Under the theme "Partners in Wine", Falstaff celebrated Austria's best sommeliers and sommelières alongside their sponsors on November 24.
This year, Falstaff's renowned Red Wine Guide turns 45; to commemorate this anniversary, Austria's best sommeliers and sommelières were also honored for the first time. Under the evening's theme of "Partners in Wine", Falstaff celebrated the winners alongside their sponsors in the elegant setting of the Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel.
Falstaff's wine editor-in-chief, Peter Moser, presented the sommeliers and sommelières and their respective sponsors with the prestigious Falstaff carafe. "There is nothing better than honoring people who deserve it. Everyone here today has done a great job in their category," said Moser. A total of twenty winners were selected: the best in the categories sparkling wine list, shortlist (<200 positions), mature wines and vintage depth, unconventional wines and other drinks, wines by the glass, wines from Austria, wines from the region, international wines, hospitality, rookie of the year, natural wine list as well as nine winners for each of Austria's federal states.
Austria's states were also honored at the start of the evening – from Vorarlberg to Vienna. "He came as a caterer and went home a winner," Moser remarked in praise of Simon Schubert from Reznicek, who provided a fantastic dinner alongside his head chef Julian Lechner – including mushroom chicken cappuccino, pink saddle of veal with herb- and bell pepper gnocchi, and apple strudel with Tahiti vanilla ice cream – and also took home best sommelier in Vienna.
The first special category to be honored was the best sparkling wine list – which came from Styria this year, "from the legend Christian Zach", who was Falstaff Sommlier of the Year in 2017. Lucas Lucky Shong of Vienna's Café Kandl was named Rookie of the Year, while Stefanie Wiesner from O Boufés took the prize for the best shortlist.
"Matured wines are far too hard to find," Peter Moser remarked, who joined Andi Kollwentz in presenting Sebastian Gabriel from the renowned Palais Coburg with the award for Best Mature Wines. "It's hardly possible to offer more vintage depth in Austria! Thank you for your work!"
The best offer by the glass went to Vienna's Heunisch & Erben, where Robert Brandhofer and Markus Gould offer roughly 120 wines by the glass. "The last category this year is unconventional wines and other drinks – there are so many new flavors, it's hard to keep track. I am therefore very pleased to honor the restaurant and wine merchant Döllerer," Moser announced when presenting Alexander Koblinger with the Falstaff carafe. In response, Koblinger thanked the entire industry: "It is a wonderful honor to be here with all the wine partners, sommeliers and winemakers. Thanks to everyone who has helped make the world of wine so diverse."
Best sparkling wine list: Christian Zach, Die Weinbank
Best shortlist (<200 positions): Stefanie Wiesner, O Boufés
Mature wines and vintage depth: Wolfgang Kneidinger and Sebastian Gabriel, Palais Coburg
Unconventional wines and other drinks: Alexander Koblinger, Restaurant Döllerer
Best offer by the glass: Robert Brandhofer and Markus Gould, Heunisch & Erben
Wines from Austria: Gourmenthotels Das Central
Wines from the region: Martin Fucek, The Resort
International wines: Burg Vital Resorts
Best hospitality: Stephan Martin, R&BAR
Rookie of the Year: Lucas Lucky Shong, Café Kandl
Best natural wine list: Matthias Pitra and Steve Breitzke, MAST Weinbistro
Best Sommelier Vienna: Simon Schubert, Reznicek
Best Sommelier Burgenland: Peter Müller, Heimlichwirt
Best Sommelier Lower Austria: Bernhard Weidinger, Stockerwirt
Best Sommelier Styria: René Kolleger, Schlosskeller
Best Sommelier Carinthia: Christoph Gusenleitner, Restaurant Hubert Wallner
Best Sommelière Upper Austria: Katharina Gnigler, Bootshaus
Best Sommelier Salzburg: Hans-Jörg Unterrainer, Kirchenwirt
Best Sommelier Tyrol: Christian Zögernitz, Trofana Royal
Best Sommelier Vorarlberg: Josef Neulinger, Almhof Schneider
Many thanks to all the sponsors for their support. Their commitment is a significant contribution to promoting excellence and passion in the wine trade.
Weingut Silvia Heinrich, Deutschkreutz, Burgenland, Weingut Markus Iro, Gols, Burgenland, Weingut Keringer, Mönchhof, Burgenland, Weingut Kerschbaum, Horitschon, Burgenland, Weingut Kollwentz, Großhöflein, Burgenland, Weingut Leth, Fels am Wagram, Lower Austria, Weingut Moric, Großhöflein, Burgenland, Weingut Nehrer, Eisenstadt, Burgenland, Weingut Pöckl, Mönchhof, Burgenland, Weingut Polz, Straß, Styria, Rotweingut Prickler, Lutzmannsburg, Burgenland, Weingut Josef und Maria Reumann, Deutschkreutz, Burgenland, Weingut Scheiblhofer, Andau, Burgenland, Weingut Schloss Gobelsburg, Gobelsburg, Lower Austria, Schwarz Weine, Andau, Burgenland, Weingut Strehn, Deutschkreutz, Burgenland, Weingut Taferner, Göttlesbrunn, Burgenland, Familienweingut Tement, Ehrenhausen, Styria, Weingut Ernst Triebaumer, Rust, Burgenland, Weinturm GmbH, Linz, Upper Austria
The best 1,000 red wines. Tasted, described and rated by Peter Moser.
€14,90
Available in German from November 25
