Baltic Wine & Drinks Awards

Sommelier and one of the leading wine experts in the Baltic States, with 19 years of experience in the wine industry. Winner of the Latvian Sommelier Competition in 2016 and the Baltics’ third-best sommelier in 2017. She is also part of Wine Collectors and closely involved with Latvia’s winemaking community, consulting on and evaluating local wines, including hybrid grape varieties and fruit wines.

The first in the Baltics to earn a WSET Diploma, Aigars pioneered Latvia’s fine wine scene by founding the Riga Wine & Champagne Festival in 2012, the Wine of the Year competition in 2014, the Baltic Wine & Drinks Awards in 2017, and the Riga Whisky & Friends in 2024. Today, the festival is renowned for signature events like the Top 100 Wines + Chefs and the largest champagne celebration in the Baltics - the Great Bubble Parade. Aigars is also the author of Latvia’s bestselling wine book, Vīns un Nords (2023 Golden Apple award winner), and recipient of the 2026 Prix Terres et Vins de Champagne for his outstanding contribution to champagne culture and growers.

Editor-in-Chief of the Lithuanian wine journal Vyno žurnalas, he is also the founder of Wine + Dessert Lietuva, a wine and dessert pairing competition set to expand to Latvia, Poland, and other countries. He is a co-organizer of “Vyno dienos”, Lithuania’s leading wine exhibition, Study Director at the Lithuanian Sommelier School, and co-owner of fine wine distributor “Vyno klubas”.

An award-winning bartender with a Master’s degree in the arts, she has been part of Lithuania’s bar scene for nine years. She began her career in dive bars before becoming a founding member of a Vilnius speakeasy and representing the Baltics in global competitions, including Flor de Caña in Nicaragua and World Class in Shanghai in 2024. In 2026, she became the global winner of the Graham’s Blend Series. She currently manages “Nomads Cocktail Bar” in Vilnius and leads the company behind the Baltic Bar Show.

Head Sommelier and manager of wine bar Vieta, a three-time winner of the “Best Wine List in the Baltics” title. A WSET Diploma holder with extensive knowledge of the world’s wines, reflected in the carefully curated wine list at Vieta and imports portfolio brands for restaurant supply programme.

Estonian sommelier and wine list consultant with nearly 10 years of experience in hospitality. A CMS Advanced Sommelier, two-time Best Sommelier of Estonia and ASI Gold Diploma holder, she was named Falstaff Sommelier of the Year 2026 in Estonia. She has worked at Michelin-starred restaurants and 67 Pall Mall, and is a judge at the Decanter World Wine Awards and an educator at the Estonian Sommelier School. Her expertise in wine list development has been recognised through multiple international awards.

Winner of the 2025 Michelin Estonia Sommelier Award, he is Head Sommelier at the two-Michelin-starred 180 Degrees Restaurant. A successful competitor, he has ranked among the Top 3 sommeliers in the Baltics in both 2025 and 2026. He is also the founder of KeWine wine club, a contributor to Edasi.org, and a consulting sommelier for restaurants and private clients of Clique.

With more than 30 years in the cocktail industry, he has turned bartending from a profession into a lifelong passion. Over the years, he has achieved 95 top-three finishes in cocktail competitions and published four cocktail books sharing his knowledge and experience. He is also the creator of Butterfly Lounge, which he developed over nine years into one of the Baltics’ best-known cocktail bars.

A cocktail bar owner and spirits enthusiast with extensive experience in the hospitality industry. Since opening his first cocktail bar in 2012, he has gone on to establish several more locations and now runs a cocktail bar alongside a corporate event cocktail catering service. He also specializes in cocktail and whisky masterclasses and regularly travels the world to visit distilleries and attend international spirits trade shows.

A wine and spirits professional with over 15 years of experience across both on-trade and off-trade. Holding a WSET Level 4 Diploma and Advanced Sommelier qualification, he is a four-time Lithuanian Sommelier Champion and two-time Baltic Sommelier Champion. He placed 4th at the ASI Best Sommelier of the World in 2019 and won bronze at the ASI Best Sommelier of Europe, Africa & the Middle East in 2024. Currently serving as Wine and Beverage Director at HeJi in Vilnius and Esperanza Resort near Trakai, he also teaches at the Lithuanian Sommelier School and serves on the board of the Lithuanian Sommelier Association.

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.

Sommelier and wine consultant from Estonia with close to 15 years of experience in hospitality. An ASI Gold Diploma holder, he is the current Best Sommelier of Europe, Africa & Middle East and a two-time Best Sommelier of the Baltics. He is also a board member of the Estonian Sommelier Association, wine educator, and international wine judge.

Sommelier, wine consultant at “Noble Wine”, the Best Sommelier of the Baltic States 2018.

A leading advocate for sustainable wine in Lithuania, he serves as Wine Director for three one-star Michelin restaurants and one Bib Gourmand restaurant. In 2023, he became the first in Lithuania to receive three stars at the Baltic Wine & Drinks Awards for the Nineteen18 wine list, which was also named Best Champagne List in Lithuania in 2024. He is also the founder of an import company dedicated to bringing sustainable wines to the market.