Core by Clare Smyth wins Grand Prix in 2023 Star Wine List of the Year with The Buyer

Core by Clare Smyth in London has been named the Grand Prix Winner of the 2023 Star Wine List of the Year with The Buyer.

”It feels amazing, to be honest. The other nominees are all places that I have huge respect for. The wine lists are all incredible and they are all places I’d like to go to eat and drink, and I know how passionate the sommeliers and wine buyers at those places are,” said Gareth Ferreira at Core by Clare Smyth.

Presented by Bibendum, the Grand Prix prize goes to the restaurant that has the best wine list with more than 600 references. The award was presented at the Winemakers Club in London on Monday, 20 February 2023.

Gareth Ferreira says that maintaining a wine list like Core’s is all about passion.

”It’s something you work on every day. You can’t rest on your laurels, you review it and analyze it everyday, you look where you can be better. It’s just about staying on top of things.”

The judges were impressed with both the flair and depth of the wine list. "A truly impressive list, exuding both style and substance in spades," said Ruth Spivey, Star Wine List's UK Ambassador. "Whilst grand in length, it still feels alive and dynamic. Arguably unimprovable!"

The silver medallists in the Grand Prix category were:

• Chez Bruce, London
• Hide, London
• Les 110 de Taillevent London, London
• Noble Rot Soho, London
• Pollen Street Social, London
• The Clove Club, London
• The Vineyard at Stockcross, Newbury

About Core by Clare Smyth

The 3-Michelin starred restaurant, which opened in August 2017, has a wine list that features more than 400 bins, covering important wine regions around the world, and has a balance between famous and avant-garde producers. It was created by Gareth Ferreira MS.

Core by Clare Smyth is known for its modern British cuisine, which showcases the best of British produce. The restaurant has been praised for its impeccable service and exceptional dining experience. The wine list is an integral part of the overall experience.

It is the debut restaurant of chef Clare Smyth, the first British woman to win three Michelin stars. The restaurant also holds a Star Wine List Red Star.

About the 2023 Star Wine List of the Year UK with The Buyer awards

Star Wine List of the Year is an international celebration of the great wine lists of the world and the people who create them.

“These are awards that celebrate the work of those who work at the very pinnacle of wine,” says Krister Bengtsson, the founder and publisher of Star Wine List.

“We are delighted to once again be supporting the Star Wine List of the Year,” says Jaspreet Hodgson, Head of Premium Wine Sales at Bibendum. “Star Wine List not only has a fantastic panel of judges but is now an internationally recognised competition. This year, we are especially proud to be sponsoring the Grand Prix category.”

The judges included a star-studded lineup of sommeliers: Ronan Sayburn MS, Piotr Pietras MS, and Jan Konetzki. They were joined by Star Wine List’s UK Ambassador, Ruth Spivey.

The 2023 Star Wine List of the Year UK with The Buyer is part of Star Wine List’s international awards, now the benchmark for wine lists. Other competitions have taken place in the Nordics, South Africa and Australia.

In the UK, the award has been a joint offering of Star Wine List, based in Sweden, and The Buyer, the UK’s top digital wine trade publication.

As the winner of Grand Prix, Core by Clare Smyth has qualified to take part in our International Final in June, where they will face off with the category winners from other countries and continents, such as South Africa, Australia, and Sweden.

Read about the terms and how Star Wine List judges the wine lists here.