About Awards

Stars of the show:

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  Aigars Nords

  The first in the Baltics to acquire WSET Diploma, he set up Riga Wine & Champagne festival in 2012, Wine of the Year competition in 2014, and Baltic Wine List Awards in 2017. Over the years, the festival has grown into a grand celebration of fine wine & champagne, and includes Latvia’s most anticipated tastings – Top 100 wines + Chefs, Bubble Parade, and others. Aigars is also the author of the most popular book in Latvian about wine – “Vīns un Nords”, the recipient of the “Golden Apple” award in 2023.
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  Stefan Klettner

  One of Austria’s top sommeliers, Stefan Klettner is the Head Sommelier at the 5 000 bin (40 000 bottle) restaurant at the five - star Burg Vital Resort in Oberlech in Austrian Alps. Throughout his life he’s tried to grasp the complexities of wine by studying in Geisenheim, working at wineries, wine distribution & marketing, as well as in several top-rated Guide Michelin Restaurants. Stefan has completed the WSET Diploma, the A.S.I. Diploma and the Advanced Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers.
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  Arūnas Starkus

  Editor – in – Chief of Lithuanian wine journal Vyno žurnalas; founder of Wine + Dessert Lietuva – wine and dessert pairing contest, that will come soon and to Latvia, Poland, other countries; co-organizer of Lithuanian Wine Exhibition Vyno dienos; study director at Lithuanian Sommelier School, co-owner of fine wine distributor Vyno klubas.
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  Juris Ķēniņš

  Nearly 20 years in the drinks industry, working at Riga’s top bars and competing in 30+ international contests. Former Senior Bartender at The Savoy’s American Bar, twice named World’s Best Bar. Founder of Kolekcija Spirits.
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  Lauris Grass

  Lauris established his first cocktail bar in 2012 and has opened several more locations since. Now operating a cocktail bar and a corporate events cocktail catering service. Specializes in public and cocktail and whisky masterclasses, travels the world to visit distilleries and spirits trade shows.
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  Edgaras Razminas

  A Lithuanian-born sommelier, trained in Scotland, (awarded) by Michelin in the Netherlands, where he worked in several Michelin-starred restaurants. Known for his unconventional style, he is a trailblazer for the new generation of sommeliers. In 2019, he was named Sommelier of the Year by Proefschrift & in 2021, he received Michelin’s Sommelier of the Year award in the Netherlands. #sommelYE
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  Linda Karpenko

  Sommelier at Alchemist (Copenhagen), one of the most highly acclaimed restaurants (two Michelin stars, No. 5 in the World’s Top 50) in the world. Previously Linda has served as sommelier in Riga’s finest restaurants as well as she’s earned several distinctive awards in Latvian Sommelier Championships from 2019 to 2023.
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  Jānis Volkinšteins

  Member of Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, Graduate of WSET Diploma Programme, a former three-time winner of Baltic Wine List Awards with his legendary wine bar VIETA (Riga).
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  Aleksei Pogrebnoi

  With 10 years of experience as a chef, Baltic's Best Sommelier of 2023 and holder of the ASI Gold Diploma. Enjoying serving wines at the 1* Guide Michelin restaurant Noa Chef’s Hall
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  Mārtiņš Pīlēns

  Designer and champagne expert with 15 years of experience. Founder of My Wine Design, designer of the iconic 'wine basket', and importer of grower champagne at Bubble Bistrot. A pioneer of the grower champagne movement in the Baltic states, Martins was awarded the 2nd and 3rd place in the Baltic Wine List Awards for his first champagne venture - Modernists bar in Riga, Latvia.