In pictures: Star Wine List of the Year International Final 2025

Inddee's Thanakorn “Jay” Bottorff (Thailand) is congratulated on his win for Best Medium-Sized List by Bar Cyclone's Jack Wu (Hong Kong).

By Rachel Fellows

Published 19-June-2025

News

What happens when you get 100 sommeliers from around the world together for a day of Viennese socialising and Gold Star presentations? Take a look at all the action from the Star Wine List of the Year International Final 2025.

All photos by Anna Stöcher.

After hosting awards events in 18 regions around the world, we invited all winners in our international categories to join us for one grand showdown: the Star Wine list of the Year International Final 2025. All of these sommelier teams had already won Gold Stars in their respective competitions and now had the chance to take the world titles.

Competitive, much?

Finalists joined us from Bangkok, Dubai, Xiamen and the Mornington Peninsula in addition to all across Europe, for a day of food and wine – and Gold Star presentations – in Vienna.

Welcome drinks & lunch

We met our global finalists at Praterwirt in Vienna's Leopoldstadt, a modern yet traditionally-inspired restaurant with its own butchery. Drinks were provided by our 10 fabulous sponsors, kicking off with a double apéro offering of Nyetimber Classic Cuvee and Château d’Yquem 2015 served from magnums. Teams from across the globe had a chance to catch up, share a glass and compare notes.

Star Wine List's Liora Levi and Krister Bengtsson (far left and far right) with Anika Satzinger (Austrian Wine) and Karl Thögersen (Nyetimber).

A spot of Nyetimber, ready for our guests.

Thanakorn "Jay" Bottorff (Inddee, Thailand) and Jack Wu (Bar Cyclone, Hong Kong) are welcomed with a glass of Château d'Yquem 2015.

Alex Koblinger MS, Andreas Döllerer Junior and Christoph Messerig, of Döllerer (Golling, Austria).

Pahlmeyer's Rienne Bilz with Anja Reinhardt and Justin Leone of Sticks & Stones Wine Bar (Munich, Germany).

Krister Bengtsson (centre) with Philippe Marques and Vincent Parinaud of Le Royal at the Royal Champagne Hotel and Spa (Champillon, France).

Star Wine List's Rachel Fellows (centre) with Patrick Eppacher and Chris Yorke of Austrian Wine.

Thomas Venuto of Kontrast (Oslo, Norway) with Oddbird's Moa Gürbüzer.

Château Galoupet's Helmut Aichinger (centre) with Liora Levi and Åsa Johansson of Star Wine List.

Stefanie Lobner (Premium Estates of Autria), Patrick Eppacher (Austrian Wine) and Liora Levi (Star Wine List).

Lucian Brinkley from Sticks & Stones Wine Bar (Munich, Germany) and Charlott Darius of GRAPES Weinbar (Munich, Germany).

Star Wine List's Krister Bengtsson welcomes guests over lunch, and explains the day's plans.

A starter of local green asparagus, roast beef, fermented radishes and Viennese chive sauce was accompanied by Oddbird’s Blanc de Blancs, a 2023 Wieninger Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC Ried Ulm and 2019 Pahlmeyer Jayson Sauvignon Blanc.

On to mains: pork schnitzel, fried chicken, roast pork, fried oyster mushrooms and some delectable cheesy noodles (Kasnocken) were accompanied by potato salad and cranberries, a green salad, and bread dumplings. To drink, there was quite the selection: a vibrant 2019 Dreissigacker Wunderwerk Riesling and Lingua Franca’s Bunker Hill Chardonnay from 2022 for the whites, Château Galoupet’s current rosé vintage, the Cru Classé 2024 and, for red, the Ceretto Barbaresco 2022.

We finished with Kaiserschmarren and plum compote alongside Premium Estates of Austria member Feiler-Artinger’s 2018 Ruster Ausbruch DAC Muskateller.

Dreissigacker's Wunderwerk Riesling 2019 is served at lunch.

The Lingua Franca Bunker Hill Chardonnay 2022 is served at lunch.

Fried chicken, Kasnocken and cranberries are served at lunch.

Château Galoupet's Cru Classé 2024 is served during lunch.

Ceretto Barbaresco 2022 is served with the main course.

Feiler-Artinger’s 2018 Ruster Ausbruch DAC Muskateller is poured alongside dessert.

Scavenger hunt

Lunch served as fuel for a scavenger hunt across Vienna, taking in sights such as the city’s oldest restaurant (Griechenbeisl), Stephansdom and the Austrian Parliament building (checking off that last stop was somewhat impeded by a visit from a certain politician, meaning that the public gates were closed – an extra challenge for our already-very-competitive teams). The weather, sadly, did not play ball and so umbrellas were an important accessory.

Team Riesling: Samuel Kirr (Dreissigacker), Tomy Dupieux (La Régalade, France), Cyril Sartre (La Régalade, France), an obliging Austrian tour guide, Tommy Vivian (Bar Pez, Ireland), Krister Bengtsson (Star Wine List) and Heidi Reis (Café Savoy, Finland).

Jeon Youngseong and Huiwen Zheng (ÉPANOUIR, China).

Team Cabernet Sauvignon: Diego Flumian (Dovetale, UK), Anssi Jokela (Pöllöwaari, Finland), Justin Leone (Sticks & Stones Wine Bar, Germany), a tour guide, Rémi Asenci (Park Hotel Vossevangen, Norway).

Team Pinot Noir: Alfons Wimmer (Restaurant Amador, Austria), Toni Aikasalo (Minne Champagne & Wine, Finland), a tour guide, Charlott Darius (GRAPES Weinbar, Germany), Vincent Parinaud (Le Royal at the Royal Champagne Hotel and Spa, France).

Team Grenache: Alex Koblinger MS (Döllerer, Austria), Kobi Watson (Ten Minutes By Tractor, Australia), Helmut Aichinger (Château Galoupet), Elisabeth Buer (Buer Restaurant, Norway), Alesia Arranz (Ambivium, Spain), Elena Arranz (Ambivium, Spain), Fernando Moret (Ambivium, Spain), Bjørn Buer (Buer Restaurant, Odda), Pedro Ruiz (Ambivium, Spain).

Team Chardonnay: Stefan Wellanschitz (Lingua Franca), Chris Alexiou (Sticks & Stones Wine Bar, Germany), Lidia Pusterla (behind; 169 West, Switzerland), Kai Keong Ng (169 West, Switzerland).

Team Nebbiolo: Mattia Pagliasso (Ceretto), Åsa Johansson (Star Wine List), a tour guide, Christoph Messerig (Döllerer, Austria), Alessandra Tasca (OMA, UK), Rajko Mink (Vinland, Norway), Francesco Marzola (Vinland, Norway), Jeon Youngseong (ÉPANOUIR, China), Huiwen Zheng (ÉPANOUIR, China).

Team Gewürztraminer: Martin Waugh (Hjem, UK) and Pål Renolen (Lasarett Vinbar, Norway).

The awards

The teams convened in the MuseumsQuartier, at Ovalhalle, where our sponsors were once again waiting, this time with a table each from which to pour wine for our keen hunters.

Soon, Star Wine List’s Krister Bengtsson and Liora Levi took to the stage to announce our global Gold Star winners, assisted by judge Heidi Mäkinen MW.

Winners were congratulated by their peers and the Star Wine List sponsors, with all finalists taking the chance for a picture or two as teams celebrated together in high spirits.

Ceretto's Mattia Pagliasso pours wine for guests.

Pahlmeyer's Rienne Bilz pours at the tasting.

Dreissigacker's Samuel Kerr pouring for guests.

Star Wine List's Liora Levi and Krister Bengtsson begin the presentation.

Judge Heidi Mäkinen MW and Star Wine List's Liora Levi.

Liora Levi and Krister Bengtsson welcome Chris Yorke, CEO of Austrian Wine, onto the stage to announce the winner of Best Austrian Wine List.

Heidi Mäkinen MW, Liora Levi and Krister Bengtsson are joined on the stage by Annabelle Grellier of Château d'Yquem, to announce the winners of the Best By the Glass List category.

Liora Levi onstage with Nyetimber's Karl Thögersen.

Pahlmeyer's Edouard Baijot MW helps Liora Levi and Krister Bengtsson announce the Best California Wine List.

Lingua Franca's Stefan Wellanschitz looks after the certificate for Sustainable Wine List, won by Chambers in New York; Pascaline Lepeltier accepted her award via Zoom.

Vinland's Rajko Mink and Francesco Marzola accept the award for Best Newcomer List from Ceretto's Mattia Pagliasso and Star Wine List's Krister Bengtsson.

Heidi Mäkinen MW, Liora Levi and Oddbird's Moa Gürbüzer listen to Anders Vendelbo and Emilie Buestad Lohmann of Grimal, winners of Best Short List.

Dreissigacker's Samuel Kerr, Best Medium-Sized List winner Thanakorn “Jay” Bottorff of Inddee, Thailand, and Krister Bengtsson.

Liora Levi with Helmut Aichinger of Château Galoupet, ready to announce the winners of Best Long List.

Judge Heidi Mäkinen MW, Liora Levi, the Premium Estates of Austria team (Gernot Heinrich, Alfons Wimmer, Alex Sattler, Fred Loimer, Stefanie Lobner) and Star Wine List's Krister Bengtsson applaud Park Hotel Vossevangen as the Grand Prix winner.

Star Wine List's Rachel Fellows and Camilla Lindh manage the awards ceremony webinar, welcoming guests from all parts of the world via Zoom.

Park Hotel Vossevangen's Rémi Asenci and Robert Russel Rosales Johansen are congratulated by Stefanie Lobner (Managing Director, Premium Estates of Austria).

The winning teams in attendance in Vienna. Back row L-R: Rémi Asenci and Robert Russel Rosales Johansen, Park Hotel Vossevangen, Norway (Best By the Glass List, Best Long List, Grand Prix), Francesco Marzola, Vinland, Norway (Best Newcomer List), Emilie Buestad Lohmann and Anders Vendelbo, Grimal, Denmark (Best Short List). Front row L-R: Diego Flumian, Dovetale, UK (Best California Wine List), Thanakorn “Jay” Bottorff, Inddee, Thailand (Best Medium-Sized List).

Liora Levi, Dorli Muhr, Heidi Mäkinen MW.

Finalists Ona Rombaut and Arne Braeckman of Wijnbar ONA (Belgium) chat with Krister Bengtsson.

Finalists Hauk Skjæran and Pål Renolen of Lasarett Vinbar (Norway).

Finalist Josef Floh of Gastwirtschaft Floh, Austria (right) and family.

Finalists Adrian Lai and Yeo Xi Yang of Convivial (Singapore).

Finalists Maroš Adamica and Peter Lunter of ECK Restaurant (Slovakia).

Finalists Anton Zhilin and Ludmila Zhilina of LOWINE BAR (Latvia).

Finalists Kim Krogh, Kristian Lykke-Krogh and Christian Vestergaard of Visselulles Vinbar (Denmark).

The Austrian Wine team. Back row L-R: Carmen Richter, Daniela Czar, Brigitta Virág, Chris Yorke, Oliver Chramosta, Patrick Eppacher. Front row L-R: Luise Kopeszki, Dominik Braun, Katharina Hammer, Anika Satzinger.

The train

Winners revealed, it was time to relocate for an evening celebration at Weingut Wieninger. And how to get there? Via road train, of course. Our guests boarded to cross the Danube, heading northeast, where Fritz Wieninger and his team had filled the winery with dining tables and loaded ice buckets with wines from the members of Premium Estates of Austria – and our other sponsors.

Our hungry guests were treated to bread, cheese, charcuterie, Liptauer, Grammelschmalz and more. As twilight fell, they compared notes, laughed, gossiped and, eventually, headed back into the centre of town for a negroni or two.

Here’s to next year!

Will you be joining us? Keep an eye on the Star Wine List of the Year page for information about your region’s competition.

Alex Sattler (Sattlerhof) and Kobi Watson (Ten Minutes by Tractor, Australia).

Guests listen to a few words from Fritz Wieninger.

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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.

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