The awards, launched in 2014, were hosted by The World of Fine Wine editor and awards chairman Neil Beckett, alongside food editor and judge Francis Percival, and judged by independent panels of leading professionals, including world champion sommeliers, masters of wine and renowned wine writers.
The night’s highest honor went to The Little Nell in Aspen, Colorado, which picked up the coveted Wine List of the Year 2025, as well as Best Hotel Wine List. Park Hotel Vossevangen was another one big winner, triumphing once again in the prestigious Champions’ League, reserved for former Wine List of the Year winners. The Norwegian hotel claimed both Champions’ League Best Overall Wine List 2025 and Champions’ League Best By-the-Glass Wine List 2025.
The United States had a strong showing, collecting ten main awards plus two Champions’ League wins. Highlights included Brooklyn’s Kru (Best Micro Wine List) and One White Street in Tribeca (Best Half-Bottle List). The UK also stood out: The Grape Escape in Cheltenham won Best Value Wine List, while London institutions 67 Pall Mall, Blandford Comptoir and Frog by Adam Handling were all recognized.
In total, winners represented five continents. Standout successes included Switzerland’s Einstein Gourmet (Best Large-format Wine List), Mauritius’s Blue Penny Cellar (Best Long Wine List), and Switzerland’s Wunderbrunnen (Best Dessert and Fortified List). Sydney excelled too, with Shell House awarded Best Medium Wine List and The Wine Bar at The International winning Best Short Wine List.
The evening concluded with the introduction of the Guiding Spirit Awards for Wine in Hospitality, created to honor individuals who have shaped the world of wine service. Sponsored by T-Oinos, the inaugural honours went to Harald Bresselschmidt, Doug Govan, HO Kin Fung, Pascaline Lepeltier, Valeria Mortara and Josep Roca of the three Michelin-starred El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Catalonia.
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“I’m very proud to have received this honour and recognition. It’s important for us, El Celler de Can Roca, but also for me,” said Roca on receiving his award from Percival. “It’s not just about the tangibles, it’s about recognising the emotional importance behind the wines and also the vines.”
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