Here are the finalists in the first ever Star Wine List of the Year UAE

By Andreas Grube

Published 27-January-2024

News / United Arab Emirates

On January 29 2024 Star Wine List is heading to Dubai to celebrate the best wine lists and the teams behind them in the first ever Star Wine List of the Year UAE. Our top jury is done deliberating, and today we can reveal the finalists in all the ten categories.

The UAE awards is included in our 2023-2024 International tour and the winners of the international categories will qualify for the International final in June 2024.

Jury

The jury for the first Star Wine List of the Year competition in the UAE includes an amazing line-up of esteemed wine experts. The four-person panel consists of:

• Heidi Mäkinen, Master of Wine
• Piotr Pietras, Master Sommelier
• Paz Levinson, named Best Sommelier of Americas
• Ben Kouider, Champagne expert and educator based in UAE

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 our awards. In addition, local categories may be added. We have commercial partners for certain categories, such as the Best Austrian Wine List, which is 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 judging panel.

The criteria for the jury is straightforward but not simple: to vote for the most exciting wine list representing the category.

And – here are all the wine lists competing for Gold Stars:

International Categories:

Grand Prix

– The best list overall

Finalists:
The winner will be announced at the event.

Best Long List

– For wine lists with more than 600 references

Finalists:
Al Muntaha, Burj Al Arab, Dubai
Amazónico, Dubai
At.mosphere, Dubai
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Dubai
Ossiano, Dubai
Ristorante L'Olivo at Al Mahara, Burj Al Arab, Dubai

Best Medium-Sized Wine List

– Recognizes the best wine list with 200-600 references.

Best Short List

– Recognizes the best wine list with fewer than 200 listings.

Finalists:
Josette, Dubai
Lexington Grill & Bar, Ras Al Khaimah
Ling Ling at Atlantis The Royal, Dubai
ROKA restaurant, Dubai
Soirée, Dubai
Tresind Studio, Dubai

Best Austrian Wine List

– Recognizes the best list with wines from Austria

The category is presented by Austrian Wine

Finalists:
Amazónico, Dubai
Ossiano, Dubai
Zuma Dubai, Dubai

Best Sparkling Wine List

– Recognizes the best list with sparkling wines.

Best California Wine List

– Recognizes the best list with wines from California

The category is presented by Louis M. Martini

Finalists:
Al Muntaha, Burj Al Arab, Dubai
Amazónico, Dubai
At.mosphere, Dubai
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Dubai
Nobu Dubai, Dubai
Ossiano, Dubai

Best By the Glass List

– Recognizes the best by the glass list.

Finalists:
At.mosphere, Dubai
BOCA, Dubai
Clap, Dubai
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Dubai
LPM Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi
LPM Dubai, Dubai
Ossiano, Dubai
Soirée, Dubai
Zuma Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi
Zuma Dubai, Dubai

Best Newcomer List

The category is presented by DAOU

Finalists:
City Social Dubai, Dubai
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Dubai
Fouquet’s, Dubai
Row on 45, Dubai
Soirée, Dubai

Sustainable Wine List

– For the Sustainable Wine List category, not only the wine list is evaluated, but also the stated actions of the venue, as described through a questionnaire in the application

Finalists:
The winner will be announced at the event.

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

Do like the Pros - search 2500+ wine lists

Austrian Wine

The Austrian Wine Marketing Board is based in Vienna, and is a national service body for the Austrian wine industry. The aim is to strategically support, coordinate and maintain quality and sales.

Nyetimber