November 17, 2025 (Stockholm, Sweden) — The Star Wine List of the Year competition returns to the UAE for the third time this December, and the finalists have just been announced by an esteemed jury panel including current Best Sommelier of the World Raimonds Tomsons.
There are 41 finalists in the running for Gold Stars at Star Wine List of the Year UAE 2025. Winners will be announced at a ceremony at Sexy Fish Dubai, on 8th December, by Star Wine List’s Krister Bengtsson accompanied by judges Raimonds Tomsons and Vincent Truong.
Tomsons and Truong were joined on the jury by sommeliers Salvatore Castano and Mikk Parre, making it a panel containing three former Best Sommeliers of Europe and Africa (ASI), alongside local expert Truong. The foursome has now revealed its finalists, who are split across Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Judges:
- Raimonds Tomsons – Best Sommelier of the World 2023 (ASI)
- Mikk Parre – Best Sommelier of Europe, Africa and Middle East 2024 (ASI)
- Salvatore Castano – Best Sommelier of Europe and Africa 2021 (ASI)
- Vincent Truong – Dubai-based wine expert and educator
Finalists:
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES
Best Long List
For wine lists with more than 600 references
- Al Muntaha, Burj Al Arab, Dubai
- Amazónico, Dubai
- Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Dubai
- FZN by Björn Frantzén, Dubai
- Il Ristorante – Niko Romito, Dubai
- Kira Restaurant, Dubai
- Nobu, Dubai
- Ristorante L’Olivo at Al Mahara, Burj Al Arab, Dubai
- Sexy Fish, Dubai
Best Medium-Sized List
Recognises the best wine list with 200-600 references
- Birch Restaurant, Dubai
- BOCA, Dubai
- Clap, Dubai
- HANU, Dubai
- La Dame De Pic, Dubai
- LPM, Abu Dhabi
- Maison Dali, Dubai
- Row on 45, Dubai
- SAL, Burj Al Arab, Dubai
- Signor Sassi, Dubai
- TakaHisa, Dubai
- Zuma, Dubai
Best Short List
Recognises the best wine list with fewer than 200 listings
- Akira Back, Dubai
- Dragonfly, Dubai
- Moonrise, Dubai
- Revolver, Dubai
- Roka, Dubai
- StreetXO, Dubai
- TERO (The Experience by Reif Othman), Dubai
- Tresind Studio, Dubai
Best Sparkling Wine List, presented by Perrier-Jouet
Recognises the best list for sparkling wines
- Al Muntaha, Burj Al Arab, Dubai
- Birch Restaurant, Dubai
- BOCA, Dubai
- Clap, Dubai
- Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Dubai
- FZN by Björn Frantzén, Dubai
- Kira Restaurant, Dubai
- Ossiano, Dubai
- Ristorante L’Olivo at Al Mahara, Burj Al Arab, Dubai
- Row on 45, Dubai
- SAL, Burj Al Arab, Dubai
- TakaHisa, Dubai
- Zuma, Dubai
Best By-the-Glass List
Recognises the best ‘by-the-glass’ list
- BOCA, Dubai
- FZN by Björn Frantzén, Dubai
- HANU, Dubai
- Kira Restaurant, Dubai
- L’Amo Bistro Del Mare, Dubai
- La Dame De Pic, Dubai
- Row on 45, Dubai
- Signor Sassi, Dubai
- SUSHISAMBA, Dubai
- Zuma, Abu Dhabi
- Zuma, Dubai
Best Newcomer List
Recognises a venue that has recently opened
- Birch Restaurant, Dubai
- Dragonfly, Dubai
- HANU, Dubai
- Il Gattopardo, Dubai
- Kira Restaurant, Dubai
- Maison Dali, Dubai
- Revolver, Dubai
- SUSHISAMBA, Abu Dhabi
Sustainability Prize
Assesses the sustainable commitment of both the wine list and broader venue via a supplementary questionnaire submitted during the application process
The winner will be announced at the event.
Best Italian Wine List
Recognises the best list for the wines of Italy
- Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Dubai
- FZN by Björn Frantzén, Dubai
- Il Gattopardo, Dubai
- Il Ristorante – Niko Romito, Dubai
- Isola Ristorante, Dubai
- L’Amo Bistro Del Mare, Dubai
- Ristorante L’Olivo at Al Mahara, Burj Al Arab, Dubai
- Signor Sassi, Dubai
Special Jury Prize
Rewards a wine lovers’ place that does something out of the ordinary
The winner will be announced at the event.
LOCAL CATEGORIES:
Best California Wine List, presented by Pahlmeyer
Recognises the best list for the wines of California, USA
- Al Muntaha, Burj Al Arab, Dubai
- Amazónico, Dubai
- Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Dubai
- FZN by Björn Frantzén, Dubai
- HANU, Dubai
- Nobu, Dubai
- Ossiano, Dubai
- Row on 45, Dubai
- SUSHISAMBA, Dubai
- Zuma, Dubai
Best Spanish Wine List, presented by Familia Torres
Recognises the best list for the wines of Spain
- Al Muntaha, Burj Al Arab, Dubai
- Amazónico, Dubai
- BOCA, Dubai
- Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Dubai
- FZN by Björn Frantzén, Dubai
- Kira Restaurant, Dubai
- La Mar Dubai by Gastón Acurio, Dubai
- Nobu, Dubai
- Studio Frantzén, Dubai
Best Bordeaux Wine List, presented by Château Tour des Termes
Recognises the best list for the wines of Bordeaux, France
- Amazónico, Dubai
- Carine Restaurant, Dubai
- COYA, Abu Dhabi
- COYA, Dubai
- Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Dubai
- FZN by Björn Frantzén, Dubai
- HANU, Dubai
- Kira Restaurant, Dubai
- La Dame De Pic, Dubai
- Row on 45, Dubai
About Star Wine List
Star Wine List is the international wine lovers’ guide to great wine bars and restaurants. Available as an app and at starwinelist.com, it was launched in Stockholm, Sweden in 2017, and is now live in more than 45 countries. All venues are selected by top wine professionals for the quality of their wine programmes.
The Star Wine List of the Year competition celebrates the wonderful wine lists of the world and the dedicated sommelier teams who create them. Since its inception in 2018, this global tour has evolved to cover numerous territories. Its highly anticipated awards events recognise excellence in the wine and hospitality industries, and culminate in an International Final each summer.
