Star Wine List of the Year is celebrating the very best of Belgium’s wine lists, with Restaurant Sans Cravate in Bruges winning three gold medals, including the top prize the Grand Prix, while Convento in Leuven was awarded two golds.
November 13th – “It was a very exciting judging process,” said jury member and Master Sommelier Piotr Pietras. “There is a variety of choice for wine lovers in Belgium – wine lists are very well-balanced regardless of their size and offer interesting options in each price category.”
Star Wine List of the Year is the celebration of great wine lists and the teams behind them in several countries around the world.
The prizes are awarded in ten categories, and the winners in each category receive a Gold Star and also qualify for the international final which will take place in June 2024. The Belgian event, the first time the competition has taken place in the country, was held during the Best Sommelier of Belgium contest in Antwerp, organised by Guilde des Sommeliers de Belgique.
About the jury
The jury for the Star Wine List of the Year Belgium 2023 comprises four renowned sommeliers:
- Julie Dupouy-Young, Best Sommelier of Ireland several times
- Ronan Sayburn, Master Sommelier
- Piotr Pietras, Master Sommelier
- Antoine Lehebel, Best Sommelier of Belgium 2014
Winners
Grand Prix
The best overall list, a category presented by Premium Estates of Austria
Gold Star: Restaurant Sans Cravate
Best Long List
The best wine list with over 600 listings
Gold Stars: Restaurant Sans Cravate
Best Medium-Sized List
The best wine list with 200-600 listings
Gold Star: Convento
Best California Wine List
The best wine list with wines from California
Gold Star: Terminus
Best Sparkling Wine List
The best list with sparkling wine, a category presented by Nyetimber
Gold Star: Restaurant Sans Cravate
Best Austrian Wine List
The best wine list with Austrian wine, a category presented by Austrian Wine
Gold Star: Paul de Pierre
Best By the Glass List
The best wine list by the glass, a category presented by Young Charly
Gold Star: Zilte
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: Convento
Best Short List
The best wine list with fewer than 200 listings
Gold Star: Ta-nnin
Best Newcomer List
Recognizes a venue that has opened recently
Gold Star: Restaurant Imprévu by De Barrier
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.
