The best wine lists in Finland – here are the Gold Star winners
On 22 May, Star Wine List celebrated the best wine lists in Finland – for the fourth time. The celebration is a part of our international tour and the winners in the international categories in Finland will move on to compete against the winners from many other countries in the international final in June 2023. Here are all the winners!
”This year's judging in Finland was particularly challenging as the level was overall very impressive and it resulted in many discussions and debates amongst the judges. Finland might not be an epicenter for wine production but the wine scene is nonetheless incredibly exciting and refreshing with many contemporary, sustainable driven and characterful wine lists. A huge well done to all the Sommeliers involved in making those lists so interesting,” says jury member Julie Dupouy-Young.
The first Star Wine List celebration in Finland took place in 2020, and on 22 May it was the fourth time the competition was held in Finland.
The event was judged by a line-up of exceptional judges: Piotr Pietras MS, Julie Dupouy-Young, Jan Konetzki, and Terhi Oksanen-Alén. (Note: Terhi Oksanen-Alén has not scored venues in the Muru group due to personal connections. This is standard procedure for our awards.)
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 so simple: Vote for the most exciting wine list representing the category.
And – here are all the winners:
International Categories:
Best Austrian Wine List
– Recognizes the best wine list with Austrian wines.
The category is presented by Austrian Wine
Finalists:
Basbas Kulma, Helsinki
Restaurant Muru, Helsinki
Savoy, Helsinki
Palace, Helsinki
Grape Wine Bar, Helsinki
Restaurant Grön, Helsinki
Sekel Bar & Restaurant, Helsinki
Winner:
Restaurant Grön, Helsinki
"The wine list of the winner is giving us Austrian diversity. Bottles from recent vintages to aged wines, the selection is covering all styles of wine made in Austria from sparkling to sweet wine. Great work," says jury member Jan Konetzki.
Grand Prix
– The best wine list with more than 600 references.
Finalists:
Restaurant Muru, Helsinki
Savoy, Helsinki
Palace, Helsinki
Winner:
Savoy, Helsinki
"Savoy is by far the longest run operation in Finland, dating back pretty much 29 years, so most of the thanks goes to my colleagues before me. I’m very happy to receive this prize," says Savoy's Santeri Lankinen.
The jury's Jan Konetzki:
"A selection truly worthy of a Grand Prix. The list is classic with verticals and plenty of wines from well known producers with cool accents, depth and width. A wine lover's dream!"
Best Medium-Sized Wine List
– Recognizes the best wine list with 200-600 references.
Finalists:
Basbas Kulma, Helsinki
Pastis, Helsinki
Carelia, Helsinki
Apotek, Helsinki
Restaurant Grön, Helsinki
Omadi Bar & Bistro, Helsinki
Winner:
Basbas Kulma, Helsinki
”The winner has a very interesting list. You can really see that there are professionals behind this work,” says jury member Terhi Oksanen-Alén about the winning list.
Best Short List
– Recognizes the best wine list with fewer than 200 listings.
Finalists:
BasBas - Baskeri & Basso, Helsinki
Wino, Helsinki
Muru Winebar, Helsinki
Grape Wine Bar, Helsinki
Kuurna, Helsinki
Gaijin, Helsinki
Sekel Bar & Restaurant, Helsinki
Winner:
BasBas - Baskeri & Basso, Helsinki
”A concise and balanced list dedicated to European wines. Great selection of both classical and contemporary regions and producers making it palatable for a wide audience. Well priced and pleasant layout,” says the jury’s Julie Dupouy-Young.
Best Sparkling Wine List
– Recognizes the best list with sparkling wines.
The category is presented by Nyetimber
Finalists:
Basbas Kulma, Helsinki
Carelia, Helsinki
Bronda, Helsinki
Nokka, Helsinki
Savoy, Helsinki
Palace, Helsinki
Restaurant Grön, Helsinki
Winner:
Carelia, Helsinki
”In-depth and exciting Champagne selection. It is dominated by growers - both the up-and-coming and local stars. There is also a well thought out selection of sparkling wines from other regions,” says jury member Piotr Pietras MS.
Best By the Glass List
– Recognizes the best by the glass list.
Finalists:
Restaurant Muru, Helsinki
Pöllöwaari, Jyväskylä
Vinho, Turku
The Tasting Room, Turku
Viinitupa Vuorenmaja, Mänttä
Omadi Bar & Bistro, Helsinki
The Plaza Wine & Craft Beer, Helsinki
Winner:
Omadi Bar & Bistro, Helsinki
”Concise, yet diverse by-the-glass list made with passion. Modern, new wave producers combined with some renowned, classic estates; good presence of sake, too,” says Piotr Pietras MS.
Special Jury Prize
– Recognizes a venue that has done something extra with their wine list, such as the direction, the style or the value.
Winner:
Basbas Kulma, Helsinki
”A stunning wine list both visually and in terms of its content. The layout and font contribute to a sensation of flow that reveals page by page a rather modern selection driven by sustainability and punctuated by the timeless elegance of some of the great classical wines of Europe,” says Julie Dupouy-Young.
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 Viinitie
Finalists:
Basbas Kulma, Helsinki
Wino, Helsinki
Restaurant Grön, Helsinki
Winner:
Restaurant Grön, Helsinki
”The winner has a very good sustainability program. In general, sustainability has taken major steps forward in the last few years. It would be wonderful to see non- glass formats when serving wine,” says jury member Terhi Oksanen-Alén.
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 Sweden.
Read about the terms and how Star Wine List judges the wine lists here.
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Nyetimber
English sparkling producer Nyetimber is the leading producer of sparkling wine in the country.
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.
Viinitie
Read more about Viinitie by clicking on the logo.
