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And the winners are …….
China’s Wine List of the Year 2025 – Mainland China: Blackswan – Beijing
AND As custodians of this winning list, the following Awards were also announced – China’s ‘Outstanding Sommelier’ of the Year 2025 – Mainland China: Tyler Chen
China’s Outstanding F&B Director/Manager/Owner of the Year 2025 – Mainland China: Luo Hao
China’s Wine List of the Year 2025 – Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan: Amber – Hong Kong
AND As custodians of this winning list, the following Awards were also announced – China’s ‘Outstanding Sommelier’ of the Year 2025 – Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan: Dirk Chen
China’s Outstanding F&B Director/Manager/Owner of the Year 2025 – Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan: Richard Ekkebus
2025 saw another record year for the Awards and the big winners with China’s Wine List of the Year Awards are China’s Hospitality and Tourism Industries and the nations ever more discerning consumers everywhere who benefit from the significant gains that are being achieved each year with the standard of China’s wine lists.
Each year the standard of the wine lists that showcase these industries, and are available to those consumers, continues to grow with the highest percentage ever of 2 and 3 Glass Wine Lists across China achieved in 2025.
This represents exciting growth for the Industry in China, both in quantity and quality. This outstanding result further demonstrates the growing standard of China’s best Wine Lists today.
2025 also saw more records broken, with the highest number of Glass winning venues ever again this year from Southern China and Macau. In addition, the record number of independent restaurants entering the Awards in 2023 is being maintained with strong numbers achieved in 2025.
With categories entered, the most popular category entered in 2025 is for the second year running China’s Best Food and Wine Matching Wine List followed by China’s Best Wine by the Glass List. China’s Best Listing of Chinese Wines also achieved another a record year – wonderful news for China’s growing domestic wine industry, as did China’s Best Chinese Restaurant Wine List.
Finally, it is very encouraging to hear of the positive impact on respective businesses that success in the Awards is bringing to the Awards Glass winners, those venues and sommeliers deserving of recognition and reward; especially given the outstanding levels they are achieving.
Quote from Co-Chairman of Judges Peter Forrestal – I commented last year that part of the value of Awards such as China’s Wine List of the Year is the spotlight that it shines on China’s hospitality industry, Yet, it does a great deal more than this. Because the developments in hospitality coincide with substantial improvements in the quality of Chinese wines, it has additional benefits with increased sales of the domestic product via thoughtfully constructed wine lists. This might not make much dent in the impact on French wines in China, but it’s an important first step. Certainly, the best wine lists have been quick to take up this challenge. Frankly, the best Chinese wines are delicious. The spread of the Awards into the provinces is also cause for delight. Especially as this has not taken place against the backdrop of falling off in support for the Awards and hospitality in the major population centres.
The judges have noted many outstanding performances with Dirk Chen following up his win in Best Wine List – Hong Kong, Macau & Taiwan in 2024 with Somm. Twelve months later, he won the same award with Amber. Impressive. Similarly, Tyler Chen was third in Mainland China in 2024 with Blackswan before winning that award twelve months later. For the judges, this is one of the highlights of our year: seeing talented and dedicated professionals plying their trade to an adoring public. It doesn’t get better than that.
Click HERE for the full list of winners
