Meet new Baltics judge Kamil Wojtasiak
Best Sommelier of Poland Kamil Wojtasiak is our new jury member for Star Wine List of the Year Baltics 2025. Meet our local expert for these awards, who will help to name the best wine lists across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Kamil Wojtasiak was named Best Sommelier of Poland in 2018 and is now President of the Polish Sommelier Association, a responsibility which, he tells us, he takes very seriously “not as a title, but as a chance to serve the community I’ve grown up in.”
Currently General Manager and Sommelier at Warsaw’s Butchery & Wine, Kamil will this August assess the wine lists of his neighbouring Baltic countries – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – alongside fellow judges Kathrine Larsen-Robert MS, Stephen Wong MW and Julie Dupouy-Young, in Star Wine List of the Year Baltics 2025.
He already uses Star Wine List “both as a sommelier and as a guest,” he says. “I use it when I travel, when I want to see how others are thinking, or simply when I need fresh perspective. What I appreciate is that it’s not driven by trends – it’s about curation. The selections reflect intent, not noise. And I’m proud that my restaurant is listed there. It means someone noticed the details we care deeply about.”
As he embarks on his jury duty for our Baltic wine list competition, we get to know the Warsaw resident.
When and how did you first get into wine?
“It all started during my internship while studying at culinary school. I ended up at Hotel Le Regina in Warsaw – in 2007, it was considered the best hotel with the top restaurant in Poland. The sommelier there was Andrzej Strzelczyk, a finalist in the Polish Sommelier Championship. I remember asking him a simple question: why this wine and not another? That opened a door I’ve never wanted to close. Wine, I discovered, wasn’t just about taste. It was about origin, details, decisions, and stories – and I was hooked.”
What was your first sommelier position?
“My first role as a sommelier was in 2011, when I was the head sommelier at the restaurant Tamka 43 in Warsaw. Sadly, it's closed now, but I have such fond memories of my time there. It was also the first time I was responsible for running the wine strategy on my own, which was a bit scary at first, but I got there! It was such a great learning experience where I got to grips with how to structure a list, manage inventory, and make choices that actually worked in service. So much of what I rely on today actually started there.”
Which qualifications have you done or are you studying for?
“I have completed the WSET Advanced courses, as well as the Court of Master Sommeliers Certified course. But honestly, most of what I know came through practice – through long hours, mistakes, and the kind of mentorship that shapes more than skills. I trained intensely for the ASI Best Sommelier in Europe & Africa in 2021 and the ASI Best Sommelier of the World in 2023, with guidance from Piotr Pietras MS and Isa Bal MS. That preparation changed the way I see wine, and the way I see myself in this profession.”
Do you have any mentors in the industry?
“From the outset, it has been Piotr Kamecki, the long-time President of the Polish Sommelier Association and current Vice President of the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale. Rather than telling me what to do, he encouraged me to think independently and make my own decisions, giving me the space to grow. He has helped to shape the standards of professionalism and integrity in our field. Beyond titles, though, he’s someone who genuinely listens. He has been there for me during the most formative moments of my career, providing clarity and perspective when I needed it, and simply being someone I could trust. I know I can still call him and receive an honest response. That kind of steady, respectful and generous presence is rare. I’m grateful not only to have learned from him how to become a better sommelier, but also how to be a better mentor to others.”
When did you first get into competitions and do you enjoy them?
“My first competition was in 2011. What drew me in wasn’t the idea of winning, but the challenge itself – seeing how far I could push my own limits. For me, it’s never been about outperforming others; it’s always been about testing and improving myself. I’ve been fortunate to achieve good results over the years, but what I value most is the learning curve each competition brings.”
Why are you excited to join the Star Wine List of the Year jury panel?
“Because I know how much thought and discipline it takes to build a good wine list – and I respect that work. Anyone can put together a long list of big names, but creating something coherent, intentional, and full of personality is a real craft. A wine list reveals how a team thinks: how they see their guests, what they want to express, what they’re willing to fight for. Being part of a jury that values that – that looks beyond labels to structure, context, and voice – feels both relevant and rewarding.”
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