Gyoza Bar Chaozu has the Best Sparkling Wine List in Japan 2025
Tokyo's Gyoza Bar Chaozu is where exquisite dumplings meet fine sparkling wines. In fact, it has been awarded with a Gold Star for the Best Sparkling Wine List at the first ever Star Wine List of the Year Japan awards, at a ceremony held during ProWine Tokyo, on 15 April.
Gyoza Bar Chaozu, as the name indicates, offers a dining experience centred around bite-sized gyoza. But this isn't just a dumpling shop – Chaozu elevates the experience with a surprising array of sparkling wines, including a wonderful selection available by the glass and sought-after labels at appealing prices. Conveniently situated near Azabu-juban station, it serves as a venue for a range of occasions, with the impressive wine list taking it to another level.
General Manager Yoichi Takeda accepted the Gold Star for Best Sparkling Wine List at our Japanese competition this week, a category presented by Nyetimber.
“This is a Champagne-driven list featuring many rare and small-production examples, making it a very interesting one to read,” explained jury member Reeze Choi. “I love the description of each label, which makes the list very accessible. And I love the idea of putting one of the best sparkling beverages together with the food of daily life!”
Winners in the international categories will automatically be entered into the Star Wine List of the Year International Final, which will be held in Vienna this June and see teams from around the world vying for global Gold Stars.
Meet all the winners in Star Wine List of the Year Japan 2025.
Runners Up
Silver Stars in the Best Sparkling Wine List category were presented to:
Bistro Champagne, Osaka
Chi-Fu, Osaka
Legrand Filles & Fils, Tokyo
Les Souvenirs, Osaka
MUNI Alain Ducasse, Kyoto
Nogizaka Shin, Tokyo
Restaurant Ryuzu, Tokyo
Shimanouchi Fujimaru Winery, Osaka
Judges
The expert jury panel for Star Wine List of the Year Japan 2025 included four world-renowned experts:
• Toru Takamatsu – Master Sommelier
• Stephen Wong – Master of Wine
• Paz Levinson – Best Sommelier of the Americas 2015 (ASI)
• Reeze Choi – Third Best Sommelier of the World 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.
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Nyetimber
English sparkling producer Nyetimber is the leading producer of sparkling wine in the country.
