Welcome to the 2021 China’s Wine List of the Year Awards – the 9th Anniversary of the Awards in China. Entering the awards offers the opportunity for local and international recognition and exposure On-line and via Social Media plus in key publications across China and Internationally. International and local fame awaits those establishments who win Awards and the Glass Award ratings achieved guarantees positive reviews and recognition that will attract more customers to experience your venue and your list, reinforcing your standing as one of the best wine lists in China.
Winning one of the most highly regarded awards in the wine industry is a real honour. It is an incredible feeling to know we have made it this far; it makes it even more exciting for the future. It has definitely increased our guest interest and we have had a lot of amazing feedback, which is carrying the wine passion at Jonah’s even further. Guests are enjoying the read as well as the wines and that is just a great achievement!
Niels Sluiman - Jonah's
It's been really good for business. We've always been known as a destination for wine lovers and the award has now cemented that position for us. We've had customers come in and see the wine list and drink the wines because they've heard about the award and that definitely adds something special to the place.
Nick Hildebrandt - Bentley
Winning the Wine List of the Year Award has legitimised a less-than-conventional, narrative-based approach to listing and selling delicious wine. I'm sure that other sommeliers with a song in their heart and a fierce yearning to tell stories will be heartened by our success and feel more confident in submitting their offering.
Grant Dickson - fermentAsian
Enter the Awards
Entering the awards annually is essential to retain your glass rating and listing in China's Wine List of the Year Award Best Lists.
You can enter your list under different Categories each year. Choose your category, and you are automatically entered for Best List for your Type of Venue, Best Regional List and the Main award, Best Wine list of the Year.
Hall of Fame - You can only win the main China Wine List of the Year Awards once. The following year you secure your place in history with entry into the prestigious Hall of Fame provided you enter your list and maintain your same high standard. Achieving a listing in the Hall of Fame can also be achieved by winning best wine list in a Category, State or Venue Type three times.
Make sure you are part of this important annual event, showcasing your list to some of the world's most respected local and international expert judges, including Master Sommeliers, Masters of Wine, Sommeliers and Wine Communicators.
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See Award Categories
There are several categories that offer you a chance to win an award. Click below to see full list of categories that you can enter to showcase your list's strengths in alternate areas.
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What you need to provide
You will need to supply PDFs of your wine list and your menu to see how your list compliments your cuisine. We will also require two high-resolution images of your venue. These should be attached with your submission.
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Complete your submission
'Sign up' to register, or 'Sign in' to complete your submission.
Enter the 2021 Awards
Entries for the 2021 China's Wine List of the Year Awards will open on Monday 21st June, 2021 and close on Friday 30th July, 2021. The winners will be announced at the Awards Presentation Ceremony and Celebration in Shanghai on Monday 11th October, 2021.
Main Awards
Wine List of the Year Awards
There are thirteen (13) main awards in China’s Wine List of the Year Awards determined by location. When entering the awards, your establishment is automatically entered into four (4) of these following 13 awards depending on your location:
China’s Wine List of the Year 2021 – Mainland China
China’s Wine List of the Year – Mainland China
China’s Outstanding Sommelier of the Year – Mainland China
Outstanding Owner or F&B Director or Wine Manager – Mainland China
China’s Wine List of the Year 2021 – Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan
China’s Wine List of the Year – Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan
China’s Outstanding Sommelier of the Year – Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan
Outstanding Owner or F&B Director or Wine Manager – Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan
Best Wine List in Your Region
Best Wine List – Eastern China
Best Wine List – Northern China
Best Wine List – Southern China
Best Wine List – Western China
Best Wine List – Hong Kong SRA
Best Wine List – Macau SRA
Best Wine List – Taiwan
Best Wine List Venue Category Awards
Best Independent Restaurant Wine List
Best Hotel Restaurant Wine List
Best Chinese Restaurant Wine List
Best Club Restaurant Wine List
Best Wine Bar Wine List
Hotel Group/Restaurant Chain Awards
These awards are for Hotel Groups OR Restaurant Chains ONLY
Best Restaurant Chain Wine List
Best Hotel Group Wine List
Best Wines by the Glass in a Hotel Group (not the biggest)
Specialist Category Awards
Best New List – opened in past year
Best Medium List (maximum 100 Wines on the List)
Best Wines by the Glass List
Best Food & Wine Matching List
Best Champagne List
Best Listing of Chinese Wines
Best Listing of Chinese Spirits
Best Listing of French Wines
Best Luxury Fine Wine Cellar Wine List
Best Aperitif List
Best Digestif List
Best Sake List
Best Beer List
Best Restaurant Wine List – Consumers Choice
Hall of Fame
Past Main Award Winners
Establishments can only win China’s Wine List of the Year Award once, but are still eligible to win any of the other Awards at least three times provided they continue to enter the Awards and maintain their high standard.
Three Time Award Winners: Region, Type of Venue or Specialist Category Award Winners
Once an establishment wins the same Region, Type of Venue or Specialist Category Award three times, they will then be eligible for entry to the Hall of Fame and be ineligible for that award in the future, but eligible for any other award, provided they continue to enter the Awards and maintain their high standard.
In all of the above cases, the successful establishments will each year be recognised and listed in the China’s Wine List of the Year Awards – Hall of Fame, providing they enter and maintain their Glass Rating each year.
Individual Awards
This prestigious award is presented periodically to recognise an outstanding individual and their contribution to education and the service of fine wine within the Chinese Hospitality and Tourism Industries over recent times – With a major beneficiary of this contribution being the standard of wine lists of China.
Judging the Awards
The Judging Process
There are two panels of Judges – the Judging Panel and the International Supreme Panel and both these panels are made up of a specially selected group of experts from China and around the world.
Impartiality is a key consideration in the judging process. No judge is judging a list that comes from where they live, and the Judging Panel has the responsibility to judge every single list and determine the finalists. Should a conflict ever arise with any outlets being judged then the effected Judge abstains from judging.
The Judging Panel selects the finalists from each Region and Award Category, which are then submitted for final selection by the combined Judging Panel and International Supreme Panel.
Each establishment across China will be given a rating. The best will receive either one glass (Recommended), two glasses (Outstanding) or three glasses (Excellent).
Regional winners will be those establishments scoring highest points in each region, regardless of the Category in which they enter.
Each of the Categories will have a China winner. This will be awarded to the establishment scoring the highest points. There will be a final round of judging for the highest scoring wine lists, to decide the two China’s Wine Lists of the Year, where the Judging Panel will be joined by a group of Chinese and International judges to add an extra layer of impartiality to the final judging.
Establishments can only win China’s Wine List of the Year Award once, but they are still eligible to win their Regional and Category Awards three times. Once they achieve these milestones they will be listed in the China’s Wine List of the Year Awards Hall of Fame each time they enter provided they maintain their high standards. To retain Glass Ratings all restaurants must enter each year.
Each entering establishment is given a rating:
Three glasses (excellent)
Two glasses (outstanding)
One glass (recommended)
What are the Judges looking for?
Content
Quality is key to the choice of wines
Having an original & innovative choice, with some mature wines from good vintages, avoiding poor vintages
Carefully matching varieties and regions
Having an appropriate variety of wines by the glass
Adequate list of aperitifs, beers, spirits, liqueurs and waters/non-alcoholic
Balance
Balance of pricing relevant to your establishment
Domestic & imported wines, regions and wine styles
Suitability
To cuisine, style and image of establishment
Presentation
Includes vintages
Accurate and consistent presentation of information
China’s Wine List of the Year Awards bring together a selection of some of the most respected independent experts in the world of wine, wine service, judging and commentary from China and around the World. These international authorities will ensure that China’s winning lists, a proud representation of China’s food and wine industry, receive the worldwide recognition they deserve.
Entries for the 2021 China's Wine List of the Year Awards will open on Monday 21st June, 2021 and close on Friday 30th July, 2021. The winners will be announced at the Awards Presentation Ceremony and Celebration in Shanghai on Monday 11th October, 2021.
Three glasses (excellent)
Two glasses (outstanding)
One glass (recommended)
