Here are the Gold Star winners in the Baltics
On November 19, Star Wine List came to the Baltic states to celebrate the best wine lists and the teams behind them for the first time. The event was held during the Tasty Estonia Festival in Tallinn, Estonia.
Sommeliers from around the Baltics met up at the Kultuurikatel industrial-chic festival center in Tallinn on Sunday to taste wines, catch up with old friends and of course celebrate the Star Wine List gold stars for the first time. The event was hosted by Star Wine List's Liora Levi and Krister Bengtsson, with jury member Heidi Mäkinen MW as supporting act. And the jury had plenty of good things to say about the first finalists and winners from the region.
”We were delighted to find some great wine lists in the Baltics. There is a classism behind the lists but we found very fair winners in each category. Some countries are more selective than others in a general view but we expect to see a great evolution in the next years,” said jury member Paz Levinson about the competition.
Jury
The jury for the very first Star Wine List of the Year Baltics was a panel of top international sommeliers:
Julie Dupouy-Young, several times named the Best Sommelier of Ireland
Heidi Mäkinen, Master of Wine
Piotr Pietras, Master Sommelier
Paz Levinson, named Best Sommelier of Americas
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 are sometimes added, like Best Portuguese Wine List in the Baltics.
We have commercial partners for certain categories, such as the Best Sparkling Wine List, presented by Nyetimber. 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.
Here are all the Gold Star and Silver Star winners:
International Categories:
Grand Prix
– The best list overall
Gold Star:
Time to Wine Rotermanni, Tallinn, Estonia
”A stunning list with a very contemporary and exciting selection from all around the world. Great choices of sustainable wines in an unbeatable price point. Fun, very international selection covering different types of producers. Strong not only in Champagne region but also other sparkling and exciting wines from the world. A big Bravo!” said the jury’s Paz Levinson.
Collecting the Grand Prix award, Time to Wine's Mikk Parre said: "Thank you very much, this award is not only for me but for the entire team - there is a lot of cooperation between both Time to Wine's. We are always working together towards a better wine culture and towards educating people and we are one big family. It's great to now have Star Wine List here and let's hope for an even better wine scene here in the Baltics, thank you."
Best Long List
– For wine lists with more than 600 references
Gold Star Estonia and Baltics overall:
Time to Wine Rotermanni, Tallinn, Estonia
”A stunning list that shows great individuality. Contemporary and exciting selection from all around the world. Great choices of sustainable wines, very thoughtful layout and overall super attractive prices,” said jury member Julie Dupouy-Young.
Gold Star Latvia:
Noble Wine Bar, Riga, Latvia
”A solid list, clear and well written list that focuses on European wines. Eclectic choices made of both classics and moderns and of new vintages and mature wines. Great emphasis on sparkling wines from all around the world too,” said Julie Dupouy-Young.
Silver Stars:
Dominic, Tallinn, Estonia
Riviera, Riga, Latvia
Time to Wine Kopli 6, Tallinn, Estonia
Best Medium-Sized Wine List
– Recognizes the best wine list with 200-600 references.
Gold Star Latvia and Baltics overall:
Barents, Riga, Latvia
”Thought-out, soulful wine list with great balance when it comes to producers and prices. Lovely grower Champagne selection and top Austrian section,” commented jury member Piotr Pietras about the winning list.
Barent's sommelier Nikita Zaičenkovs, the brains behind the winning list said that he was delighted by the win. "It was well worth the trip to Tallin today!" he laughed as he collected his award. And with several prizes under his belt, he admitted to being "surprised" by such success. "This is a big surprise, and a great improvement for the Baltics, so thank you Star Wine List! As a sommelier you are just trying to show off your country's culture and do everything you can to offer the very best wines and experiences for your customers, so it's great to be appreciated by the professionals for what you are doing."
Gold Star Estonia:
Chin Chin wine bar, Tallinn, Estonia
”A complex wine list with mostly classic wines from around the world," remarked Piotr Pietras. A great choices at different price levels. Sparkling wine category is their specialty,” said Piotr Pietras.
Chin Chin's manager, Getter Older said: “It's a super surprise, we are really happy with this award, and a big special thank you to our head sommelier Karl-Märten Käesel, who made a really long and focused wine list. However, we are also able to offer wines at good prices, so they are not so expensive, and some rare vintages from the family cellars. It is also great that Star Wine List is now in Estonia and the Baltics!"
Gold Star Lithuania:
Restaurant Pacai, Vilnius, Lithuania
”A well-developed wine list that covers the major winemaking regions. It focuses largely on producers with great tradition and history,” said Piotr Pietras.
Silver medalists:
36.Line Grill restaurant, Jurmala, Latvia
Fotografiska Tallinn, Tallinn, Estonia
Lee, Tallinn, Estonia
SOMM The Wine Bar, Vilnius, Lithuania
Tauro Riga, Riga, Latvia
Best Short List
– Recognizes the best wine list with fewer than 200 listings.
Gold Star Latvia and Baltics overall:
Lowine bar, Riga, Latvia
”An exciting Natural wine list featuring many wines from less "obvious" origins. Very well priced and inviting for its quirkiness,” commented Julie Dupouy-Young.
Gold Star Estonia:
38 Restaurant, Tallinn, Estonia
”A list that shows creativity and fun as well as a real care for its selection. An enticing list for all palates and wallets,” said Julie Dupouy-Young.
Gold Star Lithuania:
14 Horses, Vilnius, Lithuania
”A lovely list curated with care and taste. Clear on the eyes and well priced,” remarked Julie Dupouy-Young.
Silver Stars:
Le Travi, Vilnius, Lithuania
Lore Bistroo, Tallinn, Estonia
Noa Chef´s Hall, Tallinn, Estonia
Rado restoran, Tallinn, Estonia
Truff le Pig, Riga, Latvia
Best Austrian Wine List
– Recognizes the best list with wines from Austria
The category is presented by Austrian Wine
Gold Star Latvia and the Baltics overall:
Barents, Riga, Latvia
”With a great selection from sparkling to sweet wines the Barents list plays honours to Austrian wine. We can see the selection through the eye of the Best Sommelier of the World, Raimonds Tomsons, and we find natural this long-term connection between producers and a great sommelier always seeking to quality and personality,” said the jury’s Paz Levinson.
Gold Star Estonia:
Time to Wine Rotermanni, Tallinn, Estonia
”A very good selection embracing not only white wine from Austria but other styles as well. The list is impressive overall and the Austrian section is solid, smart and with a diversity of terroirs, grapes and winemakers,” said Paz Levinson.
Gold Star Lithuania:
SOMM The Wine Bar, Vilnius, Lithuania
”The Austrian section has several labels from some of the most important wine players of Austria. Not a huge diversity of producers but yet interesting labels with back vintages,” said Paz Levinson.
SOMM the Wine Bar's Ignatij Semionov (who also won the Lithuania Gold for Best Sparkling List) said: "This is a beautiful event, thank you Star Wine List, it was a great jury for the Baltics, we are really grateful to have it. Congrats to the winners and I think we will have more Lithuanian entries next year."
Silver Stars:
Fotografiska Tallinn, Tallinn, Estonia
Noble Wine Bar, Riga, Latvia
Riviera, Riga, Latvia
Time to Wine Kopli 6, Tallinn, Estonia
Best Sparkling Wine List
– Recognizes the best list with sparkling wines.
The category is presented by Nyetimber
Gold Stars Estonia and the Baltics overall:
Time to Wine Rotermanni, Tallinn, Estonia
Chin Chin wine bar, Tallinn, Estonia
”An extensive list of quality sparkling wines from around the world. Not only well-known names, but also some hidden gems,” said Piotr Pietras about Time To Wine’s winning list.
”A dynamic Champagne list that displays different styles and producers from the region. There is also a strong presence of other traditional method sparkling wines. Quite a few half and magnum bottles are an added value,” Piotr said about Chin Chin’s list.
Gold Star Latvia:
Barents, Riga, Latvia
”Well-balanced, beautiful selection of renowned growers and top Grandes Marques,” said Piotr Pietras.
Gold Star Lithuania:
Restaurant Pacai, Vilnius, Lithuania
”The Champagne list focuses greatly on well-known Grandes Marques and a few top-quality growers. Several lovely sparkling wines outside the Champagne region available too,” said Piotr Pietras.
Silver Stars:
Dominic, Tallinn, Estonia
Lee, Tallinn, Estonia
Noble Wine Bar, Riga, Latvia
Riviera, Riga, Latvia
SOMM The Wine Bar, Vilnius, Lithuania
Time to Wine Kopli 6, Tallinn, Estonia
Truff le Pig, Riga, Latvia
Best California Wine List
– Recognizes the best list with wines from California
Gold Star Latvia and the Baltics overall:
Tauro Riga, Riga, Latvia
”Extensive premium selection of iconic Californian wines including a very good offering of older vintages,” said Julie Dupouy-Young.
Nora Kārkliņa, director of Tauro restaurant in Riga was thrilled to win the best California list. "Thank you," she said."This category is what we came for, this is what we worked for. Since the beginning our main focus has been on Californian and American wines. Our restaurant is a fine-meat restaurant and the wines matches what we do. We know we have a strong list and we hope for a win also in the big finals! "
Gold Star Estonia:
Time to Wine Rotermanni, Tallinn, Estonia
”A short but efficient selection at all price points that offers a good opportunity to step into the world of Californian wines,” said Julie Dupouy-Young.
Silver Stars:
Dominic, Tallinn, Estonia
Riviera, Riga, Latvia
Best By the Glass List
– Recognizes the best by the glass list.
Gold Star Estonia and the Baltics overall:
Time to Wine Rotermanni, Tallinn, Estonia
”The by-the-glass selection of this venue really stands out being very personal and interesting. It offers various and surprising choices from both well-known and yet to be discovered wine regions with a broad price spectrum, and really invites one to try something unexpected,” said jury member Heidi Mäkinen about the winning list.
Gold Star Latvia:
Nomad, Riga, Latvia
”The list in this restaurant is very compact but manages to cover various styles well, showcasing how length is not the sole virtue of a good list,” said Heidi Mäkinen.
Nomad's Dmitrijs Sinkevičs, who was awarded the Best Sommelier of Latvia in 2022, said: "We are very excited to win, it's a great pleasure to participate in a big event like this, and to understand we are doing good things in the right way. This is a great opportunity for us to be put on the world map, and a wonderful experience for our region,which represents a great new step up.
His colleage Ilia Mikaelien added: "This win is a big honour - we are simply trying do do what we do as well as possible."
Gold Star Lithuania:
SOMM The Wine Bar, Vilnius, Lithuania
”With its compact list, this venue manages to offer various styles by the glass including both classic choices and unexpected gems,” said Heidi Mäkinen.
Silver Stars:
38 Restaurant, Tallinn, Estonia
Âme Restaurant, Tallinn, Estonia
ANNO Home Restaurant & Wine Corner, Tallinn, Estonia
Lee, Tallinn, Estonia
Riviera, Riga, Latvia
Best Newcomer List
Gold Star Estonia and the Baltics overall:
Chin Chin wine bar, Tallinn, Estonia
”A great list with focus on Champagne and sparkling wine, with lots of interesting choices at fair prices. It is a classic list but with a very good selection, especially from Italy, Spain and France,” remarked Paz Levinson.
Gold Star Latvia:
Lowine bar, Riga, Latvia
”A great selection from the natural wine world, full of gems and interesting wines. The wine list is special, short but with a message behind it, and strong personality. Very contemporary producers, wine regions and styles of wine,” commented Paz Levinson.
Lowine's Anton Zilin said on being presented with the award: "Thank you, it's an honour for us, it is very good recognition. The idea started during Covid when there was nothing to do, and the idea was to build a serious player when it comes to natural wine bars. I am incredibly happy!" His colleague Ludmila Zumila added: "Thank you, our main goal is to work for our guests, and make people happy!"
Gold Star Lithuania:
14 Horses, Vilnius, Lithuania
”A wine list structured by style of wine, very smart and adventurous. They produce their own labels as well at a good price point and it looks like these are interesting collaborations with wine producers specially from France,” added Paz Levinson.
Silver Stars:
38 Restaurant, Tallinn, Estonia
Truff le Pig, Riga, Latvia
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
Gold Star Baltics overall:
Fotografiska Tallinn, Tallinn, Estonia
”This venue has really taken sustainability to its core, recognising the impact their operations have on the environment. They consciously work towards decreasing their carbon footprint by implementing a full circle recycling system for the products they use. This venue has understood a better future starts with acknowledging the current,” said the jury’s Heidi Mäkinen.
Silver Stars:
Le Travi, Vilnius, Lithuania
Lee, Tallinn, Estonia
Local Categories:
Best Portuguese Wine List
– Recognizes the best list with wines from Portugal
The category is presented by Symington Family Estates
Gold Star Lithuania and the Baltics overall:
Restaurant Pacai, Vilnius, Lithuania
”This venue truly shows today’s Portuguese wines in full glory. The wine list manages to combine history and traditions with modern aspects and trends, and thus deserves to be recognised for the work that has gone into creating it,” added Mäkinen.
Gold Star Estonia:
180 Degrees Restaurant, Tallinn, Estonia
”The Portuguese selection clearly follows the time with interesting producer choices showing what modern Portuguese wines are all about,” said Mäkinen.
Gold Star Latvia:
Riviera, Riga, Latvia
”This venue has a Portuguese offering that covers all the main areas and works as a nice introduction to what the country has to offer for the rest of the wine world,” she said.
Silver Stars:
Gaspar’s, Vilnius, Lithuania
Le Travi, Vilnius, Lithuania
The winners in the international categories will qualify for our International Final in June 2024, 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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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
English sparkling producer Nyetimber is the leading producer of sparkling wine in the country.
Symington Family Estates
Symington Family Estates is one of the world's leading producers of premium port, the leading vineyard owner in the Douro Valley and one of the top Portuguese wine producers.
