The International Open finalists 2026 – the Americas
The Star Wine List of the Year International Open celebrates the great wine lists of the world, in all regions we are not visiting with a stop on our physical tour. From Buenos Aires to Milwaukee, Los Angeles to São Paulo, these are the restaurants and bars across the Americas in the running for Gold Stars. Winners will be announced on 2 February 2026.
Our wine list competition acknowledges the hard work of sommelier teams across the globe in creating lists that engage and enlighten wine lovers. We will be hosting designated events for New York and Florida in May but what about the Americas overall? We now have finalists across the rest of the USA, plus Canada, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil as part of the International Open.
These are the restaurants and bars shortlisted for Gold Stars in the Americas this season, including winners from last year Acquerello in San Francisco (USA) and Le Coureur des Bois in Beloeil (Canada), along with plenty of new contenders.
Meet them all, below.
The 2026 winners will be announced online on 2 February and automatically entered into the Star Wine List of the Year International Final – our awards tour’s grand finale – which will be held in June.
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES:
Best Long List
For wine lists with more than 600 references
Finalists:
Acquerello, San Francisco, USA
Anchoita, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Barberian’s Steak House, Toronto, Canada
Café Vivant, Menlo Park, USA
Element 47 - Little Nell, Aspen, USA
Enclos, Sonoma, USA
Guy Savoy, Las Vegas, USA
Le Coureur des Bois, Beloeil, Canada
Nuri Steakhouse, Dallas, USA
Quince, San Francisco, USA
Smyth, Chicago, USA
The Pines Modern Steakhouse, Highland, USA
The Stonehouse, Santa Barbara, USA
Vintage '78 Wine Bar, Kansas City, USA
Best Medium-Sized List
Recognises the best wine list with 200-600 references
Finalists:
Antico Nuovo, Los Angeles, USA
Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro, Milwaukee, USA
Copra, San Francisco, USA
Counter-, Charlotte, USA
K'u'uk, Mérida, Mexico
Kitchen Istanbul, San Francisco, USA
Nouvelle Bar & Bottle, Louisville, USA
Restaurant Asteur, Boisbriand, Canada
The Monarch Steakhouse, Aspen, USA
Best Short List
Recognises the best wine list with fewer than 200 listings
Finalists:
Anchoita Cava, Buenos Aires, Argentina
El Preferido de Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Elena Horto, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Familiar Creature, Saratoga Springs, USA
Gnomo Vinhos, São Paulo, Brazil
L’Abattoir, Vancouver, Canada
Published On Main, Vancouver, Canada
Wildlight Kitchen + Bar, Vancouver, Canada
Best Sparkling Wine List
Recognises the best list for sparkling wines
Finalists:
Acquerello, San Francisco, USA
Barberian’s Steak House, Toronto, Canada
Café Vivant, Menlo Park, USA
Element 47 - Little Nell, Aspen, USA
Enclos, Sonoma, USA
Guy Savoy, Las Vegas, USA
Le Coureur des Bois, Beloeil, Canada
Nouvelle Bar & Bottle, Louisville, USA
Nuri Steakhouse, Dallas, USA
Quince, San Francisco, USA
The Pines Modern Steakhouse, Highland, USA
The Stonehouse, Santa Barbara, USA
TUJU, São Paulo, Brazil
Vintage '78 Wine Bar, Kansas City, USA
Best By-the-Glass List
Recognises the best ‘by-the-glass’ list
Finalists:
Anchoita, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Anchoita Cava, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Enclos, Sonoma, USA
K'u'uk, Mérida, Mexico
Le Coureur des Bois, Beloeil, Canada
Nuri Steakhouse, Dallas, USA
Smyth, Chicago, USA
The Stonehouse, Santa Barbara, USA
TUJU, São Paulo, Brazil
Vintage '78 Wine Bar, Kansas City, USA
Best Newcomer List
Recognises a venue that has recently opened
Finalists and winners will be announced together, on 2 February 2026
Sustainability Prize
Assesses the sustainable commitment of both the wine list and broader venue via a supplementary questionnaire submitted during the application process
Finalists and winners will be announced together, on 2 February 2026
Best Austrian Wine List
Recognises the best list for the wines of Austria
A category presented by Austrian Wine
Finalists:
Element 47 - Little Nell, Aspen, USA
Enclos, Sonoma, USA
Guy Savoy, Las Vegas, USA
Le Coureur des Bois, Beloeil, Canada
Smyth, Chicago, USA
The Stonehouse, Santa Barbara, USA
Best Italian Wine List
Recognises the best list for the wines of Italy
Finalists:
Acquerello, San Francisco, USA
Antico Nuovo, Los Angeles, USA
Barberian’s Steak House, Toronto, Canada
Café Vivant, Menlo Park, USA
Element 47 - Little Nell, Aspen, USA
Guy Savoy, Las Vegas, USA
Le Coureur des Bois, Beloeil, Canada
Nuri Steakhouse, Dallas, USA
Quince, San Francisco, USA
The Pines Modern Steakhouse, Highland, USA
The Stonehouse, Santa Barbara, USA
Vintage '78 Wine Bar, Kansas City, USA
Special Jury Prize
Rewards a wine lovers’ place that does something out of the ordinary
Finalists and winners will be announced together, on 2 February 2026
Expert jury panel
- Julie Dupouy-Young – four-time Best Sommelier in Ireland; third place at Best Sommelier of the World 2016 (ASI)
- Jonathan Gouveia – Master Sommelier
- Stefan Neumann – Master Sommelier
Rules
Read our full terms and conditions here.
Commercial opportunities
Please email us to discuss sponsoring a category in the Star Wine List of the Year International Open 2025.
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