Baltic Wine & Drinks Awards

The best Fine Wines available in Latvia:

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  Billy Wagner (Berlin, DE)

  Billy Wagner is a repeat Sommelier of the Year (Germany) and the host at his eatery Nobelhart & Schmutzig (The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 45 (of 100) / 1* Guide Michelin / 16 points in Gault Millau) in Berlin. After stops at Nuremberg’s Essigbrätle-in restaurant, Dieter Kaufmann’s Zur Traube in Grevenbroich, Claudia Stern’s Vintage in Cologne, and the Monkey’s Plaza in Düsseldorf, he came to Berlin in 2008 to take the role of host and sommelier at Weinbar Rutz.
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  Aigars Nords (Riga, LV)

  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 (Oberlech, AT)

  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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  Jānis Volkinšteins (Riga, LV)

  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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  Arūnas Starkus (Vilnius, LT)

  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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  Lauris Grass (Riga, LV)

  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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  Mikk Parre (Tallinn, EE)

  Having worked in award-winning restaurants - from wine bars to casual and Michelin star-rated restaurants as a sommelier, team leader and restaurant manager, Mikk Parre has accumulated more than a decade worth of hospitality experience. Mikk has won the titles of the Best Sommelier of Estonia in 2022 & 2023, and the Best Sommelier of the Baltics in 2022. He holds the ASI Gold Sommelier Diploma as well as the coveted Certified Sommelier certificate from the Court of Master Sommeliers. Currently Mikk is working for Bombay Group as a Wine buyer and Cellar Master helping to build the fine dining and luxury scene in Tallinn.
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  Mārtiņš Pīlēns (Vienna, AT)

  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.
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  Aleksei Pogrebnoi (Tallinn, EE)

  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.