Brasserie Draken won Best Newcomer List in Sweden
Brasserie Draken in Gothenburg won the category Best Newcomer List when Star Wine List celebrated the best wine lists and the teams behind them for the sixth time on April 8. The category was presented by Star Wine List’s national partner Vintedge.
"I’m happy that when I change jobs you create a new category," joked beverage director Andreas Hiller, previously beverage director at Heaven 23 when he received the prize. "The idea behind our list is to be based in French roots. We have a lot of classic, but also wines off the beaten track. We just try to purchase wines we really like."
"For a newcomer list this was great, I hope we can see more of this. It has character and a selection of top producers," said jury member Salvatore Castano.
Brasserie Draken opened its doors on October 1 last year, and as Head Sommelier we find a familiar face: Andreas Hiller, who used to run the beverage program at Heaven 23.
The Silver Star winners in the newcomer category were:
Cafe Klotet, Stockholm
Freyja, Stockholm
Teddys, Stockholm
Vyn, Simrishamn
Sweden is a part of our 2023-2024 International tour of wine lists celebrations including South Africa, UK and New York to name a few. Star Wine List of the Year Sweden was held in Stockholm on April 8. This year saw a record number of finalists – with far more than 100 wine lists entering the competition, the jury selected a record number of finalists: 59!
"It is the sixth time we are celebrating the wine lists in Sweden and the great teams behind them and we are happy to have such a strong showing," said Krister Bengtsson, founder and publisher of Star Wine List.
Brasserie Draken will now qualify for our International Final in June 2024, where they will face off with the category winners from other countries and continents.
Jury
The jury of our Swedish awards is filled with top international sommeliers and wine experts:
• Nina Højgaard Jensen, Second Best Sommelier of the World 2019 & 2023 (ASI)
• Rajat Parr, renowned sommelier and winemaker
• Salvatore Castano, Best Sommelier of Europe & Africa 2021 (ASI)
• Kathrine Larsen-Robert, Master Sommelier
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 Austrian Wine List, 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 jury panel.
The criteria for the jury are straightforward but not simple: Vote for the most exciting wine list representing the category.
Read about the terms and how Star Wine List judges the wine lists here.
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