Star Wine List: Local Expertise, Global Reach with Founder Krister Bengtsson

In this episode of the Vint Wine Podcast, host Billy Galanko sits down with Krister Bengtsson, founder of Star Wine List, the global guide to great wine bars and restaurants. What began in Stockholm in 2017 has since grown into a worldwide network covering more than 45 countries, connecting wine lovers, sommeliers, and professionals to the restaurants and wine bars with the best wine lists.

Krister shares his journey from journalism in Sweden to living in Bordeaux and discovering wine culture in South Australia, and how these experiences inspired him to launch Star Wine List. We explore how the platform works, the role of ambassadors and their city-specific recommendations, and why Star Wine List has become a trusted reference point for both consumers and the wine trade.

Episode Highlights

• Krister’s journey from journalism to founding Star Wine List
• How ambassadors curate authentic recommendations around the world
• The meaning behind Red Stars and White Stars
• How the wine trade uses Star Wine List to inform their work
• How wine culture today embraces diversity in style, scale, and region

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Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction to the Vint Wine Podcast
00:28 – Meet Krister Bengtsson: Founder of Star Wine List
01:10 – Understanding the Star Wine List concept
06:31 – Conversation with Krister begins
06:59 – Krister’s background and journey into wine
09:17 – The inspiration behind Star Wine List
11:51 – How the platform operates and ambassadors’ role
23:03 – Global expansion and future plans
24:42 – Growing recognition and the importance of awards
25:13 – Building a network of ambassadors
25:59 – International impact and success stories
27:10 – Types of awards and events
30:10 – Super fans and early adopters
33:06 – Maintaining objectivity in selections
37:21 – What’s next: future developments and community building
43:55 – Personal insights and wine trends inspiring Krister today
45:16 – Conclusion and final thoughts

The Vint Wine Podcast is hosted and produced by Billy Galanko. For more content follow Billy on Instagram @BillyGalanko_wine_nerd and for partnerships and collaborations please email billy@sommeliermedia.com.

Cheers!