The Most Original Wine List category showcases lists that have an unusual selection of wines or a particular personality that shapes them. The successful lists demonstrate not only a profound understanding of the wines, but a clear vision reflecting the experience and passion of their creators. The World’s Best Wine Lists criteria of breadth, depth, height, balance, selection, accuracy, originality, suitability, design, and value still apply when making an assessment, but originality clearly assumes a higher importance.
Most Original Wine List in the World
Terroir Tribeca, New York - Global Winner 2021
Terroir Tribeca restaurant and wine bar is located in the Tribeca district of New York, near the Hudson River. True to its Tribeca roots the restaurant team take a politically engaged and community driven approach to their offering. The space was previously a cheese production facility at a time when Washington Market thrived along the Hudson River. The interiors stand tribute to Tribeca’s history as one of America’s first post-industrial neighbourhoods, with repurposed original, rough-hewn wood and burnished, time-worn metal furnishings.
The drive of the food and drinks program is to give voice to place, with all of the wines, beers and produce selected depending on if they resonate with their origins and are produced in a manner true to their history and culture. There is a wide-ranging wine list featuring impressive older vintage section at the end and a well-chosen ‘value’ section at the beginning with numerous by-the-glass options.” Terroir Tribeca was the Regional Winner for North America.
Address: 24 Harrison Street, New York 10010, New York State, United States of America
Regional Winners - Most Original Wine List in the World 2021
Asia 2021
Hajime, Osaka
Hajime in the city of Osaka, Japan, was founded by Hajime Yoneda to deliver cuisine that represents the beauty of order found within the balance and harmony of nature, the earth, and space. Chef Hajime Yoneda is famous for his commitment to expressing the local terroir, with a style of cooking that blends Spanish, French, and Japanese influences. It’s a commitment he takes to extreme lengths in his signature dish “chikyu,” a presentation of 110 local vegetables, herbs, and grains. And it’s a commitment that also shows up on his elegant wine list. In a selection that generally aims for the right vintage of a broad spread of producers, rather than deep verticals of the same old famous names, the Hajime list includes an extensive set of Japanese wines. It also features the stunning Pinot Noir and Syrah made by the ultra-fastidious ex-pat Japanese producer, Hiro Kusuda, in Martinborough, New Zealand, but the bulk of the list is given over to terroir-driven French wines, led by Burgundy and grower Champagne, as well as wine from Alsace and from Languedoc-Roussillon. Address: 1-9-11-1F Edobori, Nishi-Ku, Osaka, Japan
Australasia 2021
fermentAsian, Tanunda
Based in Tanunda, South Australia, fermentAsian is an award-winning Vietnamese restaurant created by chef owner Tuoi Do. The food at FermentAsian has its roots firmly entrenched in Tuio's Vietnamese heritage and that of her parents who arrived in the Barossa Valley in March 2010. Tuio believes in supporting local producers especially those producers who share her ethical beliefs. Many of the vegetables and herbs that are intrinsic to Vietnamese cuisine and that feature in the menu,particularly the pungent herbs, come from her family's home gardens. The restaurant offers a Chef's Table menu as well as an a la Carte menu. The wine list is innovative and noted as serving 'as a beacon to pilgrims of the palate whose questing brings them to the Barossa in search of vinous exploration, evocation and education.' The list is instructive and offers a wide scope and diversity of international wines as well as featuring those from the surrounding Barossa region. Address: 90 Murray Street, Tanunda, 5352 South Australia, Australia
Europe 2021
Fare, London
Located on the edge of the City of London, Fare opened in 2018 as part of the group owned by Michael Sager that includes the wine institute Sager and Wilde in Hackney. The aim of Fare is to unite fine coffee and fine wine. Set in a modern café interior, with exposed ducting and wooden floors, the restaurant serves Italian cuisine as well as offering a coffee bar. There is a strong focus on the quality of the produce and homemade preparation, with the sourdough and pasta both being made on the premises. The wine list (chosen by the owner) is a contemporary, concise, well-chosen list, showing an intriguing variety of Orange wines, very on trend. Address: 11 Old Street, London EC1V 9HL, UK
South & Central America/ Caribbean 2021
Oteque, Rio de Janeiro
Oteque is located in Rio de Janeiro and is the “Carioca” Project From Chef Alberto Landgraf. The restaurant blends clean modern design with a love of natural materials with stone walls and wood clad ceilings providing a perfect modern setting for the menu that takes inspiration from nature’s purity. The menus are based on local and fresh ingredients, having quality and ethical farming practices as part of the restaurant’s core values. Address: Rua Conde de Irajá, 581 - Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22271-020, Brazil
Middle East & Africa 2021
Hakkasan, Abu Dhabi
Hakkasan Abu Dhabi opened in June 2010, bringing Hakkasan’s award-winning cuisine to the landmark Emirates Palace. Comprising a restaurant, bar and lounge as well as four private dining rooms, the 16,000 square foot space is separated by carved wooden screens and latticing that echo the rich interiors of the London flagship restaurant. Hakkasan’s wine team conducts a dedicated tasting session, trying out new wines with at least four different dishes from the menu. If a wine does not work with one dish—even if it is great with the others—it does not make the list. In the wine menu there is the addition of story boxes between the pages, which cover topics such as Eastern Mediterranean: Ancient wine world ; ancestral vines of Southern Australia, eastern Mediterranean wines; and Orange wines. Address: Emirates Palace, W Corniche Rd - Al Ras Al Akhdar, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Asia 2021
Hajime, Osaka
Hajime in the city of Osaka, Japan, was founded by Hajime Yoneda to deliver cuisine that represents the beauty of order found within the balance and harmony of nature, the earth, and space. Chef Hajime Yoneda is famous for his commitment to expressing the local terroir, with a style of cooking that blends Spanish, French, and Japanese influences. It’s a commitment he takes to extreme lengths in his signature dish “chikyu,” a presentation of 110 local vegetables, herbs, and grains. And it’s a commitment that also shows up on his elegant wine list. In a selection that generally aims for the right vintage of a broad spread of producers, rather than deep verticals of the same old famous names, the Hajime list includes an extensive set of Japanese wines. It also features the stunning Pinot Noir and Syrah made by the ultra-fastidious ex-pat Japanese producer, Hiro Kusuda, in Martinborough, New Zealand, but the bulk of the list is given over to terroir-driven French wines, led by Burgundy and grower Champagne, as well as wine from Alsace and from Languedoc-Roussillon. Address: 1-9-11-1F Edobori, Nishi-Ku, Osaka, Japan
Australasia 2021
fermentAsian, Tanunda
Based in Tanunda, South Australia, fermentAsian is an award-winning Vietnamese restaurant created by chef owner Tuoi Do. The food at FermentAsian has its roots firmly entrenched in Tuio's Vietnamese heritage and that of her parents who arrived in the Barossa Valley in March 2010. Tuio believes in supporting local producers especially those producers who share her ethical beliefs. Many of the vegetables and herbs that are intrinsic to Vietnamese cuisine and that feature in the menu,particularly the pungent herbs, come from her family's home gardens. The restaurant offers a Chef's Table menu as well as an a la Carte menu. The wine list is innovative and noted as serving 'as a beacon to pilgrims of the palate whose questing brings them to the Barossa in search of vinous exploration, evocation and education.' The list is instructive and offers a wide scope and diversity of international wines as well as featuring those from the surrounding Barossa region. Address: 90 Murray Street, Tanunda, 5352 South Australia, Australia
Europe 2021
Fare, London
Located on the edge of the City of London, Fare opened in 2018 as part of the group owned by Michael Sager that includes the wine institute Sager and Wilde in Hackney. The aim of Fare is to unite fine coffee and fine wine. Set in a modern café interior, with exposed ducting and wooden floors, the restaurant serves Italian cuisine as well as offering a coffee bar. There is a strong focus on the quality of the produce and homemade preparation, with the sourdough and pasta both being made on the premises. The wine list (chosen by the owner) is a contemporary, concise, well-chosen list, showing an intriguing variety of Orange wines, very on trend. Address: 11 Old Street, London EC1V 9HL, UK
South & Central America/ Caribbean 2021
Oteque, Rio de Janeiro
Oteque is located in Rio de Janeiro and is the “Carioca” Project From Chef Alberto Landgraf. The restaurant blends clean modern design with a love of natural materials with stone walls and wood clad ceilings providing a perfect modern setting for the menu that takes inspiration from nature’s purity. The menus are based on local and fresh ingredients, having quality and ethical farming practices as part of the restaurant’s core values. Address: Rua Conde de Irajá, 581 - Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22271-020, Brazil
Middle East & Africa 2021
Hakkasan, Abu Dhabi
Hakkasan Abu Dhabi opened in June 2010, bringing Hakkasan’s award-winning cuisine to the landmark Emirates Palace. Comprising a restaurant, bar and lounge as well as four private dining rooms, the 16,000 square foot space is separated by carved wooden screens and latticing that echo the rich interiors of the London flagship restaurant. Hakkasan’s wine team conducts a dedicated tasting session, trying out new wines with at least four different dishes from the menu. If a wine does not work with one dish—even if it is great with the others—it does not make the list. In the wine menu there is the addition of story boxes between the pages, which cover topics such as Eastern Mediterranean: Ancient wine world ; ancestral vines of Southern Australia, eastern Mediterranean wines; and Orange wines. Address: Emirates Palace, W Corniche Rd - Al Ras Al Akhdar, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Global and Regional Winners - Most Original Wine List in the World 2020
Asia 2020
Ryan, Tokyo - Regional Winner
Despite the fact that Ryan is located near Shibuya Station, standing in between two of Tokyo’s busiest streets, it is surprisingly peaceful. Located in a modern building, warm wood, walls painted in earth tones and an ink wash image of the Japanese god of thunder provide an earthy note to the décor. Guests can spend an afternoon enjoying daylight and a soft breeze coming in from the wide terrace windows, or an evening where conversations bustle alongside good food created at an open kitchen and overlooked by counter seating. The menu at Ryan focuses on soba noodles that are hand-made by soba masters in front of diners, but includes a wide selection of high quality dishes. Ryan offers a wide selection of Japanese Sake and wine to accompany the menu. Address: 2-1-6 Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Australasia 2020
fermentasian, Tanunda - Global Winner
Based in Tanunda, South Australia, fermentAsian is an award-winning Vietnamese restaurant created by chef owner Tuoi Do. The food at FermentAsian has its roots firmly entrenched in Tuio's Vietnamese heritage and that of her parents who arrived in the Barossa Valley in March 2010. Tuio believes in supporting local producers especially those producers who share her ethical beliefs. Many of the vegetables and herbs that are intrinsic to Vietnamese cuisine and that feature in the menu, particularly the pungent herbs, come from her family's home gardens. The restaurant offers a Chef's Table menu as well as an a la Carte menu. The wine list is innovative and noted as serving 'as a beacon to pilgrims of the palate whose questing brings them to the Barossa in search of vinous exploration, evocation and education.' The list is instructive and offers a wide scope and diversity of international wines as well as featuring those from the surrounding Barossa region. 90 Murray Street, Tanunda, South Australia 5352, Australia
South & Central America/ Caribbean 2020
Taste-Vin, Belo Horizonte - Regional Winner
The Taste-Vin restaurant is based in the rooms of an old house located in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The focus of the menu is regional French food, featuring souffles as a speciality. The restaurant has secured awards for its food and wine since opening in 1988. They have a wide range of wines from small independent winegrowers and producers from different countries. Over recent years they have added a series of lower cost wines. The list includes House Selections, with roughly 12-14 well chosen wines that offer good value, some of them by the glass; this is followed by Champagnes and Sparkling Wines; then Selection of Great Wines, and the fourth section with a listing of wines from different regions in all price ranges. Address: Rua Curitiba 2105, 30170-122 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Europe 2020
Nobelhart & Schmutzig, Berlin - Regional Winner
Based in Berlin, Nobelhart & Schmutzig first opened in 2015 and now terms itself Germany’s most political restaurant. Guests are encouraged to consciously uncouple from daily life and put away cameras. There are no white tablecloths and there is no separation between cooking and dining spaces in order to recall the feeling of a home kitchen table. The restaurant has made a conscious decision to shift the focus squarely onto local producers and renounce produce from afar, including lemons, tuna and chocolate. This philosophy extends to promoting environmental and economic sustainability and promoting a better eating culture for health. The wine list provides extensive well-written information. There is a close focus on fermentation and origin and the list is highlighted by fruit-driven, terroir-driven and signature wines. This is a great concept and a great wine list. Address: Friedrichstrasse 218, Berlin, 10969, Germany
Middle East & Africa 2020
Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, Greater Kruger National Park - Regional Winner
Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve is situated in the South-Western section of the Greater Kruger National Park. The focus of the reserve is to enable guests to go on safari and follow the animals deep into the heart of the wild African Bushveld. The park includes four lodges with small numbers of suites, ranging from traditional, luxury settings to more modern and cutting edge. In each lodge world-class cuisine is available, sometimes served on wooden thatched decks built alongside a riverbed, in the open air “boma” or in the “farmhouse kitchen”. The underground wine cellar houses a collection of over 6,000 bottles of rare wines. Address: 4 Jameson Avenue, Melrose Estate, Johannesburg, South Africa
North America 2020
Terroir, New York - Regional Winner
Terroir Tribeca restaurant and wine bar is located in the Tribeca district of New York, near the Hudson River. True to its Tribeca roots the restaurant team take a politically engaged and community driven approach to their offering. The space was previously a cheese production facility at a time when Washington Market thrived along the Hudson River. The interiors stand tribute to Tribeca's history as one of America's first post-industrial neighbourhoods, with repurposed original, rough hewn wood and burnished, time-worn metal furnishings. The drive of the food and drinks program is to give voice to place, with all of the wines, beers and produce selected depending on if they resonate with their origins and are produced in a manner true to their history and culture. There is a wide ranging wine list featuring impressive older vintage section at the end and a well-chosen 'value' section at the beginning with numerous by-the-glass options. Address: 24 Harrison Street, New York, 10010, United States
Asia 2020
Ryan, Tokyo - Regional Winner
Despite the fact that Ryan is located near Shibuya Station, standing in between two of Tokyo’s busiest streets, it is surprisingly peaceful. Located in a modern building, warm wood, walls painted in earth tones and an ink wash image of the Japanese god of thunder provide an earthy note to the décor. Guests can spend an afternoon enjoying daylight and a soft breeze coming in from the wide terrace windows, or an evening where conversations bustle alongside good food created at an open kitchen and overlooked by counter seating. The menu at Ryan focuses on soba noodles that are hand-made by soba masters in front of diners, but includes a wide selection of high quality dishes. Ryan offers a wide selection of Japanese Sake and wine to accompany the menu. Address: 2-1-6 Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Australasia 2020
fermentasian, Tanunda - Global Winner
Based in Tanunda, South Australia, fermentAsian is an award-winning Vietnamese restaurant created by chef owner Tuoi Do. The food at FermentAsian has its roots firmly entrenched in Tuio's Vietnamese heritage and that of her parents who arrived in the Barossa Valley in March 2010. Tuio believes in supporting local producers especially those producers who share her ethical beliefs. Many of the vegetables and herbs that are intrinsic to Vietnamese cuisine and that feature in the menu, particularly the pungent herbs, come from her family's home gardens. The restaurant offers a Chef's Table menu as well as an a la Carte menu. The wine list is innovative and noted as serving 'as a beacon to pilgrims of the palate whose questing brings them to the Barossa in search of vinous exploration, evocation and education.' The list is instructive and offers a wide scope and diversity of international wines as well as featuring those from the surrounding Barossa region. 90 Murray Street, Tanunda, South Australia 5352, Australia
South & Central America/ Caribbean 2020
Taste-Vin, Belo Horizonte - Regional Winner
The Taste-Vin restaurant is based in the rooms of an old house located in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The focus of the menu is regional French food, featuring souffles as a speciality. The restaurant has secured awards for its food and wine since opening in 1988. They have a wide range of wines from small independent winegrowers and producers from different countries. Over recent years they have added a series of lower cost wines. The list includes House Selections, with roughly 12-14 well chosen wines that offer good value, some of them by the glass; this is followed by Champagnes and Sparkling Wines; then Selection of Great Wines, and the fourth section with a listing of wines from different regions in all price ranges. Address: Rua Curitiba 2105, 30170-122 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Europe 2020
Nobelhart & Schmutzig, Berlin - Regional Winner
Based in Berlin, Nobelhart & Schmutzig first opened in 2015 and now terms itself Germany’s most political restaurant. Guests are encouraged to consciously uncouple from daily life and put away cameras. There are no white tablecloths and there is no separation between cooking and dining spaces in order to recall the feeling of a home kitchen table. The restaurant has made a conscious decision to shift the focus squarely onto local producers and renounce produce from afar, including lemons, tuna and chocolate. This philosophy extends to promoting environmental and economic sustainability and promoting a better eating culture for health. The wine list provides extensive well-written information. There is a close focus on fermentation and origin and the list is highlighted by fruit-driven, terroir-driven and signature wines. This is a great concept and a great wine list. Address: Friedrichstrasse 218, Berlin, 10969, Germany
Middle East & Africa 2020
Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, Greater Kruger National Park - Regional Winner
Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve is situated in the South-Western section of the Greater Kruger National Park. The focus of the reserve is to enable guests to go on safari and follow the animals deep into the heart of the wild African Bushveld. The park includes four lodges with small numbers of suites, ranging from traditional, luxury settings to more modern and cutting edge. In each lodge world-class cuisine is available, sometimes served on wooden thatched decks built alongside a riverbed, in the open air “boma” or in the “farmhouse kitchen”. The underground wine cellar houses a collection of over 6,000 bottles of rare wines. Address: 4 Jameson Avenue, Melrose Estate, Johannesburg, South Africa
North America 2020
Terroir, New York - Regional Winner
Terroir Tribeca restaurant and wine bar is located in the Tribeca district of New York, near the Hudson River. True to its Tribeca roots the restaurant team take a politically engaged and community driven approach to their offering. The space was previously a cheese production facility at a time when Washington Market thrived along the Hudson River. The interiors stand tribute to Tribeca's history as one of America's first post-industrial neighbourhoods, with repurposed original, rough hewn wood and burnished, time-worn metal furnishings. The drive of the food and drinks program is to give voice to place, with all of the wines, beers and produce selected depending on if they resonate with their origins and are produced in a manner true to their history and culture. There is a wide ranging wine list featuring impressive older vintage section at the end and a well-chosen 'value' section at the beginning with numerous by-the-glass options. Address: 24 Harrison Street, New York, 10010, United States