European wines shine in second edition of World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection - In the ultimate tasting of world-class wines, top sommeliers from across the globe gathered in the UK in January to judge the second edition of the World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection. More than thirty of the most influential palates in the hospitality industry came together to assess an exceptional line-up of wines in their context, all vying for a place in this influential selection

The World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection 2025 is available to view here, accompanied by the sommeliers’ collective tasting notes and food pairing recommendations.

Producers from around the world submitted their finest bottles, hoping to impress the experts and secure a spot on the list. The panel was made up of sommeliers and beverage directors from four continents and 18 countries, each possessing an extensive knowledge and passion for wine, offering a diverse range of perspectives on quality and style.

European wines were highly commended in the tasting, with over half of all wines in the final selection hailing from Europe. Wines from nine different European countries were recommended by the sommeliers, including historically renowned wine-producing countries such as France, Spain, Italy and Portugal as well as countries increasingly being recognised for their winemaking excellence, like Hungary and the Czech Republic.

Italy dominates with 26 standout bottles

Italy reaffirmed its position as a winemaking powerhouse this year, with 26 wines earning a spot on the coveted list, more than any other country. The majority of these wines were red, with wines made from Nebbiolo particularly impressing the sommeliers. The selection includes seven wines made from Nebbiolo including those from esteemed producers like Marchesi di Barolo, the pioneer of Italy’s first Barolo wine, and organic winemaker Ceretto. Of the seven white wines that made the final selection, three of those were Chardonnay, including a sparkling example from Cantina Rotari, as well as a complex 2018 example from Cantina Mezzacorona, which judges described as "loaded with lemon zest… generous lemon citrus and spice tones", having a "long finish, and built to age". Northern Italy performed particularly well, with Piedmont (eight wines), Tuscany (seven wines) and Trentino Alto-Adige (six wines) all securing spots on the list.

Valentina Abbona, part of the family-owned Marchesi di Barolo in Piedmont, two of whose wines made the list, comments: “We are thrilled to have not just one but two of our Barolo wines recognised in this year’s selection. In an increasingly competitive market, it is vital for us to maintain a cutting-edge on the world stage, so having our wines chosen by such a globally renowned group of sommeliers is invaluable.”

Spanish success for Rioja and Sherry

Spain put on another stellar show in this year’s selection, with 14 Spanish wines from five regions gaining a prestigious spot, an increase from 12 last year. Spain’s native star grape Tempranillo dominated the reds, with five of the seven reds featured listing Tempranillo as the principle grape variety. Iconic winemaking regions Rioja (six wines) and Catalonia (three wines) led the charge, with Alta Alella, which featured in the selection in 2024, as well as major players like Bodegas Ysios and Familia Torres, being listed. Sherry also made a mark on the sommeliers, with three standout examples – an Oloroso, Palo Cortado, and Fino – representing the finesse of Spain’s fortified wine industry. Produced by acclaimed producers Gonzalez Byass and Bodegas Espinosa de los Monteros, the sommeliers praised the wines as “a great showcase of the wine style” with “such an impressive nose”.

Clara Canals, Winemaker at Bodegas Ysios in Rioja, says: "To have our 2021 Grano a Grano – literally translated to 'grain by grain' – featured in this year’s World’s Best Sommeliers' Selection is a true delight. This wine is a tribute to the care and dedication behind every grape selection, but also to the incredible colleagues and families who come together each October for our Grano a Grano event. It is a moment of shared passion, where tradition, craftsmanship, and teamwork come to life, making this recognition even more meaningful for all of us at Bodegas Ysios.”

Manuel Muga of Bodegas Muga in Rioja, adds: “It is an incredible honour to be selected for the World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection. It’s not just about showcasing our wines to top sommeliers from the 50 Best Restaurants, but about sharing the story of our family, vineyard, our dedication to quality, and the unique expression of our terroir. The opportunity to receive feedback from such esteemed professionals helps us refine our craft and reach new audiences around the world. It’s a unique opportunity for our wines to be considered by some of the most influential palates in the industry, and we’re thrilled to be part of this global conversation.”

Portugal proves prowess with native reds and Vinho Verde

Rising star Portugal continued its growth on the global stage, with 10 wines from four regions earning respected spots in the selection, matching winemaking heavyweight France. This reflects the increasing interest in Portuguese wines, particularly its reds, which accounted for six of the selected wines. All the reds originated from the Douro and showcased the quality of native grape varieties: Touriga Franca (three wines), Touriga Nacional (two wines), and Touriga Francesa (one wine). The country’s whites also made a lasting impact, with two Vinho Verdes highlighting the growing popularity of this vibrant and fresh style. Iconic port producer Graham’s, family-run Sogrape Vinhos, and Vinho Verde specialist Quinta de Soalheiro – whose 2023 Primeiras Vinhas was commended for its “excellent varietal definition” – secured places in the list, cementing Portugal’s reputation as a talented force in the world of wine.

Maria João Cerdeira, from Soalheiro management, in Monção E Melgaço, two of whose wines were listed, comments: “It is incredibly rewarding to have our wines not only recognised for their quality but also their context, ensuring the hard work and craft which goes into every bottle is taken into consideration. Hearing the perspectives of such a diverse and talented group of sommeliers allows us to better understand the gastronomic qualities of the wines, while also providing a platform for increased global recognition.”

Riesling stands out amongst wider European success

Austria (three wines), Czech Republic (three wines), Georgia (two wines), Germany (two wines) and Hungary (one wine) also gained spots in this year’s list, with particular recognition for dry Rieslings. Four Rieslings were included in the selection from both Germany and the Czech Republic, including one from historic German winery Schloss Johannisberg, who also featured in 2024’s selection. Georgian producer Shumi claimed the only orange wine on the list, which sommeliers described as “rich and spicy” with a “complex, nice texture and very long finish”.

Marek Sedlacek, the winemaker at Gurdau Winery in Moravia, Czech Republic, says: "Our wines already stand out for their exceptional quality and complexity, but we are continuously striving for more. We are still on the path to wider recognition, so being featured in the World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection this year is a significant step forward."

The panel included expert palates from some of the world’s most prestigious venues, many of which feature on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024 list. Sommeliers from acclaimed restaurants such as The World’s Best Restaurant 2024, Disfrutar, Barcelona (No.1); Table by Bruno Verjus, Paris (No.3); Kol, London (No.17) and Piazza Duomo, Alba (No.39) have lent their expertise, while renowned sommelier, Jhonel Faelnar whose New York restaurant, Atomix, was named The Best Restaurant in North America as part of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024, presided over the selection process. See the full list of participating sommeliers here.

Andrew Reed, Managing Director Wine and Exhibitions at William Reed, comments: “The World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection is a testament to the passion, expertise, and commitment of the global wine community. It’s a privilege to bring together this diverse group of sommeliers, each with their own unique perspectives, to taste and celebrate wines from all corners of the globe. Our goal is to provide producers with a platform that not only highlights the quality and innovation in the wine industry but also serves as a valuable resource for wine professionals worldwide. We are excited for what’s to come in future editions.”

The worldsbestsommeliersselection.com provides sommeliers from all over the world with an incomparable resource to select interesting wines for their wine list with the knowledge that they have been carefully selected by their peers. The website also offers the unique functionality of being able to search for wines based on terroir (eg. high altitude, cool climate), seasonality and food pairings opposed to the traditional filter of grape varieties. For those interested in submitting wines for the 2026 selection, submissions will open on 26 February and interested parties can request an invitation via the WBSS website.

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About World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection (WBSS)

• World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection is brought to you by William Reed, the company behind The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and World's Best Vineyards
• During the tasting, the sommeliers had access to the backstory and videos for each wine. The panel provided tasting notes and food pairings for every wine. The sommeliers were then able to discuss the wine and come to a consensus decision on whether the wine would be included in the World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection 2025.
• Highlights from the event can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQBuefE3WLI
• Further images and videos from the tasting are available here: https://event.worldsbestsommeliersselection.com/live/en/page/media-centre
• Throughout the World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection tasting, all wines were served in Gabriel Glas stems. 

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