Gold Star for Best Medium-Sized List goes to Fjällnäs Restaurant in Sweden
Fjällnäs Restaurant in Tänndalen, Sweden, won the category Best Medium-Sized Wine List when Star Wine List of the Year International Final was celebrated on June 24. The category was presented by Dreissigacker.
”Thank you, this was not expected at all. We are on a small corner of the world, but try to represent that small corner. We also try to represent many of the small corners of the world, and I am proud of the diversity we have on the list," said Fjällnäs Restauran's Food & Beverage Manager Christopher Smeds Bjerlo when he received the Gold Star diploma on stage.
Jury member Salvatore Castano said this about the winning list:
"For the medium-sized list, we opted for one that impressed us with its extensive range of esteemed producers, well-judged length, and exceptional selection of wines from around the globe. The list showcased a diverse array of options that catered to various tastes and preferences, ensuring an enjoyable experience for all wine lovers."
Fjällnäs is Sweden's oldest mountain hotel, and the restaurant serves seasonal dishes created from quality ingredients from the local flora and fauna. The wine program is created by Food & Beverage Manager Christopher Smeds Bjerlo.
The Silver Medalists in this category were:
Culture Wine Bar, Cape Town, South Africa
Spontan, Trondheim, Norway
Uno Mas, Dublin, Ireland
v.Lo winebar, Copenhagen, Denmark
Convento, Leuven, Belgium
Barents, Riga, Latvia
Restaurant Pacai, Vilnius, Lithuania
Chin Chin wine bar, Tallinn, Estonia
Nobu Dubai, Dubai, UAE
La Régalade, Clermont-Ferrand, France
Etch by Steven Edwards, Brighton & Hove, UK
Contento, New York City, US
Café Savoy, Helsinki, Finland
MotherVine, Adelaide, Australia
Colonnade, Lucerne, Switzerland
Horváth, Berlin, Germany
Restaurant Esskultur, St.jakob In Haus, Austria
Inddee, Bangkok
The current Star Wine List of the Year tour started in South Africa in September 2023 and has passed through Asia, Europe and North America on its way to the final Stockholm. All in all, 14 events have been held, from Hong Kong to New York and Dubai to Vienna.
Finalists from 20 countries – from some of the most renowned restaurants in the world – and well over 100 international guests travelled to Stockholm to be a part of the celebration on June 24. The awards in Stockholm was held during a full-day event for finalists, partners and media. Wine lovers from around the world could join the live-streamed event on Star Wine List’s Facebook page.
Jury
The jury of our international final was filled with sommelier champions:
• Salvatore Castano, ASI Best Sommelier of Europe and Africa
• Arvid Rosengren, ASI Best Sommelier of the World
• Marc Almert, Asi Best Sommelier of the World
• Heidi Mäkinen MW
”Overall, we were presented with incredible wine lists to evaluate, each demonstrating an impressive level of quality. The high standard across the board made our task particularly challenging, as each list brought something unique and outstanding to the table, reflecting the passion and expertise of their curators,” said Salvatore Castano of the jury work.
Categories and criteria
Star Wine List's jury evaluates the wine lists in several categories such as the Best Sparkling Wine List and Best By the Glass List. 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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