Kiwi wines chosen by world’s best somms
Three New Zealand wineries have had wines chosen for the second edition of the prestigious World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection.
Palliser Estate, Craggy Range, and family-owned Brennan Wines in Central Otago all feature on the list of 123 wines, which spans 19 countries. It was assembled by more than 30 top global sommeliers who met in the UK to judge wines submitted by producers from around the world.
The World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection 2025 is designed to serve as a trusted reference for on-trade professionals worldwide and is accompanied by the sommeliers’ collective tasting notes and food pairing recommendations.
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.
It 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. 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.
“These are people who care deeply about what they do,” says Faelnar. “They make decisions that shape what is poured at top restaurants around the world… This experience has been amazing because not only are you tasting with like-minded individuals, but with palates that are already changing the way we drink and think about wine today.”
For producers, submitting wines into the tasting offers an unparalleled opportunity to showcase their work to some of the most influential palates in the world. Kevin Lu, Chief Sommelier at Logy, Taipei says: “As a producer, you have the possibility in just one tasting to reach all parts of the world. Sommeliers act as storytellers, conveying the history, terroir, and craftsmanship behind each bottle.”
Submissions for the 2026 selection will open on 26 February and interested parties can request an invitation via the website (below).
