A new global partnership for Star Wine List and the VDP
It’s shaping up to be a busy year for the wine world and, new for 2026, Star Wine List is excited to partner with Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter – the VDP.
“We are very excited to announce the VDP as a new global partner for 2026,” says Krister Bengtsson, Star Wine List’s Founder and Publisher. “The VDP is known worldwide for its excellence and we are proud to expand our cooperation in communication and networking in the worlds of wine and gastronomy.”
Founded in 1910 (originally as the Verband deutscher Naturweinversteigerer e. V.), the VDP is an association of German winemakers for whom quality has always been paramount. Over the past three decades, it has formed its own classification system, which has now evolved to include the categories of Grosse Lage, Erste Lage, Ortsweine and Gutsweine – all designed to inform consumers of the wines’ origins. There are now around 200 members who proudly display the VDP’s “grape eagle” logo on their bottles.
Although the VDP’s gradings are separate to German wine laws, they have become part of the fabric of the country’s vinous culture – and something that many sommeliers around the world know to look out for, bringing the concepts of both excellence and provenance directly into restaurants and bars, as well as people’s homes.
There is therefore a lot of crossover between the VDP and Star Wine List’s global network – and a firm foundation for our newly announced partnership.
“Strong wine cultures grow through long-term relationships,” says Theresa Olkus, Managing Director of the VDP. “This partnership builds on trust and shared values, creating a space where producers and sommeliers meet on equal footing – curious, open, and united by the ambition to bring authentic wines of origin to the right tables.”
What’s in store for 2026?
To begin this new year, the VDP will, for the first time, be present at Wine Paris. You’ll find their joint table, “25 VDP.Estates” in Hall 6, Stand C061, showcasing a cross-section of wines from almost all the regions represented by its members. Visitors will have the chance to meet and chat with the winemakers, with both guided and independently led tasting options available. Take a look here for more details and timings of the guided sessions.
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