May 19, 2025 — At a ceremony held in Zürich this afternoon, the best wine lists in Switzerland were awarded with Gold Stars by Star Wine List Founder and Publisher Krister Bengtsson. The top prize went to the five-star Park Hotel Vitznau, closely followed by Wunderbrunnen restaurant in Opfikon, with additional recognition for Zürich’s 169 West, Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, Matière in Geneva, and more. Here is the full list of winners.
“Seeing Switzerland’s geographic and cultural diversity expressed in these outstanding wine programs has been remarkable,” says judge Nina Jensen, who was joined on the jury panel by fellow sommeliers Bertrand Lutaud MS and Reeze Choi. “Across the board, there is a profound sense of quality, coupled with a longstanding commitment to the sommelier craft and traditions, yet still a curious outlook. Moreover, witnessing the widespread support for your exceptional domestic wines is fantastic!”
Gold Stars were presented in nine categories at an event held at Chez Smith, on 19 May 2025. All of those recipients automatically qualify for the Star Wine List of the Year International Final.
The Star Wine List of the Year competitions celebrate the wine lists of the world – and the people who create them. The current awards tour began in September 2024 and will culminate with an International Final in June 2025, hosted in Vienna. This week’s event is the third time that Star Wine List of the Year has honoured Switzerland’s wine lists after a virtual ceremony in 2021 and a combined contest with Austria and Germany in 2024; the 2025 competition marks the first in-person and dedicated Swiss celebration.
The winners
Grand Prix – the best list overall
Gold Star: Park Hotel Vitznau, Vitznau
Best Long List – for wine lists with more than 600 references, presented by Château d’Esclans
Gold Star: Park Hotel Vitznau, Vitznau
Best Medium-Sized List – 200-600 references
Gold Star: Matière, Geneva
Best Short List – fewer than 200 references
Gold Star: 57° Grill, Lausanne
Best By the Glass List
Gold Star: Wunderbrunnen, Opfikon
Best Sparkling Wine List, presented by Nyetimber
Gold Star: Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, Obbürgen
Sustainable Wine List – for this category, we evaluate not just the wine list but also the actions of the venue throughout their wine program, as stated by the team via questionnaire; presented by Château Galoupet
Gold Star: 169 West, Zürich
Best Austrian Wine List, presented by Austrian Wine
Gold Star: Wunderbrunnen, Opfikon
Best California Wine List, presented by Pahlmeyer
Gold Star: Donatz Wine Bar, Samaden
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 on www.starwinelist.com. It was launched in Stockholm (Sweden) in 2017, and is now live in more than 45 countries in the world. All venues are selected by top wine professionals.
