Submit your wines
Once again, the “Wine of the Year 2025” competition will determine the best wines available in Latvia - sparkling, white, rosé, red, dessert, and fortified - serving as a guide for wine lovers in an extensive selection. Registration is open from June 10 to July 16, blind tastings will take place August 5-7, and results will be announced in August/September. The annual wine show “Top 100 Wines + Chefs,” featuring all Gold and Silver winners, will take place on November 22, 2025, at Hanzas Perons.
Please note - this year’s contest introduces new categories: “Non-Alcoholic Wines” and “Natural Wines”, and continues to expand the “Fine Wine” category. See the full rules for category details and application info.
Good luck,
Riga Wine & Champagne Team
This is the 12th year we are organising the Wine of the Year competition! We’re looking forward to finding out the best sparkling, white, rose, red, dessert, and fortified wines, as well as demonstrating the variety of wines available in Latvia and easing the life of wine lovers!
«Wine of The Year» jury:
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Michael Schuster
Head of Jury since 2014, one of the world’s most respected authors and lecturers, author of wine best-sellers Understanding Wine and Essential Winetasting. -
Andrew Jefford
One of the world’s leading wine journalists, Andrew writes and broadcasts about food and drinks, has written a number of books over the last 20 years receiving great critical acclaim. Andrew is a co-chair of Decanter WWA, and is a regular contributor to both Decanter and the World of Fine Wine. -
Aigars Nords
Founder of Riga Wine & Champagne festival, organiser of Latvia’s Wine of the Year competition and Baltic Wine List Awards, holder of WSET diploma, Race Director of Rimi Riga Marathon. -
Raimonds Tomsons
1st place in ASI World Sommelier Championship in 2023, the Best European Sommelier in 2017. -
Agnese Gintere
Sommelier, winner of the Latvian sommelier competition 2016, Baltic's third best sommelier 2017, wine consultant at Interbaltija AG. -
Dmitrijs Sinkevičs
The sommeliers of the «Nomad» restaurant, the certified sommelier of the Latvian Sommelier Association, the winner of the Latvian sommelier competition 2022, the second best sommelier in the Baltics 2022. -
Jānis Volkinšteins
Member of Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, Graduate of WSET Diploma Programme. -
Kaspars Reitups
Winner of Latvian and Baltics sommelier Championship, Graduate of WSET Diploma Progarmme, Court of Master Sommeliers Certified Sommelier. -
Linda Karpenko
Sommelier, student of Court of Master of Sommelier (CSM) programme. -
Ņikita Zaičenkovs
WSET level 3, certified sommelier of the Latvian Sommelier Association, 1st place in the Latvian Championship 2020, 2nd place in the Baltic Beer Championship 2022. -
Romāns Komars
One of the founders and the President of Latvia’s Sommelier Assocation (2007-2010), enrolled in WSET Diploma programme, CEO of Interbaltija, one of Latvia’s leading wine importers. -
Ronalds Pētersons
Sommelier, wine consultant at «Noble Wine», the Best Sommelier of the Baltic States 2018.
