The best wine lists in Ireland – here are all the winners
On October 9, Star Wine List celebrated the best wine lists on Ireland and the teams behind them for the first time. Bar Pez in Dublin was the big winner, with Gold Stars in three of the categories, including Grand Prix for the best list overall.
”What an interesting, eclectic offer. From more traditional long lists with classic offerings and many older vintages, to short, fun, edgier wine lists with a greater focus on natural producers. Lots to choose from here, and looking at newcomers and the wine programs they are building, the future seems even more exciting and diverse,” says jury member Veronique Rivest about the competition.
Ireland was our third stop on our 2023-2024 International tour, and this was the very first time we are running it in Ireland. The event was held on October 9 in Waterford during the Sommit Ireland.
Jury
For the first ever Star Wine List of the Year Ireland, we gathered an all-female top sommelier jury: Pascaline Lepeltier, Veronique Rivest, Julie Dupouy-Young and Heidi Mäkinen. All four of the well-merited jury members have been part of several Star Wine List of the Year events throughout the years but now judge together in this constellation for the first time.
"Of course, we are proud and happy to have these top professionals on the jury panel for the first ever Star Wine List of the Year Ireland," says Krister Bengtsson, Star Wine List's founder and publisher.
Here are all the Gold Star and Silver Star winners:
International Categories:
Grand Prix
– The best list overall
Gold Star:
Bar Pez, Dublin
”I want to come here to drink! That sums up the great attractiveness of this fun, original and highly curated wine list. Unique, interesting presentation with great, informative texts throughout, a lot of producers not seen elsewhere, with many affordable choices and great value overall,” says Veronique Rivest.
Bar Pez's Peter Hogan says:
"I feel almost embarassed because there are so many amazing restaurants, we've only been open a couple of months so we are happy that people like it."
Best Long List
– For wine lists with more than 600 references
Gold Star:
64 Wine, Glasthule
Silver Stars:
Monty's of Kathmandu, Dublin
The Restaurant at Ballyfin Demesne, Ballyfin
”Quite a comprehensive list, mostly European focused but with enticing and precise considerations of world entries. One can appreciate the balance between topical classics and the more edgy, low intervention, experimental producers. To notice too, the range of vintages and the pricing” says jury member Pascaline Lepeltier about the winning list.
Anthony Robineau from 64 Wine says:
"It's an honour to win this award. It has been a long process building this wine list and giving good choice at every single price point which is a challenge."
Best Medium-Sized Wine List
– Recognizes the best wine list with 200-600 references.
The category is presented by Chateau Tour des Termes
Gold Star:
Uno Mas, Dublin
Silver Stars:
Ely Wine Bar, Dublin
L'Atitude 51, Cork
Piglet Wine Bar, Dublin
The Barton Restaurant at the K Club, Straffan
”A pleasure to see not only a great work of curation (with bottles rarely seen elsewhere in the country), but also perfectly resonating with the concept of the restaurant. And if you want to explore more, the fair prices and the selection outside of the bounty of Spain are very rewarding too!” says Pascaline Lepeltier about the winning list.
Cian Lynch at Uno Mas:
"I'm delighted, a lot of hard work goes into it and it's great to get the recognition for it. I want to thank all of our suppliers and thanks very much."
Best Short List
– Recognizes the best wine list with fewer than 200 listings.
Gold Star:
Bar Pez, Dublin
Silver Stars:
D'Olier Street Restaurant, Dublin
Etto, Dublin
Fish Shop, Dublin
Frank’s, Dublin
Note, Dublin
Potager, Skerries
UNioN Wine, Bar & Kitchen, Waterford
”This list leaves a mark on its viewer as it is created in such a unique way one wants to explore it in depth. This list has a soul and is a true piece of art,” says jury member Heidi Mäkinen about the winning list.
"Thank you very much - it's an amazing category and other finalists too," says Peter Hogan at Bar Pez.
Best Austrian Wine List
– Recognizes the best list with wines from Austria
The category is presented by Austrian Wine
Gold Star:
Monty's of Kathmandu, Dublin
Silver Stars:
64 Wine, Glasthule
Ely Wine Bar, Dublin
”A fabulous selection in both white and red wines, featuring various regions and varieties, with some exciting older vintages at very attractive prices. A super Austrian list!” says jury member Julie Dupouy-Young about the winning list.
Shiva Gautam, owner of Monty's of Kathmandu says:
"Thank you to the jury. Things like this don't come easy, it's a long investment, you work hard at it and we're so privileged to be recognised. Thank you."
How come a Nepalese restaurant has such a diverse wine program?
"I'll tell you how it started. When I opened in 1997, people said ethnic restaurants can't do wine lists. I said, I'm going to prove you wrong so that's how it started."
Best Sparkling Wine List
– Recognizes the best list with sparkling wines.
The category is presented by Nyetimber
Gold Star:
64 Wine, Glasthule
Silver Stars:
D'Olier Street Restaurant, Dublin
Dede at Customs House, Baltimore
Frank’s, Dublin
L'Atitude 51, Cork
Monty's of Kathmandu, Dublin
”A great list of champagnes highlighting both grower producers and champagne houses. Also delightful to see the sparkling list being very international giving consumers a chance to try various styles,” says Heidi Mäkinen about the winning list.
Anthony Robineau from 64 Wine says:
"Thank you very much, we have been increasing the sparkling list every year and we are delighted with the awards."
Best California Wine List
– Recognizes the best list with wines from California
The category is presented by DAOU
Gold Star:
Monty's of Kathmandu, Dublin
Silver Stars:
64 Wine, Glasthule
Casper & Giumbini's, Dun Laoghaire
”An extensive list paying tribute to the Modern California with the opportunity, today rare, to taste some mature vintages not only from Napa but also from other part & grapes of the state,” says Pascaline Lepeltier about the winning list.
Shiva Gautam, owner of Monty's of Kathmandu, says:
"All I know is that if I grow the wine list any longer I will get divorced! I love California wines - I love their boldness and there are new wineries making fresher wines as well and there is a great diversity of wines."
Best By the Glass List
– Recognizes the best by the glass list.
Gold Star:
UNioN Wine, Bar & Kitchen, Waterford
Silver Stars:
Bar Pez, Dublin
Daróg Wine Bar, Galway
Dede at Customs House, Baltimore
Ely Wine Bar, Dublin
L'Atitude 51, Cork
Potager, Skerries
”Concise, focused, exciting short and clever selection that demonstrates that sometimes less is more,” says Julie Dupouy-Young about the winning list.
Morgan VanderKamer, owner of UNioN Wine, Bar & Kitchen, says:
"By the glass is kind of fits into my whole ethos when it comes to wine lists - getting the best possible wines that I can get into people's glasses and hopefully we all do the same and keep pouring great wines. I'm thrilled, thank you!"
Best Newcomer List
Gold Star:
Bar Pez, Dublin
Silver Stars:
D'Olier Street Restaurant, Dublin
Daróg Wine Bar, Galway
Forbes Street by Gareth Mullins, Dublin
Hawksmoor, Dublin
”What a great addition to Dublin South Side of the city. A soulful list, contemporary and refreshing that offers incredible value for money,” says Julie Dupouy-Young about the winning list.
Peter Hogan at Bar Pez says:
"I want to shout out to Tommy who is not here because he is working. He had the idea of grouping Atlantic, rivers and terroir focused lists - and the buyers we have working in Ireland is just incredible who bring great wines here and we just do the shopping."
Sustainable Wine List
– For the Sustainable Wine List category, not only the wine list is evaluated, but also the stated actions of the venue, as described through a questionnaire in the application
The category is presented by Familia Torres
Gold Stars:
Daróg Wine Bar, Galway
The Pear Tree Café & Wine Bar, Galway
Silver Stars:
Dede at Customs House, Baltimore
L'Atitude 51, Cork
Potager, Skerries
”This venue has put sustainability at the heart of everything they do from the start. A local driven menu and drinks list, a wine list focusing on organic, biodynamic and natural producers, a selective waste disposal system, elimination of single use products and plastics, and if not possible, then use of recycled items. Plus ongoing staff training on the subject. It is clear sustainability is not a fad here, but a clear commitment,” says Veronique Rivest about Daróg Wine Bar’s winning list.
”This list and venue take sustainability seriously and put equal emphasis on the land and its people. Their targets are set high and by example they could encourage other venues to do the same,” says Heidi Mäkinen about The Pear Tree Café & Wine Bar’s list.
Zsolt Lukács at Daróg Wine Bar says:
"We are just thrilled. I think sustainability in the wine industry is a key and it has been for many many years my way to work - just delighted!"
Lucas Jose Necchi Firmino from The Pear Tree Café & Wine Bar:
"First of all thank you very much, we are feeling blessed to be here and being part of this award. Sustainability came to our business from the very beginning."
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 Sparkling Wine List, presented by Nyetimber. 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 2024, 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.
Do like the Pros - search 2500+ wine lists
Chateau Tour des Termes
Château Tour des Termes is located north of Bordeaux in one of Saint-Estèphe 's great terroirs. Recently acquired by Irish green entrepreneur Dr Eddie O'Connor, the team is dedicated to the future by focusing on sustainable and detail-oriented viticulture.
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.
DAOU
Read more about DAOU by clicking on the logo.
Torres
Read more about Familia Torres by clicking on the logo.
