Happolati won Best Austrian Wine List 2021 in Norway

Happolati has the best Austrian Wine List in Norway. The winner was announced on Oct. 24, when Star Wine List of the Year teamed up with the Norwegian Sommelier Association and Kapital magazine to celebrate the best wine lists of Norway. The category was presented by Austrian Wine.

"As always, it was a great list of finalists, and the competition is getting really fierce in this category. What Happolati does extremely well is to look broadly, both in a geographical sense but also in terms of philosophy within the producers, ending up with a list with really delicious wines with all the great stuff that Austria offers," says jury member Arvid Rosengren, Best Sommelier of the World 2016.

The Norwegian Sommelier Association and business magazine Kapital have run the wine list competition Norges Beste Vinkart successfully for several years. This is the second time Star Wine List is cooperating with Norges Beste Vinkart.

"I am very humbled to win the price again!" commented Head Sommelier Simon Zimmerman.

"My philosophy is to keep on developing the list with new producers and also to build the depth with both new vintages and new styles, and have a good selection within the regions and producers, that takes time, since you also need to have space for new arrivals and a good rotation of bottles that goes in and out to manage to keep the standard of the list."

How is the wine scene in Norway right now?

"The wine scene in Norway is blooming at the moment, after lockdown we have seen an general interest among guests and in the industry to try new things and go a bit out of the box. I am very happy to see new and old producers and different wine styles getting popular in wide circles."

The silver medalists in the Austrian Wine category were:
• Britannia, Trondheim
• Kontrast, Oslo
• Park Hotel, Vossevangen
• RE-NAA, Stavanger

The Star Wine List jury for Norway was:
Julie Dupouy-Young
Pascaline Lepeltier
Arvid Rosengren

Do you want to know more about how we judge Star Wine List of the Year? Read this article!