Best New Wine List

Best New Wine List


Criteria

Each year brings new establishments and with them, new wine lists are submitted for assessment. As new cellars take some time to be developed, it was fair to establish a set category for the Best New Wine List.
The sommeliers compiling these lists are likely to make stimulating and clear selections on establishments that opened since 2019. Judges consider the criteria of breadth, depth, height, balance, selection, accuracy, originality, suitability, design, and value while taking into account the requirements for development.


Criteria

Each year brings new establishments and with them, new wine lists are submitted for assessment. As new cellars take some time to be developed, it was fair to establish a set category for the Best New Wine List.
The sommeliers compiling these lists are likely to make stimulating and clear selections on establishments that opened since 2019. Judges consider the criteria of breadth, depth, height, balance, selection, accuracy, originality, suitability, design, and value while taking into account the requirements for development.




Affinatore

Europe | Regional Winner

Milan, Italy

The Affinatore is one of the few Italians to be authorized by the official Japanese KOBE and offers a unique culinary experience, a sophisticated selection of the finest beef from all over the world. dry aged and prepared by the expert hands of our chef and also enhanced by the best wines on the list, carefully chosen to accompany our dishes.

Our restaurant opens to the public in the second half of 2022 and since then our goal has been to create a wine selection intended as a sensorial journey through the wine-growing regions of the entire globe. From the historically most well-known and established ones, up to lesser-known realities focused on quality and sustainable productions.

We are committed every day with passion and enthusiasm in offering our guests, even the most demanding ones, accurate and high-level service standards in an elegant and refined environment where the high quality of our dishes blends with research and food and wine innovation.

Since 2022 Affinatore is one of the few Krug Ambassade present in Italy and currently our wine list has more than 2800 references with a good depth of vintages and many choices of different formats.

Starting with a selection of the best Italian Traditional Method sparkling wines and then continue with a wide selection of over 200 Champagne with wines from large ”maisons” and those produced by vignerons divided by production area and then specifically by village to which the Domaines belongs.

There is a selection of bottles from 18 nations between the old continent and the new world, starting of course, with Italian excellences, with a particular focus on Piedmont, Tuscany, Valpolicella and much more. France with a generous choice from Burgundy and Bordeaux beyond selected wines from all over the world. A broad spirits list is also available.

Website


Alba

Middle East & Africa | Regional Winner

Dubai, UAE

ALBA is a brand-new restaurant, located in the Dubai Opera district, offering a «MeditarrAsian» concept that blends the bold flavors of Asian cuisine with a touch of European sophistication.

The menu features a variety of Asian classics, reimagined with a Mediterranean twist, an extensive selection of sake by the glass and thoughtfully curated wine list showcasing an exquisite selection of grower champagnes and Burgundy wines.

Website


Aruzz

South & Central America and the Caribbean | Regional Winner

São Paulo, Brazil

The Aruzz space has 3 environments

Alma – In this environment we have our wine cellar with more than 400 labels and 2600 positions for bottles

Wine lovers are welcomed for tastings with a personalized menu.

Size: 110 m²
Space capacity
Number of seats: 80 PAX
Seating: 50 PAX
Minimum number of reservations 15 PAX

BRAZZA

A space with a vertical garden, retractable roof, and equipment for barbecue production, with wines selected to match Intense Meats

Size: 170 m²
Space capacity
Number of seats: 80 PAX
Seating: 60 PAX
Minimum number of reservations 20 PAX

AZ – Imagine a screen where you can create your event in a unique way. The corporate and social world, organizes lectures, wine fairs and other products and commemorative events
In this case, the wine and menu service is also exclusive to each customer.
Size: 220 m²
Space capacity
Number of seats: 140 PAX
Seating: 120 PAX
Minimum number of reservations 30 PAX

Every month we select new labels for the Wine List, the goal is to reach 500 labels by the end of 2024, we are at the 427 mark.

In Brazil there are more than 35 thousand labels from different countries (Import and National Production), with an incredible range of native grape varieties to discover.

The mission of Sommeliers in our country is to present unique aromas and flavors from different producers.

Eno Hugs,

Eliana Araujo
Head Sommelier Aruzz

Website


Palace Garden

Asia | Regional Winner

Macau, China

Located at Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau (“Grand Lisboa Palace”) of SJM Resorts, S.A., Palace Garden’s design is inspired by imperial gardens with its décor and art celebrating the magnificent Chinoiserie period of China’s trade history.

Guests are greeted by entrancing touches such as traditional Suzhou embroidery showcased in a bespoke, 35-metre-long mural of chrysanthemums and an installation of custom-made, double-sided embroidery fans. Storied illustrations from one of China’s Four Great Classical Novels, Dream of the Red Chamber, add a whimsical touch to the main dining room in the form of a gold-coloured glass wall.

The extraordinary expression of colours, culture and craftsmanship is further manifested in five private dining rooms themed around a different concept. The delicate, rare, and specially sourced decorations and antiques are curated from around the world; for a crafted dining experience with the ambiance of a palatial museum.

Palace Garden offers a menu of authentic Cantonese haute cuisine made using premium ingredients, through the spirit of “perseverance with tradition and innovation”. The experienced culinary team led by Head Chef Ken Chong, a disciple of Qing Dynasty’s Master Jiang Taishi, innovatively integrates western ingredients into traditional Taishi dishes made through an ingenious interpretation of royal Cantonese cuisine that is on the verge of disappearing.

For an escalated gastronomic experience, Palace Garden’s food offerings can be paired with a wine list that features 1,864 labels of old world and new world wines ranging from “cellar extraordinary” wines to sommelier recommended selection.

Curated through a passion for wine, our award-winning Sommeliers have handpicked the best and most interesting terroir selections from an array of bespoke winemakers; inviting guests to experience an authentic journey of wine representing the harmony of aromas.

Website


Society

Australasia | Regional Winner

Melbourne, Australia

Restaurateur Chris Lucas’ vision to deliver Melbourne a sophisticated and global dining experience has manifested into a space of exceptional beauty, paramount comfort and breathtaking detail.

Society encompasses the luxuriant Society Dining Room, Lillian Brasserie, The Lounge and several Private Dining rooms, each space offering glamour, warmth and elegance. You’ll find the opulent interior – designed by award-winning Melbourne-based studio Russell & George – adorned with booth seats and velvet furnishings in lush grey, black and navy tones that work to frame the hand-cut crystal chandeliers.

At Society, the art of wine service is a moving masterpiece. Comprising over 10,000 bottles, including Australia’s largest collection of Château d’Yquem, the cellar is carefully curated by a hand-picked team of exemplary wine professionals. An ever-evolving by-the-glass list includes a renowned Coravin selection of fine and rare wines that may offer the Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2014 or Wynns John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon 1990 in 75ml or 150ml glasses.

Feature wine flights invite guests to explore across various vintages and vineyards within a producer’s catalogue, spotlighting iconic winemakers from across Australia and beyond. The internationally trained wine team is constantly tasting and trying, ever engaging with the global wine community to tap into the best of the best.

Further contributing to the beverage programme’s exceptional breadth and balance are the extensive curations of spirits sourced carefully from across the world, including a notable selection of whisk(e)y. And a newly strengthened focus on high-quality low ABV and non-alcoholic beverages seeks to offer as premium an experience for the non-drinker as for any other guest. This offering spans a growing range of wine, produce-driven cocktails and more.

Society’s refined approach, devotion to precision and international scope could place it anywhere in the world, yet this is an innately Melbourne venue; refreshing, intelligent and forever evolving.

Website


The Library

North America | Regional Winner

Houston, USA

The Library is a neighborhood wine bar located in the Spring Branch neighborhood of Houston, TX. Our wine list is full of wines from all over the world with an emphasis on both the old world and back vintages.

Additionally, our walls are full of almost 2,000 books on wine, with every imaginable topic and region covered. The books range from 19th century authors to the most current releases from today’s wine writers.

Website

Society

Global Winner

Melbourne, Australia

Society is a dream realised. Seductive and nurturing in equal parts, restaurateur Chris Lucas’s vision to bring a sophisticated and global dining experience to Melbourne has manifested into a space of great beauty, comfort and breathtaking detail.

The service, articulate and intuitive, anticipates the guests’ needs. The unadulterated joy of the staff’s commitment to hospitality shines through from the swift placement of the linen napkin, the silver-served slices of sourdough bread to the just-shucked oysters, the hand-made lobster tortellini and a perfectly cooked fillet of Jack’s Creek tenderloin with fermented sugarloaf and black garlic.

The art of wine service at Society is a moving masterpiece. The cellar, of over 10000 bottles, including a collection of Château d’Yquem with vintages not seen anywhere else in the country, is carefully curated by a hand-picked team of wine professionals.

It includes an ever-changing wines-by-the-glass list with a Coravin selection that may offer the Fontaine Gagnard Criots-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2017 or Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz 1997 in 75ml or 150ml glasses.

The globally trained wine team is constantly tasting, trying and talking to the global wine community to tap into the best of the best.

With precision insisted upon, a refined approach and international scope of Society, you could be anywhere in the world, but this is an innately Melbourne venue; refreshing, intelligent and constantly evolving.

This is indeed a vision realised. This is Society.

Website

Email: bookings@societyrestaurant.com

Telephone: 03 8618 8900


Humo

Europe | Regional Winner

London, United Kingdom

HUMO, directly translates as ‘smoke’ in Spanish.

HUMO, revolves around a four-metre long grill, with no electricity or gas
utilised as cooking fuel. All dishes will be prepared using a selection of widely sourced woods, all used to cook with and to
impart subtle flavour differences to each of the dishes.

With key influences from executive chef Miller’s Colombian background, his training at institution Endo at the Rotunda, and the heritage of his Italian head chef.

This combination of expertise, different nationalities and cultures will work together to offer that carefully curated guest experience.

Website

Email: reservations@humolondon.com

Telephone: +44 (0)20 3327 3690


Naro

North America | Regional Winner

New York City

Located in the iconic Rockefeller Center, NARO’s cuisine will be rooted in Korean cuisine, ‘Hansik.’ Through NARO, we hope to tell the story of Korean cuisine currently underrepresented overseas.

Featuring multi-course tasting menus in the Main Dining Room and a la carte options at the Bar, NARO will focus on more subtle delicate flavors, highlighting traditional techniques with seasonal ingredients and drawing inspiration from classic dishes from various moments of Korean history.

Website

Email: reservations@naronyc.com