March 20, 2025 — For the first time, the international wine guide Star Wine List is celebrating the best wine lists in Japan. Finalists have now been announced and the awards ceremony will be held during ProWine Tokyo, on 15 April 2025.
“Japanese gastronomy is world class and we look forward to highlighting the wine side of this exciting market,” says Krister Bengtsson, Founder and Publisher of Star Wine List. “We can’t wait to celebrate with the finalists in Tokyo.”
Star Wine List of the Year is a celebration of the great wine lists in the world and the teams behind them. The awards events are held around the world, in places such as New York, London, Paris and Singapore.
At the Japanese wine list awards, Gold Stars will be awarded in nine international categories, with an additional local category for Best Japanese Wine List, sponsored by Craft Wine Shop. Winners in the international categories will qualify for the Star Wine List of the Year International Final, which will be held in Vienna in June 2025.
The jury
The jury panel for Star Wine List of the Year Japan 2025 includes four top names from the world of wine:
- Toru Takamatsu – Master Sommelier
- Paz Levinson – Best Sommelier of the Americas 2015 (ASI)
- Stephen Wong – Master of Wine
- Reeze Choi – Third Best Sommelier of the World 2023 (ASI)
The finalists
International categories
Grand Prix – the best list overall
The finalists and winner will be announced at the event.
Best Long List – for wine lists with more than 600 references
- Apicius, Tokyo
- Il Ristorante Luca Fantin, Tokyo
- Komorebino, Kyoto
- Legrand Filles & Fils, Tokyo
- Sézanne, Tokyo
Best Medium-Sized List – 200-600 references
- Ăn Đi, Tokyo
- Chi-Fu, Osaka
- CYCLE, Tokyo
- Dining 33, Tokyo
- Maz, Tokyo
- MUNI Alain Ducasse, Kyoto
- Nogizaka Shin, Tokyo
- Restaurant Ryuzu, Tokyo
- Shimanouchi Fujimaru Winery, Osaka
Best Short List – fewer than 200 references
- Az, Osaka
- Dining Fûdo, Nagano
- Downtown, Okinawa city
- FUL, Kyoto
- Kagaribi, Nagano
- Le Bistro Tokyo, Tokyo
- Le Chat Noir, Osaka
- Rangitoto Tokyo, Tokyo
- Wine & Tempura Araki, Fukuoka
Best By the Glass List
- Chi-Fu, Osaka
- CYCLE, Tokyo
- Hajime, Osaka
- Maz, Tokyo
- MUNI Alain Ducasse, Kyoto
- Restaurant Ryuzu, Tokyo
- Sézanne, Tokyo
- Tinc Gana, Tokyo
Best Sparkling Wine List, presented by Nyetimber
- Bistro Champagne, Osaka
- Chi-Fu, Osaka
- Gyoza Bar Chaozu, Tokyo
- Legrand Filles & Fils, Tokyo
- Les Souvenirs, Osaka
- MUNI Alain Ducasse, Kyoto
- Nogizaka Shin, Tokyo
- Restaurant Ryuzu, Tokyo
- Shimanouchi Fujimaru Winery, Osaka
Best Newcomer List
- Dining Fûdo, Nagano
- Esprit C. Kei Ginza, Tokyo
- FUL, Kyoto
- Sustainable Wine List
- Ăn Đi, Tokyo
- CYCLE, Tokyo
- Downtown, Okinawa city
- Hajime, Osaka
Best Austrian Wine List, presented by Austrian Wine
- Ăn Đi, Tokyo
- Chi-Fu, Osaka
- Ginza Soseki, Tokyo
- Ginza Soseki Arata, Tokyo
- Le Chat Noir, Osaka
- Restaurant Ryuzu, Tokyo
- Shimanouchi Fujimaru Winery, Osaka
Local categories
Best Japanese Wine List, presented by Craft Wine Shop
- Ăn Đi, Tokyo
- Chi-Fu, Osaka
- Dining 33, Tokyo
- Dining Fûdo, Nagano
- Hajime, Osaka
- Komorebino, Kyoto
- Les Souvenirs, Osaka
- Shimanouchi Fujimaru Winery, Osaka
About Star Wine List
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 45 countries in the world. All venues are selected by top wine professionals.
