France Wins Wine List of The Year!

Les Crayeres, in Reims, has been named Wine List of the Year in the prestigious World of Fine Wine Best Wine Lists of the World Competition 2022.

Regarded by many as the finest restaurant in Champagne, Les Crayeres taking the top prize also means it is the first time a French restaurant has done so in the history of The World of Fine Wine competition since it was inaugurated nine years ago in 2014. 

Owned by the Gardinier Family, Les Crayeres is also a hotel with an expansive park. The Reims restaurant was also named World’s Best Champagne and Sparkling Wine List 2022.

Les Crayeres is the first French restaurant to win Wine List of the Year since the competition began in 2014

At the awards presentation in London, Neil Beckett, Editor of The World of Fine Wine and Chairman of the World’s Best Wine Lists’ judging panel, acknowledged it had not been an easy year for restaurants anywhere in the world.

“We are all acutely conscious that it has been another desperately difficult year for the hospitality industry. Covid restrictions have gradually been lifting, but staff shortages and spiralling costs continue to make for a very harsh environment. Our hearts go out to all those in the sector who have struggled and who are still suffering.

“In another year that has seen so many more sad losses, it is all the more inspiring and uplifting to find how many establishments of all kinds have managed to adapt and to survive, and whose wine offerings – representing so much accumulated experience, expertise, promise, pleasure, and value – should help them, and all of us, look forward to better times.”

Editor of The World of Fine Wine & Chairman of World’s Best Wine Lists’ judging panel Neil Beckett

Judging Panel 

Les Crayeres actually has two wine lists, a Carte des Vins and a Carte des Champagnes. 

The restaurant has five sommeliers:

Chef Sommelier Martin JEAN
Assistant Chef Sommelier Nicolas GRELIER 
Sommelier Emma BASTIDE
Sommelier Konrad FERRIEUX
Commis Sommelier Theo DAL FARRA

Les Crayeres Chef Sommelier Martin JEAN

The Reims restaurant actually has two wine lists. A Carte des Vins and a Carte des Champagnes
(Click photo to read full wine list)