Dovetale wins Best California Wine List in the UK 2025
The judges in Star Wine List of the Year UK with The Buyer have announced that Dovetale has the country's Best California Wine List.
Dovetale restaurant, within the 1 Hotel Mayfair, has been presented with a Gold Star for the Best California Wine List at Star Wine List of the Year UK with The Buyer 2025. At a ceremony held in London, Dovetale's Oliver Espersen accepted the award from Sarah Dixon, of category sponsor Pahlmeyer.
“So first of all I’m just here as a rep,” explained Oliver. “This award goes to Tara, the Wine Director, who works really hard with the team to make sure that California sees the spotlight. Californian wine is something that initially we wanted to get on the list to represent in Mayfair, a place that’s very Italian, Burgundian, traditional, but there are so many great producers, people and styles that we want to celebrate. This is phenomenal – we’re really proud.”
“Not your typical Californian list, this selection widens the aperture on what the rather diverse AVAs of California can offer,” said judge Stephen Wong MW. “With no shortage of iconic Cabernets, it also manages to shine a light on the great Pinot Noirs of the state and allow exploration into Chardonnay producers beyond just the old guard. Without being ungainly or massive, it manages to have something for any lover of Californian wine to enjoy.”
All winners in the Best California Wine List category from our competitions across the world will now be pitted against one another in the Star Wine List of the Year International Final 2025. These global Gold Stars will be announced at an event in Vienna, on 16 June.
Explore the full list of winners at Star Wine List of the Year UK with The Buyer 2025.
Runners Up
Silver Stars for the Best California Wine List were awarded to:
45 Park Lane, London
Claridge's Restaurant, London
Clos Maggiore, London
Core by Clare Smyth, London
Corinthia Hotel, London
HIDE, London
Jury panel
Star Wine List of the Year UK with The Buyer 2025 was judged by four top wine experts:
• Queena Wong – collector, educator and founder of the Curious Vines community
• Jan Konetzki – independent sommelier, UK Sommelier of the Year four times.
• Stephen Wong MW – sommelier, judge and consultant
• Nina Jensen – Second-Best Sommelier of the World, 2019 and 2023 (ASI)
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.
The winners in the international categories will qualify for our International Final in June 2025, 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.
Search like a Pro – explore 3,500+ wine lists
The Buyer is a digital platform to help bring drinks producers, distributors, wine merchants, restaurateurs and sommeliers closer together.
