The best wine lists in New York – here are the Gold Star winners
On March 25, Star Wine List returned to New York to celebrate the best wine lists and the teams behind them for the second time. Eleven Madison Park won Gold Stars in three categories, including Grand Prix for best wine list overall.
"It is always exciting to judge New York wine lists, the dream city for sommeliers. The standards are so high and the creativity is so in the air that we can sense the vibration of the city by the great, fun, serious and diverse wine lists," said jury member Paz Levinson about the competition.
The dining room at Jupiter Restaurant at the Rockefeller center was packed with sommeliers and guests on Monday afternoon - mingling, tasting and celebrating the diversity on offer in the city's wine lists - all the way from small natural wine bars to bistros and fine dining restaurants.
"Both for wine lovers living in the city and us visiting, we are blessed with the originality and creativity of the teams here. New York can be overwhelming but there is a sense of community in wine and hospitality and we are happy to be able to shine a small light on it," said Krister Bengtsson, founder and publisher of Star Wine List.
Star Wine List of the Year New York is included in our 2023-2024 International tour, and the event was held in New York City on March 25.
Jury
The jury for the second Star Wine List of the Year competition in New York included a top line-up of esteemed wine experts who have been poring over the wine lists of some of the city's finest wine bars and wine restaurants in an attempt to identify the very best.
The four-person panel consisted of:
• Heidi Mäkinen, Master of Wine
• Paz Levinson, named Best Sommelier of Americas
• Rajat Parr
• Christy Canterbury MW
And, here are the Gold Star and Silver Star winners in all the ten categories:
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES:
Grand Prix
– The best list overall
Finalists:
Eleven Madison Park, New York City
"I've been following this list from long time. Even before Dustin Wilson became Head Sommelier, it was always impressive. It is a real collection of wine treasures from different parts of the world. I love the Rhone section, such depth is rare to see. Also the open-minded vision that includes beer, cider, sake and much more," said jury member Paz Levinson about the winning list.
"Thank you so much. As Paz were saying in her quote, the work is just getting started, we're just getting started. Generally, the Chef is pushing us to go forward and go beyond everything. All the work that all the people put in, it's just amazing," said Eleven Madison Park's Gabriel Di Bella.
What are you working on for the future?
"In terms of the beverage program as a whole, it's like sake, beer, cider, all those things are a part of our wine list. We're actually working on extending our sake program. And then it's just carrying on, working on the wine list. We want to kind of push ourselves and be open-minded and more diverse."
Best Long List
– For wine lists with more than 600 references.
Gold Star:
Eleven Madison Park, New York City
"This is getting very overwhelming right now. Thank you very much. Very much like everyone is saying, it's all down to the people we have down in the restaurant. Yes, it is a big wine list and a long wine list, and it hasn't been done in the last two or three years. It's been a long walk for many people, and we're just trying to do the same for the next generation of somms and wine directors and teams that are going to join the restaurant. Thank you very much," said Gabriel Di Bella at Eleven Madison Park.
"This venue shows how a wine list can be beautiful, as all the wines are presented in a clear manner. The wines chosen include both essential classics and more quirky choices, making the list a dream come true for all types of wine lovers," said jury member Heidi Mäkinen.
Silver Stars:
Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills
Chambers, New York City
Crabtree's Kittle House Restaurant & Inn, Chappaqua
Estela, New York City
ILIS, New York City
La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels Centre St, New York City
One White Street, New York City
Terroir Tribeca, New York City
The Four Horsemen, New York City
Best Medium-Sized List
– Recognizes the best wine list with 200-600 references.
The category is presented by Premium Estates of Austria
Gold Star:
Contento, New York City
"Very unexpected. It's just an honor to be nominated. It really is a team effort every day. So, to my team: thank you," said Mara Rudzinski, wine director at Contento.
"A greatly curated list, sensible, original and with a lovely message: put in focus wines that have a social impact. Very open-minded, and integration is the key word for this list. A great selection from Argentina and Chile that is rare to see!" said the jury's Paz Levinson.
Silver Stars:
Charlie Bird, New York City
Noreetuh, New York City
One Fifth, New York City
Pasquale Jones, New York City
Popina, New York City
Roscioli NYC, New York City
Wallsé, New York City
Winona’s, New York City
Best Short List
– Recognizes the best wine list with fewer than 200 listings.
Gold Star:
Ardesia Wine Bar, New York City
"Thank you so much. We are so excited. This was very unexpected. I would also like to thank you to your wine list organization for shining a light on our corner of the industry. And we are just so happy to be here with you today. At Ardesia, we really aim to try to make wine more approachable and fun without taking away the serious nature of it as well. We're really grateful for this recognition," said Ardesia's owner and wine director Mandy Oser.
"The Best Short List may not seem all that short with up to 200 selections. However, it is hard to pick just the right balance of all of the styles, varieties and origins available in a market as jam-packed with good wines as New York City. This list engages the reader and guides the wine drinker to many adventures," said the jury's Christy Canterbury.
Silver Stars:
Dame, New York City
Foxface Natural, New York City
Kru, New York City
Luthun, New York City
Peasant, New York City
Tonchin Brooklyn, New York City
Best Austrian Wine List
– Recognizes the best list with wines from Austria
The category is presented by Austrian Wine
Gold Star:
Wallsé, New York City
"Twenty-five years ago in New York City, this category might have listed restaurants that simply had one Austrian Grüner Veltliner and Riesling on it. But, the city's love for these grapes--and so many others from Austria, both white AND red, grew quickly. Now we scour lists for obscure cuvées and vintage depth, too," said jury member Christy Canterbury MW.
Silver Stars:
Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills
Eleven Madison Park, New York City
Koloman Restaurant, New York City
La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels Centre St, New York City
Terroir Tribeca, New York City
Best Sparkling Wine List
– Recognizes the best list with sparkling wines.
The category is presented by Nyetimber
Gold Star:
Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills
"I'm accepting this award on behalf of our beverage director, Hannah Williams. At Blue Hill at Stone Barns we get to open a lot of wines from beautiful, rare producers that we all love to enjoy around this room. And we get to share those delicious sips with our guests, who are primed to let us take control because we don't have a menu, and that gives us a little more grace and responsibility, which is fantastic. So we're so happy to be here again," said Anya Abrams from Blue Hill at Stone Barns on stage.
"This list is hard to match as it takes sparkling wines very seriously. Despite the origin, the chosen producers and wines are great examples of their styles and the champagne list makes one dream," said Heidi Mäkinen MW.
Silver Stars:
Chambers, New York City
Eleven Madison Park, New York City
ILIS, New York City
La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels Centre St, New York City
Le Pavillon, New York City
SAGA, New York City
Sushi Nakazawa NYC, New York City
Terroir Tribeca, New York City
Best California Wine List
– Recognizes the best list with wines from California
Gold Star:
Eleven Madison Park, New York City
"Thank you very much. California wines are maybe one of the biggest bottoms of our program, and it's been so for 25 years. California has always been one of the prime wine regions for us. And yes, thank you, this is really very unexpected," said Eleven Madison Park's Gabriel Di Bella.
"The list of California wines is unparalleled. So much depth while staying current with what's happening in the heart of California wine," said jury member Rajat Parr about the winning list.
Silver Stars:
Benoit New York, New York City
Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills
Chambers, New York City
Crabtree's Kittle House Restaurant & Inn, Chappaqua
Estela, New York City
ILIS, New York City
La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels Centre St, New York City
Restaurant Marc Forgione, New York City
Best By the Glass List
– Recognizes the best by the glass list.
The category is presented by New Zealand Wine
Gold Star:
Terroir Tribeca, New York City
"So this is a great Monday afternoon. I want to toast all of our peers for all of the kick-ass stuff that you do on a daily basis. Most importantly, to the team at Terroir: it is all of them who do the heavy lifting on a daily basis that make that joint what it is. Big cheers," said Terroir Tribeca's owner Paul Grieco.
"This list has had the most incredible wines by the glass list since they first opened. It is my favorite spot when I am in New York City," said Rajat Parr.
Silver Stars:
Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills
Chambers, New York City
Eleven Madison Park, New York City
La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels Centre St, New York City
One Fifth, New York City
SAGA, New York City
Best Newcomer List
– Recognizes a venue that recently opened
Gold Star:
ILIS, New York City
"Thank you so much. It's just really nice to got some recognition from a whole other part of the world. And also to make people to come to Brooklyn, because Brooklyn needs recognition," said wine director Tira Johnson at ILIS.
"One of the pleasures of judging Star Wine List of the Year is discovering new restaurants – and not just in Manhattan. Twenty years ago, the only places people went to eat in Brooklyn to were Peter Luger's and The River Café. Now Brooklyn's dining scene is arguably as robust in casual and fine dining as Manhattan's. But, wherever a restaurant is opened, the competition is tough to create a unique and diverse wine line that allows diners to feel as swept off their feet as they should by the kitchen," said Christy Canterbury MW about the winning list.
Silver Stars:
Café Boulud New York, New York City
Foxface Natural, New York City
Roscioli NYC, New York City
Tolo, New York City
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 Lingua Franca
Gold Star:
Chambers, New York City
"The dedication to honest farming is unlike anyone else in the wine world. The sommelier has championed organic, biodynamic and regenerative farming her entire career. Bravo!" said the jury's Rajat Parr.
Finalists:
Amali, New York City
Contento, New York City
Foxface Natural, New York City
Pinch Chinese, New York City
Tonchin Brooklyn, New York City
Winona’s, New York City
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 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.
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New Zealand Wine
The national organisation for the New Zealand's grape and wine industry.
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.
