September 18, 2025 (Stockholm, Sweden) — The stage is set for a fierce competition as Star Wine List, the international guide to great wine bars and restaurants, has announced the 55 finalists for the sixth edition of Star Wine List of the Year Norway. The winners will be crowned at a ceremony on October 12, 2025, at the historic Gamle Logen in Oslo, held in conjunction with the Norwegian Sommelier Day.
This year’s competition is shaping up to be one of the most competitive on the Star Wine List global awards tour. Established powerhouses such as Park Hotel Vossevangen, which triumphed at the International Final in Vienna last June, now face a strong challenge from a wave of ambitious competitors, not the least from the newcomers on the Norwegian wine scene – nominees in the Best Newcomer category include B VIN (Oslo), Kombo (Trondheim), La Recette (Kristiansand), Stranden 30 (Oslo), and Wining (Oslo). Highlighting this trend, last year’s winning newcomer, Vinland in Oslo, has now secured an impressive six nominations across multiple categories.
Krister Bengtsson, Founder and Publisher of Star Wine List, commented: “We always look forward to coming back to Norway and celebrating the ambitious teams and venues in one of the most vibrant wine scenes worldwide.”
The new categories in the 2025/´26 tour have proved very popular. The “Best Italian Wine List” award, recognising outstanding selections of Italian wines, has 11 finalists, while seven venues are now competing for the “Special Jury Prize,” which awards a venue that the judges believe is offering a particularly unique or innovative experience for wine lovers. Norway is also displaying a focus on sustainability, with six venues now running for the “Sustainability Prize.”
The distinguished panel of judges responsible for choosing these finalists comprises Mikk Parre (ASI Best Sommelier of Europe, Africa and Middle East 2024), Aase E. Jacobsen (Editor-in-Chief, Apéritif magazine), June Rodil MS, and Stephen Wong MW. They had the challenging but rewarding task of evaluating the entries. The finalists are as follows:
Finalists
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES:
Best Long List
For wine lists with more than 600 references
- Grand Café & Vinkjeller, Oslo
- Hallingstuene, Geilo
- Happolati, Oslo
- Hos Moi, Kristiansand
- Hotel Bristol, Oslo
- Kolonialen Bislett, Oslo
- Mon Oncle, Oslo
- Park Hotel Vossevangen, Voss
- Plah, Oslo
- Smag & Behag Kristiansand, Kristiansand
- Speilsalen at Britannia Hotel, Trondheim
- Vinland, Oslo
- Vino Bar Ålesund, Ålesund
Best Medium-Sized List
Recognises the best wine list with 200-600 references – a category presented by Bona Fide Wines
- Bellies, Stavanger
- Brasserie Coucou, Oslo
- Hyde, Oslo
- Kolonihagen Frogner, Oslo
- Le Benjamin, Oslo
- Mantra by Mr India, Oslo
- Oh Dear, Oslo
- Spiseriet Stavanger, Stavanger
- Spontan, Trondheim
- Territoriet, Oslo
- Varemottaket, Oslo
Best Short List
Recognises the best wine list with fewer than 200 listings – a category presented by Vinify
- Allmuen Bistro, Bergen
- Eero Restaurant, Oslo
- Fat City, Oslo
- Jest, Bergen
- La Recette, Kristiansand
- Lasarett Vinbar, Oslo
- Liminal, Oslo
- Madonna, Oslo
- Zarathustra Meyhane, Oslo
Best Sparkling Wine List
Recognises the best list for sparkling wines – a category presented by Nyetimber
- Arakataka, Oslo
- Hos Moi, Kristiansand
- Hyde, Oslo
- Kolonialen Bislett, Oslo
- Mon Oncle, Oslo
- Park Hotel Vossevangen, Voss
- Speilsalen at Britannia Hotel, Trondheim
- Vinland, Oslo
- Vino Bar Ålesund, Ålesund
Best By-the-Glass List – a category presented by Riedel
Recognises the best ‘by-the-glass’ list
- Frances Vinbar, Oslo
- Grand Café & Vinkjeller, Oslo
- Kastellet, Oslo
- Kontrast, Oslo
- Kork Vinbar & Scene, Rørvik
- Lasarett Vinbar, Oslo
- Norvald Vinbar, Stavanger
- Park Hotel Vossevangen, Voss
- Territoriet, Oslo
- The Red Dot Wine Bar, Kristiansand
- Vinland, Oslo
- Vinsmak, Tromsø
Best Newcomer List
Recognises a venue that has recently opened
- B VIN, Oslo
- Kombo, Trondheim
- La Recette, Kristiansand
- Stranden 30, Oslo
- Wining, Oslo
Sustainability Prize
Assesses the sustainable commitment of both the wine list and broader venue via a supplementary questionnaire submitted during the application process
- Bellies, Stavanger
- Buer Restaurant, Odda
- Kontrast, Oslo
- Pillefyken, Oslo
- Restaurant K2, Stavanger
- TempoTempo, Bergen
Best Austrian Wine List
Recognises the best list for the wines of Austria – a category presented by Austrian Wine
- Happolati, Oslo
- Hermetikken Restaurant, Stavanger
- Hos Moi, Kristiansand
- Park Hotel Vossevangen, Voss
- Plah, Oslo
- Vinland, Oslo
Best Italian Wine List
Recognises the best list for the wines of Italy
- Gaffel & Karaffel, Stavanger
- Gaustablikk, Rjukan
- Grand Café & Vinkjeller, Oslo
- Hotel Bristol, Oslo
- Kolonialen Bislett, Oslo
- Park Hotel Vossevangen, Voss
- Smag & Behag Kristiansand, Kristiansand
- Speilsalen at Britannia Hotel, Trondheim
- Vinland, Oslo
- Vino Bar Ålesund, Ålesund
- Vinoteket, Oslo
Special Jury Prize
Rewards a wine lovers’ place that does something out of the ordinary
- Arakataka, Oslo
- Glime Restaurant, Hardanger Fjord
- Kolonialen Bislett, Oslo
- Kolonihagen Frogner, Oslo
- Territoriet, Oslo
- Vianvang, Vågå
- Vinland, Oslo
The ceremony is by invitation only, and will be attended by the sommelier finalists and our commercial partners. Please contact us for press accreditation.
About Star Wine List
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 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. Star Wine List of the Year is an international competition celebrating 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, hosting events that recognise excellence in the wine and hospitality industries.