Meet the finalists of the 2023 Star Wine List of the Year UK with The Buyer
There were vigorous debates and plenty of furrowed brows as our renowned jury came together to decide on the finalists for the Star Wine List of the Year UK, with The Buyer. A record number of wine lists from all over the UK poured in and our prestigious judging panel had a difficult time of it.
“UK sommeliers have joined en masse for this year’s awards and the jury had a real job cut out for them ― judging more than 100 top wine lists,” says Krister Bengtsson, founder and publisher of Star Wine List. “The finalists are a testament to the incredible quality and resilience of the restaurateurs and sommeliers in the UK and we are very pleased to see so many new entries and finalists!”
Star Wine List of the Year is an international celebration of the great wine lists of the world and the people who create them. In the UK, there are 12 categories, of which eight are international, and the competition is held in partnership with The Buyer, the UK digital trade publication.
The benchmark for wine lists
“These are awards that highlight, recognise and most of all reward those working at the very top of their game across the premium on-trade. They are also judged and assessed by some of our most respected and award-winning sommeliers who know what it takes to stand out in such a competitive environment. Congratulations to all the finalists,” says Richard Siddle, publisher and co-founder of The Buyer.
The UK final will be held on 20 February 2023 at The Winemakers Club in London. It’s the third UK final and ― if previous events are anything to go by ― is guaranteed to go on into the night. The winners of each of the eight international categories will then compete against their global peers at the International Final in Stockholm on 19 June 2023.
The prizes include certificates, wine, and ― in some categories, including Austria ― travel.
About the Star Wine List of the Year UK with The Buyer
The competition is part of Star Wine List’s international awards, now the benchmark celebration of wine lists. The judges include a star-studded lineup of sommeliers: Ronan Sayburn MS, Piotr Pietras MS, and Jan Konetzki, joined by Star Wine List’s UK Ambassador, Ruth Spivey.
Other competitions on this tour are in Germany, Asia, New York, the Nordics, South Africa and Australia. New categories have been added this year, including the Sustainable Wine List category for the first time. Star Wine List's Global Partners Nyetimber, Austrian Wine and Chateau Palmer are presenting categories, and so are other great wine producers and importers, see below.
The Star Wine List of the Year award is being done in partnership with UK publication The Buyer.
Categories:
International categories:
The winners in the international categories are all qualified to the international final of Star Wine List of The Year that will be held in June.
Grand Prix
– The best wine list with more than 600 references.
The category is presented by Bibendum
Finalists:
Chez Bruce, London
Core by Clare Smyth, London
Hide, London
Les 110 de Taillevent London, London
Noble Rot Soho, London
Pollen Street Social, London
The Clove Club, London
The Vineyard at Stockcross, Newbury
Best Austrian Wine List
– Recognizes the best wine list with Austrian wines.
The category is presented by Austrian Wine
Finalists:
Moor Hall, Aughton
Newcomer Wines, London
NoMad, London
Pollen Street Social, London
The Ledbury, London
Trivet, London
Best By the Glass List
– Recognizes the best by the glass list.
The category is presented by Catena Zapata
Finalists:
Carters of Moseley, Birmingham
Corkage, Bath
Les 110 de Taillevent, London
Noble Rot Lambs Conduit, London
Noble Rot Soho, London
Pollen Street Social, London
The 10 Cases, London
Wild Corner, London
Best Sparkling Wine List
– Recognizes the best list with sparkling wines.
The category is presented by Nyetimber
Finalists:
Hide, London
Kitchen Table, London
La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels Seven Dials, London
Les 110 de Taillevent, London
NoMad, London
The George, London
The Ritz Restaurant, London
The Vineyard at Stockcross, Newbury
Sustainable Wine List
The category is presented by Spier Wine Farm
Finalists:
Apricity, London
Carters of Moseley, Birmingham
Coast Saundersfoot, Saundersfoot
Farmyard, St Leonard-on-Sea
Holm Somerset, South Petherton
Pale Hall Hotel, Llanderfell, Bala
Restaurant St. Barts, London
Special Jury Prize
– Recognizes a venue that has done something extra with their wine list, such as the direction, the style or the value.
The winner will be revealed during the event.
Best Short List
– Recognizes the best wine list with fewer than 200 listings.
Finalists:
A Wong, London
Carters of Moseley, Birmingham
Dinings SW3, London
Farmyard, St Leonard-on-Sea
Ikoyi, London
Levan, London
Planque, London
Restaurant St. Barts, London
Best Medium-Sized List
– Recognizes the best wine list with 200-600 references.
Finalists:
Chewton Glen Hotel, New Milton - New Forest
Climat, Manchester
La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels Seven Dials, London
Noizé, London
Sager + Wilde Hackney Rd, London
The 10 Cases, London
Trivet, London
Wild Corner, London
UK Categories:
The UK Categories are held especially for the UK event.
Best Up-and-Coming Wine List
– For a new wine list or a wine list that is going places.
The category is presented by Château Palmer
Finalists:
Climat, Manchester
Restaurant St. Barts, London
Sète, Margate
Studio Frantzén, London
The Terrace Rooms & Wine, Ventnor
Veraison Wines, London
New Generation Bordeaux List
– For a wine list featuring a wide range and a new generation of Bordeaux wines.
The category is presented by Bordeaux Wines
Finalists:
Maison Francois, London
Noble Rot Lambs Conduit, London
Noble Rot Soho, London
The Drapers Arms, London
The Terrace Rooms & Wine, Ventnor
Veraison Wines, London
Best California Wine List
– Recognizes the best list with Californian wines.
The category is presented by Louis M. Martini
Finalists:
Chiltern Firehouse, London
China Tang at The Dorchester, London
Core by Clare Smyth, London
Goodman City, London
Hide, London
Pollen Street Social, London
The Clove Club, London
The Vineyard at Stockcross, Newbury
Best New Zealand Wine List
– Recognizes the best list with New Zealand wines.
The category is presented by New Zealand Wine
Finalists:
Chez Bruce, London
China Tang at The Dorchester, London
Hide, London
Oxo Tower Restaurant, London
Pollen Street Social, London
The Vineyard at Stockcross, Newbury
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Read about the terms and how Star Wine List judges the wine lists here.
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Bibendum
Bibendum is one of the UK’s most successful drinks businesses. As a premium wine and spirits partner, we are a countrywide specialist for the On Trade, supplying wine to 13% of the market.
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.
Catena Zapata
Argentina’s Bodega Catena Zapata, founded in 1902, is known for its pioneering role in resurrecting Malbec and in discovering extreme high altitude terroirs in the Andean foothills of Mendoza.
Nyetimber
English sparkling producer Nyetimber is the leading producer of sparkling wine in the country.
Spier Wine Farm
Spier Wine Farm is an old Stellenbosch wine farm. Their goal is to build a healthy ecosystem, where natural resources and the environment are protected and where people are respected, valued, and empowered.
CIVB
The Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB or Bordeaux Wine Council) was founded in 1948, and represents the three families of the Bordeaux wine industry: winegrowers, wine merchants and brokers.