Meet the finalists in Star Wine List of the Year Spain 2026

Photo by Sam Adams.

By Rachel Fellows

Published 08-January-2026

News / Spain

These are the 41 restaurants and bars in the running for Gold Stars in our Spanish wine list competition. Who will our winners be? All will be revealed in February.

Star Wine List of the Year is our global wine list competition, and we’re visiting 14 regions this season (plus hosting an extra, online contest to cover the rest of the world with our International Open). It’s hard to believe that we only added Spain to the tour last year but we are excited to be returning for a second time, to name the best wine lists across the country and its islands – home to plenty of beautiful wines and, of course, wine lists.

The competition is fierce, but our jury panel has convened and we have their shortlist. The submitted wine lists were analysed by judges Pilar Cavero (Best Sommelier of Spain 2013 and our local expert for this event), Paz Levinson (ASI Best Sommelier of the Americas 2015), Martynas Pravilonis (Best Sommelier of the Baltics 2016, 2017) and Master Sommelier Jonathan Gouveia. Scroll down to meet all of the restaurants and bars up for Gold Stars.

The 2026 finalists include some of our inaugural winners from last year, including Ambivium, in Peñafiel, which received two Gold Stars in 2025 including the highest accolade of Grand Prix. Their team is once again shortlisted in the Best Long List category – one of four nominations, which include one of this year’s updated categories, for Best Italian Wine List. Also returning for another go at Gold are Barcelona’s Moments, Madrid’s Berria Wine Bar, and Amelia By Paulo Airaudo in San Sebastián. However, with plenty of new venues to choose from too, you’ll have to stay tuned to learn who emerges victorious.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Madrid, on 16 February 2026, by Star Wine List’s Liora Levi and jury member Pilar Cavero.

INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES:

Best Long List

For wine lists with more than 600 references

Best Medium-Sized List

Recognises the best wine list with 200-600 references

Best Short List

Recognises the best wine list with fewer than 200 listings

Best Sparkling Wine List

Recognises the best list for sparkling wines

Finalists:
Ambivium, Peñafiel
Amelia By Paulo Airaudo, San Sebastián
Bar FM, Granada
Berria Wine Bar, Madrid
Cocina Hermanos Torres, Barcelona
Laredo, Madrid
Rekondo Restaurant, San Sebastián
Restaurante La Lobita, Navaleno
Restaurante La Tabla, Gijón
Saddle, Madrid
Venta Moncalvillo, Daroca de Rioja

Best By-the-Glass List

Recognises the best ‘by-the-glass’ list

Best Newcomer List

Recognises a venue that has recently opened

Finalists:
Brasserie Astoria Marbella, Marbella
Echezo, Ibiza
Maestro Bar, Valencia
Pompa, Barcelona
Rama Wine Bar, Madrid
Serralunga Wine Bar, Valencia

Sustainability Prize

Assesses the sustainable commitment of both the wine list and broader venue via a supplementary questionnaire submitted during the application process