Vanessa Stoltz, restaurant manager and head sommelier at Pine in Northumberland, is the only sommelier in the North East who has been listed in the prestigious Harper’s Top 50 Sommelier list for 2026, for a third consecutive year, ranking at number 17.
The Harper’s list showcases the rich talent within the UK’s sommelier community and serves as the ultimate recognition of excellence in this vital sector of the hospitality industry.
There’s been further cause for celebration as the restaurant have also been recognised for the quality of their wine list; at the International Wine Challenge UK Industry Awards they were honoured with the title of Restaurant Wine List of the Year at the prestigious annual event.
Vanessa Stoltz, Pine’s Restaurant Manager and Head Sommelier, said: “This award means so much to our team, especially as it shows British wine now has its place on a fine dining list and can be paired with high-end, intricate food. To have our list recognised alongside some of the UK’s leading wine businesses is incredibly humbling, and I hope it gives other sommeliers the confidence to add British wines to their lists too.”
