ProWine Tokyo 2026 was held at Tokyo Big Sight from April 15 to 17. Co-hosted alongside FABEX Tokyo 2026, the event welcomed 19,647 visitors on its third day and an impressive 57,056 over the three-day period, closing to great success.
ProWine Tokyo is one of Japan’s largest wine trade exhibitions, and this year around 190 companies from 23 countries exhibited. With participants spanning wine accessories, import and distribution services, education, media, and more, it serves as a place for the industry to make new connections, gather information, and exchange ideas.
On the first day, the awards ceremony for Star Wine List of the Year Japan 2026 was held.
Open on youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/embed/JIHnmb1_ZIs
What Is Star Wine List?
Star Wine List is a guide and platform that introduces and evaluates restaurants and bars with outstanding wine lists around the world. You might think of it as something like a Michelin Guide for wine.
It operates in more than 45 countries, with annual award tours held in roughly 14 to 18 major cities. The platform is run by Sweden’s Krister Bengtsson.
Users can search the Star Wine List website and app for restaurants with excellent wine programs. Travelers in particular seem to use it almost like a guidebook for finding great wine wherever they go.
A number of restaurants in Japan are listed as well. Winners of Star Wine List of the Year Japan tell us that many international guests say they chose to visit after finding the restaurant through Star Wine List.
Linkhttps://nihonwine.jp/enjoy-nihon-wine/starwinelist-espritckginza202511/
The Japanese Wine Category Exists Only at Star Wine List of the Year Japan 2026 in Tokyo
As last year, the Japanese Wine category was sponsored by CruX Inc. A representative of CruX gave a speech, and Gold winners also received a special prize from CRAFT WINE SHOP, a shop specializing in Japanese wine.
Across the awards, Gold winners were announced in 13 categories including Japanese Wine. Both the Gold winners and finalist restaurants are listed on the official website.
As you would expect from finalists at this level, every wine list is full of discoveries that will excite wine lovers. I strongly recommend taking a look.
Nagano’s La Vigne Dining Fûdo Wins the Top Japanese Wine Award
The top honor in the Japanese Wine category went to La Vigne Dining Fûdo in Hakuba, Nagano Prefecture. Congratulations!
The judges commented on the wine list at La Vigne Dining Fûdo as follows:
“A venue where sustainability genuinely shapes the whole experience. From cuisine focused on local ingredients to a carefully constructed beverage program with a strong emphasis on local wines, that commitment is expressed consistently throughout.” – Mikk Parre
Hiroyuki Yoshida, of La Vigne Dining Fûdo
Tokyo Michelin-starred French restaurant NéMo earned Gold Stars in three categories this year: Best Long List, Best By-the-Glass List, and Best Sparkling Wine List.
NéMo’s Yuito Terashima
Judged by Some of the World’s Top Sommeliers
What defines superiority—and exactly how something is judged—is one of the most interesting questions in any competition, not just this one.
Toru Takamatsu, who in 2019 became Japan’s youngest Master Sommelier, served as a judge for the second consecutive year. The panel also included Master of Wine Richard Hemming, Head of Asia Creative at JancisRobinson.com; sommelier Mikk Parre, a multiple winner of Best Sommelier of Estonia and the Baltics and an ASI Best Sommelier of Europe, Africa & Middle East titleholder; and Paz Levinson, a multiple winner of Best Sommelier of Argentina and 2015 ASI Best Sommelier of the Americas.
The judging is not simply about lining up expensive or rare bottles. The panel looks at depth of quality: whether the list offers discovery, reflects an understanding of region and producer, and has meaningful vintage depth. It also evaluates balance and composition—range of prices and wine styles, strength of the by-the-glass selection—as well as whether the list has a clear concept and story, and whether it is easy to read and easy to use.
After the judging, Parre commented:
“Japan’s wine and beverage scene is remarkably diverse, and its wine lists show truly global breadth and scale. What impressed me in particular was the strong selection of world-class French wines, including mature vintages, combined with a powerful and growing interest in local Japanese producers. This level of excellence is supported by a vibrant culture of sommeliers and wine professionals, whose dedication and knowledge can be seen throughout these carefully curated lists.”
In Closing
As the judging criteria above suggest, creating an outstanding wine list requires thought from many different angles and continual day-to-day effort. Opportunities that shine a light on the results of that work are extremely valuable.
Sommeliers and restaurant teams, why not take on the challenge next year?
And for wine lovers, Star Wine List is well worth using to discover restaurants with exceptional wine lists both in Japan and overseas. It may well lead you to a wonderful gastronomic experience.