The International Open winners 2026 – the Americas

INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES:

Best Long List

For wine lists with more than 600 references

Gold Star:
Le Coureur des Bois, Beloeil, Canada

What the jury said:
“An incredibly impressive wine list – whatever you are looking for, you will likely find it here. The breadth of iconic wines across multiple vintages is remarkable, blending a strong classical foundation with exciting contemporary voices. A genuinely special cellar.”
– Julie Dupouy-Young

Silver Stars:
Acquerello, San Francisco, USA
Anchoita, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Barberian’s Steak House, Toronto, Canada
Café Vivant, Menlo Park, USA
Element 47 - Little Nell, Aspen, USA
Enclos, Sonoma, USA
Guy Savoy, Las Vegas, USA
Nuri Steakhouse, Dallas, USA
Quince, San Francisco, USA
Smyth, Chicago, USA
The Pines Modern Steakhouse, Highland, USA
The Stonehouse, Santa Barbara, USA
Vintage '78 Wine Bar, Kansas City, USA

Best Medium-Sized List

Recognises the best wine list with 200-600 references

Gold Star:
Kitchen Istanbul, San Francisco, USA

What the jury said:
“A wine list tailored to connoisseurs and aficionados. Expertly put together and beautifully exemplified by the contemporary content.”
– Jonathan Gouveia MS

Silver Stars:
Antico Nuovo, Los Angeles, USA
Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro, Milwaukee, USA
Copra, San Francisco, USA
Counter-, Charlotte, USA
K'u'uk, Mérida, Mexico
Nouvelle Bar & Bottle, Louisville, USA
Restaurant Asteur, Boisbriand, Canada
The Monarch Steakhouse, Aspen, USA

Best Short List

Recognises the best wine list with fewer than 200 listings

Gold Star:
Familiar Creature, Saratoga Springs, USA

What the jury said:
“A modern, approachable layout paired with a playful spirit makes this list a real pleasure, showcasing both depth and the unmistakable passion of its sommelier.”
– Julie Dupouy-Young

Silver Stars:
Anchoita Cava, Buenos Aires, Argentina
El Preferido de Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Elena Horto, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Gnomo Vinhos, São Paulo, Brazil
L’Abattoir, Vancouver, Canada
Published On Main, Vancouver, Canada
Wildlight Kitchen + Bar, Vancouver, Canada

Best Sparkling Wine List

Recognises the best list for sparkling wines

Gold Star:
Acquerello, San Francisco, USA

What the jury said:
“The blend of grower and grandes marques Champagne is, simply put, PERFECT! Anyone remotely interested in bubbles must visit!”
– Stefan Neumann MS

Silver Stars:
Barberian’s Steak House, Toronto, Canada
Café Vivant, Menlo Park, USA
Element 47 - Little Nell, Aspen, USA
Enclos, Sonoma, USA
Guy Savoy, Las Vegas, USA
Le Coureur des Bois, Beloeil, Canada
Nouvelle Bar & Bottle, Louisville, USA
Nuri Steakhouse, Dallas, USA
Quince, San Francisco, USA
The Pines Modern Steakhouse, Highland, USA
The Stonehouse, Santa Barbara, USA
TUJU, São Paulo, Brazil
Vintage '78 Wine Bar, Kansas City, USA

Best By-the-Glass List

Recognises the best ‘by-the-glass’ list

Gold Star:
Anchoita, Buenos Aires, Argentina

What the jury said:
“I have seen some good-by-the-glass programmes in my life, but hardly ever something like this! Mind-blown.”
– Stefan Neumann MS

Silver Stars:
Anchoita Cava, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Enclos, Sonoma, USA
K'u'uk, Mérida, Mexico
Le Coureur des Bois, Beloeil, Canada
Nuri Steakhouse, Dallas, USA
Smyth, Chicago, USA
The Stonehouse, Santa Barbara, USA
TUJU, São Paulo, Brazil
Vintage '78 Wine Bar, Kansas City, USA

Best Newcomer List

Recognises a venue that has recently opened

Gold Star:
Café Vivant, Menlo Park, USA

What the jury said:
“This venue is already on the path to becoming a go-to spot for wine lovers. A list packed with hard-to-acquire bottles, impressive verticals and top of the line producers.”
– Jonathan Gouveia MS

Silver Stars:
Gnomo Vinhos, São Paulo, Brazil
Roth's Sea & Steak, Colorado Springs, USA

Sustainability Prize

Assesses the sustainable commitment of both the wine list and broader venue via a supplementary questionnaire submitted during the application process

Gold Star:
K'u'uk, Mérida, Mexico

What the judges said:
“Sustainability at its finest, with real care, focus and commitment. Impressive in every single way. Bravo!”
– Stefan Neumann MS

Best Austrian Wine List

Recognises the best list for the wines of Austria

A category presented by Austrian Wine

Gold Star:
Le Coureur des Bois, Beloeil, Canada

What the jury said:
“What a beautiful Austrian wine list! Very well curated, an extremely high producer quality, with an amazing vertical of one of the most renowned estates in Wachau.”
– Jonathan Gouveia MS

Silver Stars:
Element 47 - Little Nell, Aspen, USA
Enclos, Sonoma, USA
Guy Savoy, Las Vegas, USA
Smyth, Chicago, USA
The Stonehouse, Santa Barbara, USA

Best Italian Wine List

Recognises the best list for the wines of Italy

Gold Star:
Acquerello, San Francisco, USA

What the jury said:
“A truly impressive Italian selection, showcasing remarkable depth across producers, vintages and appellations. The scale and ambition of the collection underline a deep and uncompromising commitment to Italy.”
– Julie Dupouy-Young

Silver Stars:
Antico Nuovo, Los Angeles, USA
Barberian’s Steak House, Toronto, Canada
Café Vivant, Menlo Park, USA
Element 47 - Little Nell, Aspen, USA
Guy Savoy, Las Vegas, USA
Le Coureur des Bois, Beloeil, Canada
Nuri Steakhouse, Dallas, USA
Quince, San Francisco, USA
The Pines Modern Steakhouse, Highland, USA
The Stonehouse, Santa Barbara, USA
Vintage '78 Wine Bar, Kansas City, USA

Special Jury Prize

Rewards a wine lovers’ place that does something out of the ordinary

Gold Star:
Copra, San Francisco, USA

What the jury said:
“I really loved this list! It’s small, but extremely well sourced, presented and prioritised. There’s almost everything a wine lover dreams of, on such a few page numbers, and the makers behind it seem to be well in tune with the trends of the wine world.”
– Jonathan Gouveia MS