Sweden’s Best Wine Lists – here are all the winners
On 8 May 2023, Star Wine List celebrated the best wine lists in Sweden — for the fifth time. The celebration is a part of our international tour and the winners in the international categories in Sweden will compete against the winners from many other countries in the international final in June 2023. Here we reveal all the winners!
"After studying a large amount of Swedish wine lists, it is striking what a high level the Swedish sommelier corps maintains. Today's wine lists breathe great professional experience and knowledge in both theory and practice and the lists match well with the restaurant's menu," says jury member Mischa Billing.
The first Swedish Star Wine List celebration took place in 2018. Five years later, Star Wine List and Sweden’s best sommelier teams once again gathered in Stockholm. The awards was celebrated at Skyddsrummet, Söder Mälarstrand in central Stockholm on 8 May.
The event was judged by a line-up of exceptional judges: Mischa Billing, Rajat Parr, Heidi Mäkinen MW, and Paz Levinson.
Categories and criteria
The jury has evaluated 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 international events. In addition, local categories have been added for Sweden.
The criteria for the jury are straightforward but not simple: Vote for the most exciting wine list representing the category.
Categories:
Best Austrian Wine List
– Recognizes the best wine list with Austrian wines.
The category is presented by Austrian Wine
Finalists:
Djuret, Stockholm
Grand Hôtel, Stockholm
Heaven 23, Gothenburg
Hörte Brygga, Skivarp
Operakällaren, Stockholm
PM & Vänner, Växjö
Winner:
Heaven 23, Gothenburg
“Well it’s always a joy to be recognized. We hoped to win this time, but you can never be certain. You have to keep working really hard – otherwise you lose," says Andreas Hiller, Head Sommelier at Heaven 23.
”This place has not just chosen their focus clearly but also executes their choice in a top manner. The wine list could be used as a real marketing tool for the country; it's showcasing how one can drink through the list, imagine visiting all the regions and their top producers, and create memorable moments with the mature wines on offer,” says jury member Heidi Mäkinen MW.
Grand Prix
– The best wine list with more than 600 references.
Finalists:
Bank Hotel, Stockholm
Djuret, Stockholm
Eriksbergs Vilt & Natur, Trensum
Ett Hem, Stockholm
Grand Hôtel, Stockholm
Granen, Åre
Operakällaren, Stockholm
PM & Vänner, Växjö
Restaurang AG, Stockholm
Winner:
PM & Vänner, Växjö
”One of the most comprehensive wine lists in the world. The dedication and focus is unmatched!” says jury member Rajat Parr about the winning list.
Arvid Lundström, sommelier at PM & Winner said on stage:
"We're very happy for the Grand Prix. I’ve been here for seven years, working with everyone, and I’m more and more proud for each year. We have almost 6,000 references, and it’s not only about the number – we work with it on a daily basis, and every purchase is made with care. And that’s the secret really, how we can create it.”
Best Medium-Sized Wine List
– Recognizes the best wine list with 200-600 references.
Finalists:
Agnes, Stockholm
Bulot, Gothenburg
Farang, Stockholm
Grus Grus, Stockholm
Heaven 23, Gothenburg
La Strega, Gothenburg
Mathias Dahlgren – Matbaren, Stockholm
Restaurant Mutantur, Malmö
Voisine, Stockholm
Winner:
Agnes, Stockholm
”Head sommelière Emelie Svensson has that rare and unique ability to create a wine list that gives the guest security, curiosity and desire to try new things by mixing great knowledge with the restaurant's personality and finesse,” says the jury’s Mischa Billing.
Best Short List
– Recognizes the best wine list with fewer than 200 listings.
Finalists:
Astrids, Bromma
Babette, Stockholm
Bar Nîmes, Stockholm
Bord, Stockholm
Cafe Cuvée, Stockholm
Frö, Sälen
Schmaltz, Stockholm
Symbios, Stockholm
Weinberg's, Trelleborg
Winner:
Babette, Stockholm
"The secret is nothing special really. We put up some good wines that we like but also some wines that can suit everyone," says sommelier Max Garberg at Babette.
”This place really invites you to have some fun with the wine list. The choices are very personal and unique, the producers represent what's currently happening in their respective regions, and the vintages allow you to follow your preference whether that's for old or new,” says jury member Heidi Mäkinen MW.
Best Sparkling Wine List
– Recognizes the best list with sparkling wines.
The category is presented by Nyetimber
Finalists:
Bank Hotel, Stockholm
Djuret, Stockholm
Hotell Borgholm, Borgholm
Operakällaren, Stockholm
PM & Vänner, Växjö
Restaurang AG, Stockholm
Sturehof, Stockholm
ÄNG, Tvååker
Winner:
Operakällaren, Stockholm
"We have the honor to work with a beautiful cellar. And Johan Iller (Head Sommelier, Editor's note) works very hard with representing the smaller producers. Everyone in the staff are very involved and interested so it helps a lot," says sommelier Klara Larsson.
"An amazing Champagne list with the classics but also with the new generation of winemakers listed. It is quite unique to see so many vintages going back to the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and so on for the finest Champagne in the world, together with very new labels on the market. It represents the past and the present of the appellation Champagne and the dynamism that the region is having right now," says jury member Paz Levinson.
Best By the Glass List
– Recognizes the best by the glass list.
The category is presented by Domaine Laroche
Finalists:
Combo Vinbaren, Stockholm
Folii, Stockholm
Harlequin, Umeå
L’Enoteca, Malmö
Operakällaren, Stockholm
Quai Kök & Bar, Lidingö
Sturehof, Stockholm
Winner:
Operakällaren, Stockholm
"We try to create a glass list that has something for all our guests. We try to offer both high quality but also something suitable for everyone. We work a lot with Coravin, which makes this kind of range possible," says Klara Larsson, sommelier at Operakällaren.
”One of the deepest wine by the glass programs I have ever seen. There is something for everybody,” says Rajat Parr.
Sustainable Wine List
– This award evaluates both the venue's wine list and how they work sustainably at the venue
The category is presented by Gérard Bertrand
Finalists:
Frö, Sälen
Gemla Vinbar, Stockholm
Hörte Brygga, Skivarp
Skoogs Krog & Logi, Funäsdalen
Swedish Wine Center, Malmö
Weinberg's, Trelleborg
ÄNG, Tvååker
Winner:
Hörte Brygga, Skivarp
”A soulful collection of wines! A magnificent collection of natural wines,” says Rajat Parr.
Hörte Brygga couldn't attend the awards, but sommelier Emma Sjöstrand sent a message:
"It warms the heart to win such an honourable category, and it really motivates us to continue working hard.”
Special Jury Prize
– Recognizes a venue that has done something extra with their wine list, such as the direction, the style or the value.
Winners:
Heaven 23, Gothenburg
Voisine, Stockholm
”Sommeliers Béatrice Becher & Jonas Sandberg are together creating a unique wine experience in Stockholm. The combination on their wine list is a lovely mix from two strong sommelier personalities, Beatrice and Jonas. The wine list is based on their professionality, curiosity and a humbled concern and love for their guests,” says Mischa Billing about Voisine’s winning list.
Paz Levinson says this about Heaven 23's list:
"The list has a focus in Austrian wine which is audacious and takes risks, showing their passion to wine. We love this list because of its personality, it is a list that propose things, there are ideas behind and notions about wine styles and producers. It is a list that is fun and diverse were you can find the classics and the most innovative producers with delicious wines."
National Categories:
The National Categories are held especially for the Swedish event.
Best California Wine List
– Recognizes the best list with Californian wines.
The category is presented by Louis M. Martini
Finalists:
Bank Hotel, Stockholm
Grand Hôtel, Stockholm
Granen, Åre
PM & Vänner, Växjö
Restaurang AG, Stockholm
Sturehof, Stockholm
Winner:
Restaurang AG, Stockholm
"It's an honour to win this category. There is a lot of great things happening in California, some great Chardonnay and Pinot Noir coming out. And the style of Napa, where is it now, is very interesting to explore," says sommelier Erik Forssell.
"This cellar contains treasures from the history of California rare to see in European wine lists. The main houses are represented and the main regions but with a variety of styles and producers so we can find the classics of Napa and Sonoma, but also the Central coast as Santa Barbara. Back vintages of the main cellars are listed with historical wines from the 80’s and 90’s," says Paz Levinson about the winning list.
Best German Wine List
– Recognizes the best list with German wines.
The category is presented by Wines of Germany
Finalists:
E & G, Stockholm
Farang, Stockholm
Grand Hôtel, Stockholm
Operakällaren, Stockholm
PM & Vänner, Växjö
ÄNG, Tvååker
Winner:
PM & Vänner, Växjö
”As a guest, it is pure luxury to browse through PM's German wines. The craft and knowledge to create the selection is sommelier excellence and passion at a high level and it has taken a long time. Don’t be surprised if your grasp of time and space disappears while you dream away among the vineyards and flavours of German wines,” says Mischa Billing.
Best Swedish Wine List
– The best wine list featuring wines from Sweden
Finalists:
Hörte Brygga, Skivarp
Sankt Jörgen Park, Gothenburg
Spiseriet, Varberg
Swedish Wine Center, Malmö
Sydkustens at Pillehill, Skivarp
Winner:
Sankt Jörgen Park, Gothenburg
”Head sommelier Victor Fuentes Quezada is one of the first to list Swedish wines. It has yielded good results, in both a wide and deep selection of the best Sweden has to offer when it comes to wine. A passion that has resulted in an impressive collection that arouses curiosity to both drink and know more about Swedish wine,” says Mischa Billing.
Rafael Da Silva and Isabelle Jakobsson represented the venue on stage, instead of Head Sommelier Victor Fuentes Quezada.
“Victor’s love for Swedish wines is amazing, he’s been going around all Sweden to meet producers. He’s started to create a fantastic wine list, and now he has planted our own vineyards as well. It’s crazy to think that this passion for Swedish wine comes from a Chilean guy!" said Rafael Da Silva.
Best Italian Wine List
– Recognizes the best list with Italian wines.
The category is presented by Mandrarossa
Finalists:
Bank Hotel, Stockholm
Djuret, Stockholm
Ett Hem, Stockholm
Grand Hôtel, Stockholm
Granen, Åre
La Strega, Gothenburg
Operakällaren, Stockholm
PM & Vänner, Växjö
Restaurang AG, Stockholm
Winner:
Granen, Åre
"This list contains an array of producers and styles, especially from Piemonte and Tuscany, that it is always a favourite to prize the selection and team behind. The Italy section goes really in depth representing not only the iconic producers but also the new producers of each region and it is beautiful to see the dialogue between wines from Accomasso, G Rinaldi, Bondonio, Roagna, B. Mascarello, just only to talk about Piemonte," says Paz Levinson.
Best Spanish Wine List
– Recognizes the best list with Spanish wines.
The category is presented by Marqués de Riscal
Finalists:
Eriksbergs Vilt & Natur, Trensum
Grand Hôtel, Stockholm
Hörte Brygga, Skivarp
PM & Vänner, Växjö
Spanjorskan, Stockholm
ÄNG, Tvååker
Winner:
PM & Vänner, Växjö
”This wine list convinces anyone in doubt about the greatness of Spanish wines. The list includes the most contemporary producers of various regions, including an exciting selection of sherries, one of the often forgotten gems of our wine world. The classic producers are well mixed with the trendiest names and the verticals on offer make one dream of a visit to the restaurant,” says the jury’s Heidi Mäkinen.
PM & Vänner's Ruben Sanz Ramiro says:
“It’s been a phenomenal evolution in Spain for the last 15 years. As several of us in the staff are from Spain, we’re proud to endure the greatness of Spanish wines and we’re thrilled that there is a category for Spanish wines and that we won it!”
The winners in the international categories will qualify for our International Final in June, where they will face off with the category winners from other countries and continents, such as South Africa, Australia, UK and New York.
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.
Nyetimber
English sparkling producer Nyetimber is the leading producer of sparkling wine in the country.
Domaine Laroche
Read more about Domaine Laroche by clicking on the logo.
Gérard Bertrand
Gérard Bertrand is the spearhead of a viticulture committed to a better future. With the Languedoc's benchmark biodynamic wines, they create wines that reflect all the nuances of their terroir. Recognized for his great talent as a blender as well as for his audacity and creativity, Gérard and his teams are working to make the wines of southern France shine throughout the world.
Presented by Mandrarossa
Read more about Mandrarossa by clicking on the logo
Wines of Germany
Read more about Wines of Germany by clicking the logo!
Louis M. Martini
Louis M. Martini is an iconic Californian wine producer. Read more by clicking on the logo.
Marqués de Riscal
Read more about Marqués de Riscal by clicking on the logo.
