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In a global celebration of wine excellence, the world’s most discerning palates came together to judge the third edition of World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection. Leading sommeliers from 17 countries across six continents gathered to taste, debate and determine the standout wines of the year. The panel were invited from the global network within The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, and led by Kristell Monot, President of the World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection 2026, and Head Sommelier at Mugaritz, ranked No.87 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025. The sommeliers’ final selection features 115 wines from 16 countries and spans every colour, style and expression, offering a trusted benchmark that showcases everything from timeless icons to exciting new voices shaping the future of wine.

A spokesperson for the World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection comments: "We’re thrilled to bring the World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection back for 2026. Featuring more than 100 wines from 16 countries, the final line-up reflects the incredible diversity of the global wine landscape - from revered classics to bold new voices in winemaking. The selection remains a trusted benchmark for on-trade professionals worldwide, and we’re proud to provide this platform where the world’s most talented sommeliers can come together to define the future of wine.”

South Africa Makes a Powerful Statement – Tokara Shines

Among the world’s most respected wine-producing nations, South Africa delivered a defining moment in the 2026 selection, with Tokara Winery standing proudly on the global stage.

Based on the slopes of the Simonsberg in Stellenbosch, Tokara has long been recognised for its precision winemaking, meticulous vineyard management and unwavering commitment to excellence. Its inclusion in the World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection is not merely a national achievement, it is a powerful affirmation that South African wines continue to command respect at the highest levels of the international fine-dining community.

Italy leads the line-up with 20 noteworthy wines

Italy once again dominated the selection, with red wines at the centre of its success. Thirteen of the 20 Italian entries were red wines, more than any other country, showcasing the nation’s remarkable regional variety from north to south. Nebbiolo emerged as a standout, with four Barolo and Barbaresco examples reinforcing the grape’s international prestige. The selection also featured more contemporary styles including a Grenache from Marche’s Clara Marcelli and a Merlot from Emilia Romagna producer, Tenuta Del Paguro, which is aged on the Adriatic seabed for 12 months. A notable achievement came from Sicilian producer Arianna Occhipinti, whose commitment to organic, terroir-driven winemaking earned three places on the list - an impressive demonstration of Sicily’s rising profile. Completing the Italian entries were four white wines, one rosé and two sparkling wines.

Portugal’s indigenous wines take centre stage

After Italy, Portugal emerged as the country with the second-highest number of wines in the selection, with 18 wines earning a spot across white, red and fortified categories. Four producers were recognised for their white wines, highlighting the strength of Portugal’s indigenous varieties. Quinta dos Carvalhais’ Encruzado was included, reflecting the winery’s ongoing commitment to Dão’s signature white variety. Quinta do Vallado impressed the sommeliers with a wine that demonstrates how the Douro’s traditional grapes - Rabigato, Gouveio, Arinto and Viosinho - can produce structured, expressive whites that compete on the world stage. The eight reds were a mix of varietal bottlings and blends, all hailing from the Douro while the country’s long-standing mastery of fortified wines was reaffirmed, with three ports and two Madeira wines making the selection.

California, Oregon & Texas make a strong showing

The USA secured 17 wines in the selection across three key regions - Texas, California and Oregon. California led with six reds and one white, with its entries ranging from Sonoma’s cool-coast Pinot Noir elegance to Paso Robles’ bold Cabernet-led intensity, illustrating why the region remains a global benchmark for premium red wine. The rapidly evolving wine scene in Texas was on display with six wines making the selection: a combination of sparkling, white and red wines. Organic producer Lingua Franca led the charge for Oregon, showcasing how the cool climate of the Eola-Amity Hills is ideally suited to Burgundian-style Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with two of each making the list.

Spain’s diversity on display

Spain’s presence in the selection was anchored by its red wines, with seven entries spanning some of the country’s most prestigious regions, including Ribera del Duero, Rioja and Priorat. Beyond red wines, Spain’s breadth in winemaking was recognised. Two sherries, a Fino and an Amontillado, tapped into renewed on-trade interest in fortified wines, while the inclusion of Pere Ventura’s Gran Vintage Cava reinforces Spain’s role in the global sparkling wine conversation. The two white wines point to a more contemporary direction, ranging from a Chardonnay from Navarre producer Chivite to a Viura-Chardonnay blend from Rioja heavyweight, Bodegas Faustino, highlighting the ongoing evolution of Spain’s most established wine regions.

Malbec dominates but Argentina’s portfolio is growing

Argentina secured 12 wines in the selection, with seven reds dominating the line-up, underlining the country’s global reputation for powerful, expressive Malbec. The red wines originated from across the country, including Mendoza’s Uco Valley, Salta’s Calchaquí Valley and San Juan’s Pedernal Valley. Argentina’s whites made a strong statement too, with four producers featured in the selection. Renowned Uco Valley producer Rutini demonstrated the full range of Argentina’s winemaking strengths, with a Malbec, a Chardonnay and a traditional method sparkling wine all making the selection, underscoring the country’s expertise beyond its famed red wines.

Europe’s diversity shines

France made its mark among the other European entries, leading the field in both sparkling and rosé wines, while three German producers were celebrated for their world-class Riesling. Czech producer Gurdau stood out with three wines: a Riesling, a Grüner Veltliner and a sparkling Sekt, signalling growing recognition of the country’s diverse quality offerings. Georgia’s Shumi Winery and Estate was notable for its two traditional varietals, Saperavi and Kisi, and for contributing the only orange wine in the selection. Greece’s emerging wine scene was also recognised, with one white and one red included.

South America is on the rise

South America’s wines are increasingly commanding global attention, with the 2026 selection featuring 26 wines, up from 23 in 2025. Uruguay emerged as a rising star earning five spots in the selection. Alongside its signature Tannat, sommeliers praised wines made from more unexpected varieties such as Albariño, Riesling and Cabernet Franc, all grown in the Atlantic-influenced regions of Maldonado and Montevideo. Brazil’s presence was represented by a single white entry, Casa Tés Grama Branco, a Sauvignon Blanc-Sémillon blend from one of the nation’s oldest coffee regions, Vale da Grama. Chile, meanwhile, dominated the red category with eight entries from four prestigious wineries, led by a standout performance from Vik, which was recently named No.1 in The World’s 50 Best Vineyards 2025.

Kristell Monot, President of the World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection 2026 comments: “The World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection tasting panel brings together sommeliers from the world’s leading restaurants, each with a distinct perspective shaped by their own markets and experiences. This diversity is what makes the selection so valuable, because it reflects the tastes and standards of the global dining scene. The experts understand not only what makes a bottle high quality, but also the broader trends shaping the industry, from climate change to emerging regions and producers. Together, the panel set a benchmark for excellence that guides sommeliers, wine professionals and consumers around the world.”

The World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection (WBSS) for 2026 is available to view here, accompanied by the sommeliers’ collective tasting notes and food pairing recommendations. The tasting panel brought together 29 sommeliers and wine directors from some of the world’s most celebrated restaurants. All the sommeliers represented venues featured in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, including Gaggan (No.6), Table by Bruno Verjus (No.8), Don Julio (No.10), Potong (No.13), Plénitude (No.14), and Ikoyi (No.15) from the 2025 list. See the full list of participating sommeliers here.

The selection serves as a global resource for sommeliers seeking interesting wines for their lists, with the assurance that every bottle has been carefully selected by fellow professionals. The website offers advanced search tools, allowing users to discover wines by terroir characteristics (such as altitude or climate), seasonality and food pairings rather than relying on the traditional filter of grape variety. For producers interested in registering wines for the 2027 selection, registrations will open on 25th February 2026 and interested parties can request a link to register via www.worldsbestsommeliersselection.com/register.

More details can be found at www.worldsbestsommeliersselection.com