wine lists
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.
Nyetimber
English sparkling producer Nyetimber is the leading producer of sparkling wine in the country.
Louis M. Martini
Louis M. Martini is an iconic Californian wine producer. Read more by clicking on the logo.
DAOU
Read more about DAOU by clicking on the logo.
Brancott Estate
Brancott Estate was the first estate to plant Sauvignon Blanc in the Marlborough region. Read more here.
