As part of the Baltic Wine & Drinks Awards, an international jury has selected the top restaurants for wine lovers across the Baltic states. Organized in association with Liebherr, the competition is now in its sixth year and is led by a team of Baltic and internationally recognized professionals. Its mission is to highlight restaurants, bars, and hotels with good, great, and exceptional wine lists, while supporting the development of Baltic wine culture.
To further elevate the sommelier profession, the organizers have, for the second year in a row, announced the Top 50 Baltic Sommeliers Award.
About the Competition
The competition judged the wine & drinks offer of 82 leading Baltic restaurants, wine bars and hotel restaurants, as well as wine retailers and cocktail bars.
During the awards ceremony, held on November 22 as part of the Riga Wine & Champagne festival, a total of 24 restaurants, wine bars, and retailers from across the Baltics received the highest distinction of three stars.
The judges rated each restaurant’s wine selection by:
- analysing the contents of the wine list
- wines represented
- vintages
- suitability for the restaurant’s cuisine and characteristics
- focus on specific country or wine region
- pricing policy
- presentation and clarity
- the element of surprise
Restaurants were awarded either a one-, two-, or three-star Baltic Wine & Drinks Awards rating, as well as a Recommended status.
International Jury
The brightest star of the international jury was Stefan Kletner (one of Austria’s top sommeliers and head sommelier of the five-star restaurant Burg Vital Resort in Oberlech).
The Baltic region was represented by:
- Arūnas Starkus – considered the founding figure of Lithuanian wine culture
- Edgars Razminas – one of the most prominent new-generation sommeliers, named Michelin Sommelier of the Year in the Netherlands in 2021
- Jānis Volkinšteins – from wine bar Vieta, a three-time winner of the “Best Wine List in the Baltics” title
- Lauris Grass – master of Mākoņi and Dzērienu Meistarklases
- Mārtiņš Pīlēns – founder of My Wine Design and presenter of the special award for “Best Wine List Design”
- Aleksei Pogrebnoi – sommelier at Tallinn’s Michelin-starred Noa Chef’s Hall
- Juris Ķēniņš – one of Latvia’s most experienced bartenders, former bartender at The Savoy American Bar (twice crowned the World’s Best Bar) and founder of Kolekcija Spirits
- Linda Karpenko – sommelier at Copenhagen’s Alchemist, a Michelin restaurant ranked 5th in the world
- Aigars Nords (jury chairman) – founder of Riga Wine & Champagne, the competitions Latvian Wine of the Year and Baltic Wine & Drinks Awards, and author of the book “Vīns un Nords”
Top 24 Best Restaurants, Wine Bars and Retailers
Three-Star Winners in 2025 (by country)
🇱🇻 Latvia
- Riviera (Riga) – The best casual restaurant wine list in the Baltics; a special mention for Italy & Champagne; a special mention for maturity & breadth of vintages.
- Barents (Riga) – The best fine-dining restaurant wine list in Latvia; a special mention for Austria & Champagne; the best wine list presentation among fine-dining restaurants in Latvia.
- Truff le Pig (Riga) – The best wine-bar wine list in the Baltics; a special mention for Grower Champagne, Burgundy & Jura; the best wine-bar wine list presentation in the Baltics.
- Noble Wine (Riga) – The best wine-bar-shop wine list in the Baltics; a special mention for Champagne, Piedmont & Burgundy; a special mention for great value-for-money.
- Max Cekot Kitchen (Riga) – The most ambitious fine-dining restaurant list in the Baltics; a special mention for Champagne, Bordeaux & Burgundy; a special mention for ambitious wine & food pairings and the breadth of back vintages.
- B7 (Riga) – The best bistro wine list in the Baltics; a special award – the best short wine list in the Baltics; a special mention for wine list presentation.
- Snatch restaurant (Riga) – The best casual restaurant wine list in Latvia; a special mention for Italy.
- Mākonis Cocktails & Design (Riga) – The best cocktail list in Latvia.
- The Benjamin House Bar (Riga) – The best newcomer at the Baltic Drink List Awards.
- Gongu Restaurant (Riga) – A special mention for a great cocktail list.
- Wine Collectors (Riga) – The best fine wine & premium retailer in the Baltics; a special mention for an outstanding Grower Champagne & Burgundy portfolio.
- Noble Wine (Riga) – The best overall wine & drinks retailer in Latvia; a special mention for Piedmont, Burgundy, Champagne, sake & an outstanding New World portfolio; a special mention for value-for-money.
🇱🇹 Lithuania
- HeJi (Vilnius) – The best fine-dining restaurant wine list in the Baltics; a special mention for the breadth of by-the-glass and sake selection; the best wine list presentation in Lithuania; the best overall drinks selection in the Baltics; a special mention for the cocktail offer.
- Monte Pacis (Kaunas) – The best regional casual restaurant wine list in the Baltics; a special mention for the originality of the presentation & the unique concept.
- DEMO Restoranas (Vilnius) – A special mention for Champagne & classic Old World wines.
- Nineteen18 (Vilnius) – The best short fine-dining restaurant wine list in Lithuania.
- Whisky Bar "King & Mouse" (Vilnius) – The best whisky selection in the Baltics.
- PACAI Bar (Vilnius) – A special mention for an impressive spirits selection.
- Vyno klubas (Lithuania) – The best overall wine & drinks retailer in the Baltics; a special mention for the breadth of selection across regions, countries, continents; the best value-for-money in the Baltics.
🇪🇪 Estonia
- Time To Wine Kopli (Tallinn) – The best wine-bar-shop wine list in Estonia; a special mention for Champagne & by-the-glass selection.
- Lee Brasserie (Tallinn) – The best casual restaurant wine list in Estonia; a special mention for the by-the-glass selection and overall depth; the best restaurant wine list presentation and layout in Estonia.
- Time To Wine Rotermanni (Tallinn) – A special mention for the breadth of selection, by-the-glass wines, Champagne & sparkling wines; the best value-for-money in Estonia.
- Mnemonic Bar (Tallinn) – The best bar in Estonia.
- Time To Wine Bar & Shop Rotermanni (Estonia) – The best sparkling wine collection in the Baltics; the best wine retailer in Estonia; a special mention for Italy & sweet wines; a special mention for value-for-money.
All competition results and ratings for restaurants and wine bars in the Baltics are available at
👉 balticwinelists.com
TOP 50 Baltic Sommeliers
In an effort to promote the understanding and prestige of the sommelier profession, the Baltic Wine & Drinks Awards, in association with LIEBHERR, is for the second year in a row awarding the “Top 50 Baltic Sommeliers”.
How the Top 50 Were Selected
First stage:
All applicants of the Baltic Wine & Drinks Awards participants were asked to nominate five sommeliers deserving recognition for their outstanding service.Second stage:
A public vote determined the Top 50 Baltic Sommeliers.
TOP 10 Baltic Sommeliers
- Juris Semjonovs (Latvia)
- Ingūna Majore (Latvia)
- Ivars Kalniņš (Latvia)
- Marts Augusts (Estonia)
- Arnis Kalvišķis (Latvia)
- Laura Maria Puju (Estonia)
- Kristijonas Valančiūnas (Lithuania)
- Laura Griščenko (Latvia)
- Katrīna Svilāne (Latvia)
- Ritvars Blūms (Latvia)
The full Top 50 sommeliers list can be found here:
👉 balticwinelists.com
About the Baltic Wine & Drinks Awards
The Baltic Wine & Drinks Awards, organized in collaboration with Liebherr, is hosted for the sixth year by the popular wine and gastronomy festival Riga Wine & Champagne, with a jury of internationally recognized wine professionals.
Since its founding in 2018, the competition’s aim has been to:
- draw public attention to restaurants and bars with thoughtful, customer-focused wine programs, and
- encourage the development of wine culture across the Baltic states.
