The Falls Restaurant at Sheen Falls Lodge was among the eight Irish businesses awarded for their outstanding wine* programmes in Wine Spectator's 2025 Restaurant Awards.
Launched in 1981, the annual awards celebrate restaurants across the globe that offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine, and appeal to a wide range of wine enthusiasts.
In 2025, an incredible 3,811 restaurants earned Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards, with each winner showcasing "distinctive styles, enticing menus and stellar wine lists".
This year's awards included 2,150 Award of Excellence winners, 1,531 Best of Award of Excellence winners, and 97 Grand Award winners (with three new restaurants earning the 2025 Grand Award).
Sheen Falls Lodge in Co Kerry was among the celebrated restaurants, earning a 'Best of Excellence' award thanks to the restaurant's impressive selection of 450 wines, many of which are stored in the hotel's renowned cellar - one of the largest in Ireland.
To win a 'Best of Award of Excellence', a restaurant's wine list must display excellent breadth across multiple winegrowing regions and/or significant vertical depth of top producers, along with superior presentation.
Sommelier Juan Ignacio Martinez Cambil oversees the 11,495 bottles sourced from across 23 countries, and the magazine praised their strength in French wines.
"This award is a proud achievement for our entire team. Our Restaurant Manager Benjamin Benke and Sommelier Juan Cambil have curated a wine list that not only reflects depth and regional diversity, but also perfectly complements the dining experience we offer at The Falls Restaurant, headed by our acclaimed Executive Chef Mark Treacy," said Brian Loughnane, General Manager of Sheen Falls Lodge.
The full list of Irish winners for 2025:
- 64 Wines, Dublin
- F.X Buckley Steakhouse, Dublin
- Rosa Madre, Dublin
- Sheen Falls Lodge, Kerry
- The George V Room, Ashford Castle, Mayo
- Daróg Wine Bar, Galway
- Forbed Street by Gareth Mullins, Dublin
- Wilde, Dublin
Wine Spectator's special Restaurant Awards issue will be available to readers on July 15th, and full details of all 2025 winners can be found at WineSpectator.com/Restaurants.
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