Three Gold Stars to Culture Wine Bar – here are all the winners in South Africa
On September 16, Star Wine List once again celebrated the best wine lists in South Africa and the teams behind them, in cooperation with the South African Sommeliers Association (SASA). Culture Wine Bar was the big winner, with Gold Stars in three categories, including the prestigious Grand Prix category. Here are all the winning wine lists!
”Impressive to see the continuous development across the board, despite all the struggles of the previous years. Many wine lists had an even clearer structure, focus, and good balance of local and international wines. As a somm, I was particularly excited by the large amount of mature vintages on offer. Cheers to the South African sommelier community!” says jury member Marc Almert about the competition.
Local jury member Tawanda Marume says:
”There has been great progress from last year. We are now seeing more well-rounded wine lists that cover various wine styles and price points, informative and well thought out. I am also happy to see many small and boutique producers featured on the lists, and old vintages and international wines from not just the main wine producing countries. The teams behind the curation of the submitted wine lists are definitely heading in the right direction and future prospects are exciting.”
And – here are all the winners:
International Categories:
Grand Prix
– The best list overall
The category is presented by Winterhalter
Gold Star:
Culture Wine Bar, Cape Town
”A wine list that has depth, width and personality. It ranked highly in all categories and seduced our judging panel on more than one occasion. A lot of knowledge, skill, care and passion have gone into it. Amazing job!” says jury member Julie Dupouy-Young.
Culture Wine Bar, owner
Matt Manning:
”It’s an amazing award, Keize and Caroline work endlessly to keep our list exciting, thank you guys and thank you to Star Wine List for focusing on wine bars and wine restaurants around the world.”
Keize Mumba, Head Sommelier at Grub & Vine and Culture:
”I think wine is a beautiful thing. It creates profound moments like this. If you have an interest for wine, it does not matter whether you just enjoy wine or your are a wine professional - it has created this kind of a moment when we can come together. I think it is not only us who are on this stage but all of you, your interest and love for wine is part of what we are here for. It is not only us who are the winners, you are part of it as well. ”
Best Long List
– For wine lists with more than 600 references
The category is presented by Winterhalter
Gold Star:
Aubergine, Cape Town
Silver Stars:
Ellerman House, Cape Town
Noop, Paarl
Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa, Johannesburg
”Great wine lists submitted resulting in a closely contested category. All the lists were not just long but diverse and exciting, well done to all. The winner was just a cut above the rest,” says the jury’s Tawanda Marume.
Aubergine, Ralph Reynolds, Sommelier:
”We have spent a long time collecting and our chef Harald Bresselschmidt will be proud of this. We are always grateful to people who come and partake in our little treasure trove that is Aubergine.”
Best Medium-Sized Wine List
– Recognizes the best wine list with 200-600 references.
The category is presented by Amorim Cork
Gold Star:
Culture Wine Bar, Cape Town
Silver Stars:
Capito, Pretoria
FYN Restaurant, Cape Town
Ivory Manor Boutique Hotel, Pretoria
La Colombe, Constantia
Marble Restaurant, Johannesburg
Signature Restaurant Sandton, Johannesburg
Signature Restaurant Umhlanga, Durban
”Superb list paying great tribute to South African wines and wines from the rest of the world. Featuring some of the wines in two different ways - by grapes and by style - is clever and super consumer-friendly. The list is clear, easy to read and offers a great selection of wines for all palates. Exciting selection of older vintages and large bottles. A beautiful list that will enthuse all wine lovers,” says Julie Dupouy-Young
Culture Wine Bar, Caroline Ngwenya, Bar Manager:
”We are very honoured to be awarded in this category for the second year. It’s something we work for every day so we are honoured to get this recognition.”
Best Short List
– Recognizes the best wine list with fewer than 200 listings.
Gold Star:
Grub & Vine, Cape Town
Silver Stars:
Café Charles, Cape Town
ëlgr restaurant, Cape Town
Judd’s Local, Cape Town
PRIVA Lounge, Pretoria
Salsify at the Roundhouse, Cape Town
The Chefs' Table Restaurant, Durban
”Grub & Wine is a great example and proof that a great wine list does not necessarily have to be long. Exciting and fun layout headlining different grape varieties and playful styles, great selection by the glass, and a list that features not only cult classics from South Africa but also a fine selection of well-known French wines,” says jury member Raimonds Tomsons, ASI Best Sommelier of the World 2023.
Matt Manning, owner and chef:
”It’s an honour and we look forward to being in the International final again!”
Best Sparkling Wine List
– Recognizes the best list with sparkling wines.
The category is presented by Nyetimber
Gold Star:
Culture Wine Bar, Cape Town
Silver Stars:
Aubergine, Cape Town
Belthazar, Cape Town
Grub & Vine, Cape Town
Marble Restaurant, Johannesburg
”Culture’s sparkling wine list is full of bubbly treasures featuring not only a fine selection of Cap Classique but also exciting Pét-Nat styles, sparkling wines from the Loire, Tasmania and the UK and a fine selection of Champagnes including sought-after growers and well-known respectable houses,” says Raimonds Tomsons.
Culture Wine Bar: Matt Manning, owner:
”Thanks to our importers we have had the opportunity to indulge in some incredible wines not just from South Africa but from all across the world. I think it’s amazing for people to discover different sparkling wines.
Best By the Glass List
Gold Star:
Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa, Johannesburg
Silver Stars:
Belthazar, Cape Town
Culture Wine Bar, Cape Town
ëlgr restaurant, Cape Town
Grub & Vine, Cape Town
Marble Restaurant, Johannesburg
The Wine Glass, Stellenbosch
”The dedication to offer an exciting by-the-glass selection is evident, not only from the Cape but also from France, including many back vintages. Great use of Coravin! Congratulations to the entire team,” says Marc Almert.
Llloyd Jusa, Head Sommelier and Director of the Saxon Collection Wine Program:
”It’s a great honour to be recognised on such a stage. This goes out to all the team who make the selections and I’m just happy to be here and represent the property.”
Best Newcomer List
Gold Star:
Signature Restaurant Umhlanga, Durban
Silver Stars:
Dusk, Stellenbosch
Kashew, Johannesburg
The Bailey, Cape Town
”Excited for this category that offers newcomers a chance to be recognized. Well done to the winner who came onto the scene with a list the jury found to be the most exciting,” says Tawanda Marume.
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 WWF Conservation Champions
Gold Star:
ëlgr restaurant, Cape Town
Silver Stars:
Ellerman House, Cape Town
La Colombe, Constantia
”A convincing and well-thought-through holistic approach taking several aspects of sustainability into account. Thank you for setting examples for other colleagues to follow!” says Marc Almert.
Le Roi van de Vyver, Head Sommelier:
”I think South Africa is one of the front runners when it comes to sustainability in the world. With all the love and work that the winemakers here put into their vineyards, it actually becomes quite easy for us. I am very happy for this and hopefully we can win the international final again.”
The jury was filled with sommelier champions, including two world sommelier champions:
• Marc Almert, ASI Best Sommelier of the World 2019
• Julie Dupouy-Young, Several times Best Sommelier of Ireland
• Tawanda Marume, Best Sommelier of Zimbabwe
• Raimonds Tomsons, ASI Best Sommelier of the World 2023
The criteria for the jury was straightforward but not simple: Vote for the most exciting wine list representing the category.
The winners in South Africa will now 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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