March 25, 2026 (Stockholm, Sweden) — The Star Wine List of the Year tour stopped in London this week, for the sixth UK edition of these international awards honouring the world’s greatest wine lists and the people who create them. Gold Stars were announced in 13 categories at 1 Hotel Mayfair, and this year focused on venues in London and the Isle of Wight. Winners in the ‘international’ categories will now go on to compete in the Star Wine List of the Year Global Final 2026, taking place in southern Sweden this June.
Star Wine List is the wine lover’s guide to the best restaurants and bars around the world, featuring Red Star recommendations made by wine professionals in 46 countries. Each year, the Star Wine List of the Year awards tour makes its way across the world – a means of celebrating the greatest wine lists of every sort and, of course, the teams behind them. Any restaurant or bar can apply for Star Wine List of the Year in their respective region, with wine lists assessed by judging panels composed of experts from the world of wine, including sommeliers, journalists and other professionals.
The jury panel for Star Wine List of the Year UK 2026 included Masters of Wine Stephen Wong and Richard Hemming (Head of Creative, Asia for JancisRobinson.com), Master Sommelier Kathrine Larsen-Robert (Head of Wine, Europe at 67 Pall Mall), and Mikk Parre (the ASI’s current Best Sommelier of Europe, Africa and Middle East 2024). They selected finalists and then winners in 13 categories.
In the UK, there was a double win for Isa Bal’s teams at two-Michelin-starred Southwark restaurant Trivet, which took a Gold Star for the Best Medium-Sized List, and the more recent Mayfair outpost, one-starred Labombe by Trivet, which opened in September 2025 and was named Best Newcomer List. There were also two Gold Stars for Soho’s Doppo restaurant (Best Long List; Best Italian Wine List).
Three of the categories were classified as ‘local’: the Best Rosé Wine List, a popular addition to last year’s competition, returned for a second year with reigning champions Tom and Ashley Fahey of The Terrace Rooms & Wine on the Isle of Wight retaining their title. Similarly, last year’s winners in the Best Spanish Wine List category – Mountain, in London’s Soho – took the Gold Star once again for 2026. In the new Best Riesling Wine List category, a Gold Star was presented to Claridge’s Restaurant, at the eponymous hotel.
The winners in the remaining 10 ‘international’ categories will now automatically be entered into the Star Wine List of the Year Global Final and thus invited to join other Gold Star winners from around the world for an awards event in southern Sweden, in June 2026. This occasion will be hosted by the newly formed wine collective Terra Skåne, providing an introduction to this unique wine region with a global gathering celebrating the wine world’s finest talents.
Gold Star winners
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES:
Best Long List, presented by Bibendum
For wine lists with more than 600 references
- Doppo, London
Best Medium-Sized List, presented by Dreissigacker
Recognises the best wine list with 200-600 references
- Trivet, London
Best Short List, presented by The Buyer
Recognises the best wine list with fewer than 200 listings
- DakaDaka, London
Best By-the-Glass List, presented by Lingua Franca
Recognises the best ‘by-the-glass’ list
- Row on 5, London
Best Sparkling Wine List, presented by Laurent-Perrier
Recognises the best list for sparkling wines
- Row on 5, London
Best Newcomer List
Recognises a venue that has recently opened
- Labombe by Trivet, London
Sustainability Prize, presented by Esterházy
Assesses the sustainable commitment of both the wine list and broader venue via a supplementary questionnaire submitted during the application process
- Restaurant St. Barts, London
Best Austrian Wine List, presented by Austrian Wine
Recognises the best list for the wines of Austria
- Newcomer Wines, London
Best Italian Wine List
Recognises the best list for the wines of Italy
- Doppo, London
Special Jury Prize
Rewards a wine lovers’ place that does something out of the ordinary
- OMA, London
LOCAL CATEGORIES:
Best Rosé Wine List, presented by Château Galoupet
Rewards the strongest rosé section
- The Terrace Rooms & Wine, Ventnor
Best Spanish Wine List, presented by Familia Torres
Recognises the best list for the wines of Spain
- Mountain, London
Best Riesling Wine List, presented by Dr. Lippold
Recognises the best representation of wines made from the Riesling grape
- Claridge’s Restaurant, London
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 a Global Final each summer.
