New World dominates in the Star Wine List of the Year International Open 2025 – it all comes down to “the finest of details”
Spanning Poland, South Africa, Iceland, New Zealand, Portugal, the USA and many more, our International Open has been a hot contest between the finest wine list architects across the globe. Gold Stars have been awarded in nine categories via a virtual awards ceremony – meet the winners.
The Star Wine List of the Year tour is visiting 18 territories this year, celebrating the best wine lists in each – and the teams that create them. But wine lists abound the world over, and we want to laud the efforts of every sommelier and buying team that produces a list worthy of attention. Hence the Star Wine List of the Year International Open, which, as the name suggests, is open to any venue in a place not currently covered by one of our physical events.
The 2025 International Open saw a record number of entries, from locations spanning the Netherlands to Canada, Italy to Iceland. Ultimately, our esteemed panel of judges has decided its winners in nine categories, announced in a virtual event on 22 April that can now be streamed on YouTube.
And the results? The New World has reigned supreme, with the majority of Gold Stars going to Australia, Canada and the USA, with a win for Slovakia in the Best Austrian Wine List category.
Take a look at our full list of winners, below. They will all qualify for the Star Wine List of the Year International Final, which takes place in Vienna this June – the culmination of our worldwide wine list celebration.
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES:
Grand Prix
– The best list of the overall competition.
Gold Star:
Le Coureur des Bois, Beloeil, Canada
What the judges said:
“Great wine lists are like great classic composers. And I think this list is the masterpiece of one of those great composers – imagine Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 on steroids.”
– Stefan Neumann MS
Best Long List
– For wine lists with more than 600 references.
Gold Star:
Le Coureur des Bois, Beloeil, Canada
What the judges said:
“A fabulous wine list – classical, contemporary, and iconic. It strikes a perfect balance between international breadth and local charm. The selection is vast, yet every choice feels intentional and focused. A job exceptionally well done.”
– Kathrine Larsen-Robert MS
Silver Stars:
Acquerello, San Francisco, USA
Blue Penny Cellar at Constance Belle Mare Plage, Mauritius
Cardwell Cellars, Melbourne, Australia
Central Park Voorburg, Voorburg, Netherlands
Duomo, Ragusa, Italy
ECK Restaurant, Devín, Slovakia
Element 47 - Little Nell, Aspen, USA
Juliet, Los Angeles, USA
Rockpool Bar & Grill Perth, Perth, Australia
Ten Minutes by Tractor, Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne, Australia
The Inn at Little Washington, Washington, USA
The Stonehouse, Santa Barbara, USA
Wickens at Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld, Australia
Best Medium-Sized List
– Recognises the best wine list with 200-600 references.
Gold Star:
Enoteca Boccaccio, Melbourne, Australia
What the judges said:
“The only thing ‘medium’ about this list is the number of references. Everything else is pure joy, showcasing the ultimate balancing act. We, as judges, wanted to order it all!”
– Stefan Neumann MS
Silver Stars:
Atelje vina Šapat, Novi Slankamen, Serbia
Bij Jef, Texel, Netherlands
Copra, San Francisco, USA
Felix, Los Angeles, USA
French Alpine Bistro, Aspen, USA
Hydra - Fine Food & Wine Cellar, Salerno, Italy
La Dégustation Bohème Bourgeoise, Prague, Czech Republic
Restaurant RJ, Texel, Netherlands
Szara Gęś, Kraków, Poland
Table Manners, Sydney, Australia
The Monarch Steakhouse, Aspen, USA
The Progress, San Francisco, USA
The Shorehouse, Perth, Australia
Best Short List
– Recognises the best wine list with fewer than 200 listings.
Gold Star:
Gracie's, Providence, USA
What the judges said:
“This winner has, with evident passion and confidence, built a vibrant list featuring great and mature classics alongside novelties. It is supremely balanced and feels larger than its size, thanks to the numerous temptations.”
– Nina Jensen
Silver Stars:
Amma Don, Reykjavik, Iceland
austa, Almancil, Portugal
Beach Byron Bay, Byron Bay, Australia
Binnenvisser, Amsterdam, Netherlands
De Nieuwe Winkel, Nijmegen, Netherlands
Lastage, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Perilla, Chicago, USA
Published On Main, Vancouver, Canada
Restaurant Markant, Breda, Netherlands
Best By the Glass List
– Recognises the best ‘by the glass’ list.
Gold Star:
Ten Minutes by Tractor, Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne, Australia
What the judges said:
“A superb by-the-glass selection, so enticing – we wanted to try it all. Effortless balance between the classic and the modern, the accessible and the iconic.”
– Kathrine Larsen-Robert MS
Silver Stars:
Anchoita, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Anchoita Cava, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Blue Penny Cellar at Constance Belle Mare Plage, Mauritius
Cellar Door, Christchurch, New Zealand
Culture Wine Bar, Cape Town, South Africa
Element 47 - Little Nell, Aspen, USA
Flore, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Juliet, Los Angeles, USA
Restaurant RJ, Texel, Netherlands
Rockpool Bar & Grill Perth, Perth, Australia
Best Sparkling Wine List
– Recognises the best list for sparkling wines.
Gold Star:
Acquerello, San Francisco, USA
What the judges said:
“A very impressive sparkling wine list with an extensive selection, from Italy and Champagne in particular. A real heaven for sparkling wine lovers!”
– Julie Dupouy-Young
Silver Stars:
Archipel at Constance Prince Maurice, Mauritius
Blue Penny Cellar at Constance Belle Mare Plage, Mauritius
Central Park Voorburg, Voorburg, Netherlands
ECK Restaurant, Devín, Slovakia
Element 47 - Little Nell, Aspen, USA
Harbour 60, Toronto, Canada
Juliet, Los Angeles, USA
Le Coureur des Bois, Beloeil, Canada
Ristorante del Lago, Bagno di Romagna, Italy
Rockpool Bar & Grill Perth, Perth, Australia
Ten Minutes by Tractor, Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne, Australia
Trattoria Visconti, Ambivere, Italy
Best Newcomer List
– Recognises a venue that has recently opened.
Gold Star:
Table Manners, Sydney, Australia
What the judges said:
“A contemporary, diverse and international wine list with a really interesting selection in all colours and styles. A clear and logical layout that can be enjoyed by both wine novices and aficionados. A great list for a new restaurant.”
– Julie Dupouy-Young
Silver Stars:
Amelie Amstelveen, Amstelveen, Netherlands
Attenzione! Food & Wine, Sydney, Australia
Brasserie Lalou, Delft, Netherlands
Firepop, Sydney, Australia
Parra Wine Bistro, Lisbon, Portugal
Perilla, Chicago, USA
Restaurant Asteur, Boisbriand, Canada
Station Road, Adelaide, Australia
Terrarium Restaurant, Cape Town, South Africa
Toast & Oak, Queenstown, New Zealand
Tomkat, Lucca, Italy
Sustainable Wine List
– Recognises a wine list that has put extra emphasis on the wine program’s overall impact, including vine growing, winemaking, packaging and transport.
This category is presented by Lingua Franca
Gold Star:
Settler's Tavern, Margaret River, Australia
What the judges said:
“This list has a well-researched and communicative approach with producers in cohesion with the sustainable agenda. They have spearheaded the movement in their region for years, even before sustainability was a buzzword.”
– Nina Jensen
Silver Stars:
Chambar, Vancouver, Canada
Flore, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Trattoria Visconti, Ambivere, Italy
Best Austrian Wine List
– Recognises the best list for wines from Austria.
This category is presented by Austrian Wine
Gold Star:
ECK Restaurant, Devín, Slovakia
What the judges said:
“My Austrian heart was taken by surprise by the diversity and vintage depth. This list strikes a perfect balance – honouring traditional producers while embracing newcomers. The only thing better? Complete alignment among all jury members.”
– Stefan Neumann MS
Silver Stars:
Café Savoy, Prague, Czech Republic
Cardwell Cellars, Melbourne, Australia
Central Park Voorburg, Voorburg, Netherlands
Constance Halaveli Maldives, Maldives
La Dégustation Bohème Bourgeoise, Prague, Czech Republic
Mokotowska 69, Warsaw, Poland
Remouillage, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Rockpool Bar & Grill Perth, Perth, Australia
The Stonehouse, Santa Barbara, USA
Wickens at Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld, Australia
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 may be added. We have commercial partners for certain categories, such as the Best Austrian Wine List, 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 jury panel.
The criteria for the jury are straightforward but not simple: vote for the most exciting wine list representing the category.
The winners in the international categories will qualify for our International Final in June 2025, 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.
