January 30th – On January 29, Star Wine List of the Year celebrated the great wine lists in the United Arab Emirates for the first time. The Grand Prix and three more Gold Stars were won by Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in Dubai.
”It was a great honor and experience to judge this edition. When I see so many great lists, it is a sign that the market is evolving so fast as magnificent buildings are constructed, with an unprecedented speed. There are more and more sommeliers working and showing their expertise and the fine dining experience is getting at a very high level very fast. Bravo!” said Paz Levinson, Head Sommelier at the Pic group and jury member.
Star Wine List of the Year is the celebration of the great wine lists in the world and the teams behind them. The prize in UAE was awarded in ten categories, and the winners in each category got a Gold Star and qualified for the International Final (to be held in June 2024). The event was held at BOCA restaurant in Dubai.
About the jury
The jury for the Star Wine List of the Year UAE 2024 comprise three top international sommeliers and one local wine expert:
Heidi Mäkinen, Master of Wine
Piotr Pietras, Master Sommelier
Paz Levinson, named Best Sommelier of Americas
Ben Kouider, Champagne expert and educator
Winners
Grand Prix
The best overall list.
Gold Star: Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
Best Austrian Wine List
The best wine list with Austrian wine, a category presented by Austrian Wine
Gold Star: Ossiano
Best Sparkling Wine List
The best list with sparkling wine, a category presented by Nyetimber
Gold Star: Al Muntaha, Burj Al Arab
Best Long List
The best wine list with over 600 listings
Gold Star: Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
Best Medium-Sized List
The best wine list with 200-600 listings, a category presented by Brancott Estate
Gold Star: Nobu Dubai
Best California Wine List
The best wine list with wines from California, a category presented by Louis M. Martini
Gold Star: Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
Best By the Glass List
The best wine list by the glass
Gold Star: Ossiano
Sustainable Wine List
Recognizes a wine list that has put extra emphasis on the wine program’s impact, including wine growing, winemaking, packaging and transport.
Gold Star: BOCA
Best Short List
The best wine list with fewer than 200 listings
Gold Star: Soirée
Best Newcomer List, a category presented by DAOU
Recognizes a venue that has opened recently
Gold Star: Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
Star Wine List is the award-winning guide to great wine bars and wine restaurants around the world. It is available as an app and on www.starwinelist.com. It was launched in Stockholm (Sweden) in 2017, and is now live in more than 35 countries in the world. All venues are selected by top wine professionals.
