The sixth edition of Star Wine List of the Year UK, in association with The Buyer, proved to be the hardest yet with more entries than ever for the judges to tackle.
The result is a list of restaurants and bars that are the most diverse yet in the competition with finalists coming from all parts of the UK, including the Isle of Wight.
The UK competition is part of a world tour of events organised by Star Wine List that takes in 14 different countries. The Gold Star winners in the international categories that are held in all competitions will then go forward to a Grand Final to be held on June 15 in Terra Skåne in southern Sweden.
The Star Wine List of the year celebrates the work of wine buyers, restaurants, bars and their sommelier teams and has become highly respected around the world as its finalists are judged by a panel of peers made up of award-winning sommeliers.
The UK competition once again proved to be one of the toughest to judge with such a high level of entries from across the country.
This year's judges for the UK competition included:
- Richard Hemming MW.
- Kathrine Larsen-Robert MS.
- Stephen Wong MW
- Mikk Parre (ASI Best Sommelier of Europe, Africa and Middle East 2024).
The finalists includes many high profile winners from previous years, such as Core by Clare Smyth, Doppo, Dovetale, Les 110 de Taillevent, Mountain, Trivet, and the Noble Rot group in London, plus Climat (Manchester), Moor Hall (Aughton) and Where The Light Gets In (Stockport).
This year’s UK competition also includes three ‘local’ categories - only awarded i the UK - including the Best Rosé Wine List, Best Spanish Wine List and Best Riesling Wine List.
Finalists
International Categories
Best Long List, presented by Bibendum
For wine lists with more than 600 references
Claridge's Restaurant, London
Core by Clare Smyth, London
Doppo, London
Dorian, London
Les 110 de Taillevent, London
Moor Hall, Aughton
Noble Rot Lamb’s Conduit, London
Noble Rot Mayfair, London
Noble Rot Soho, London
Raffles London at The OWO, London
Row on 5, London
The Clove Club, London
Best Medium-Sized List, presented by Dreissigacker
Recognises the best wine list with 200-600 references
Blandford Comptoir, London
Climat, Manchester
Krokodilos Kensington, London
L’Enclume, Cartmel
Maison François, London
OMA, London
Sager + Wilde, London
The 10 Cases, London
The Twenty Two, London
Trivet, London
Where The Light Gets In, Stockport
Wiltons Restaurant, London
Best Short List
Recognises the best wine list with fewer than 200 listings
Brat x Climpson's Arch, London
DakaDaka, London
Dinings SW3, London
JÖRO Restaurant, Sheffield
Plates London, London
Restaurant Mýse, York
Sessa, London
Sollip, London
Solstice by Kenny Atkinson, Newcastle upon Tyne
Old Stamp House, Ambleside
Best By-the-Glass List, presented by Lingua Franca
Recognises the best ‘by-the-glass’ list
BODEGA Cardiff, Cardiff
Da Terra, London
Doppo, London
Dorian, London
Krokodilos Kensington, London
Les 110 de Taillevent, London
Noble Rot Lamb’s Conduit, London
Noble Rot Mayfair, London
Noble Rot Soho, London
Row on 5, London
Wild Corner, London
Wild Izakaya, London
Best Sparkling Wine List, presented by Laurent-Perrier
Recognises the best list for sparkling wines
Claridge's Restaurant, London
Comptoir Mayfair, London
Core by Clare Smyth, London
Doppo, London
Les 110 de Taillevent, London
Moor Hall, Aughton
Noble Rot Lamb’s Conduit, London
Noble Rot Mayfair, London
Noble Rot Soho, London
NoMad London, London
Raffles London at The OWO, London
Row on 5, London
Best Newcomer List
Recognises a venue that has recently opened
Alta, London
Corenucopia by Clare Smyth, London
DakaDaka, London
Labombe by Trivet, London
Mezzogiorno by Francesco Mazzei, London
Moi, London
Sessa, London
The Chancery Rosewood, London
Wild Izakaya, London
Sustainability Prize
Assesses the sustainable commitment of both the wine list and broader venue via a supplementary questionnaire submitted during the application process
Apricity, London
Plates London, London
Restaurant Pine, Newcastle upon Tyne
Restaurant St. Barts, London
Spry, Edinburgh
Where The Light Gets In, Stockport
Best Austrian Wine List, presented by Austrian Wine
Recognises the best list for the wines of Austria
AngloThai, London
Claridge's Restaurant, London
Dorian, London
Labombe by Trivet, London
Lady of the Grapes, London
Moor Hall, Aughton
Newcomer Wines, London
Best Italian Wine List
Recognises the best list for the wines of Italy
Bacchanalia, London
Bocca di Lupo, London
Claridge's Restaurant, London
Doppo, London
Dorian, London
Franco's, London
Luca, London
Manteca, London
Mezzogiorno by Francesco Mazzei, London
Noble Rot Mayfair, London
Row on 5, London
Special Jury Prize
Rewards a wine lovers’ place that does something out of the ordinary
The winner will be announced at the awards event.
Local Categories
Best Rosé Wine List, presented by Château Galoupet
Rewards the strongest rosé section
Dorian, London
Lady of the Grapes, London
Mountain, London
NoMad London, London
Row on 5, London
Sager + Wilde, London
The Grape Escape, Cheltenham
The Terrace Rooms & Wine, Ventnor
Timberyard, Edinburgh
Where The Light Gets In, Stockport
Best Spanish Wine List, presented by Familia Torres
Recognises the best list for the wines of Spain
Brat, London
Dorian, London
Dovetale, London
Moor Hall, Aughton
Mountain, London
Noble Rot Lamb’s Conduit, London
Noble Rot Mayfair, London
Noble Rot Soho, London
Row on 5, London
The Terrace Rooms & Wine, Ventnor
Best Riesling Wine List, presented by Dr. Lippold
Recognises the best representation of wines made from the Riesling grape
Claridge's Restaurant, London
Cloth Restaurant, London
Core by Clare Smyth, London
Doppo, London
Les 110 de Taillevent, London
Moor Hall, Aughton
Noble Rot Mayfair, London
Row on 5, London
Trinity, London
* You can find out more about Star Wine List at its website here.
