NOA Chef’s Hall Wins the First-Ever Wine + Dessert Pairing Contest in Estonia 

On Sunday, 16 November, during the annual gastronomy festival “Maitsev Eesti”, the first-ever Estonian Wine and Dessert Pairing Contest took place in Tallinn. Originating in Lithuania, the event attracted 14 local teams and crowned its inaugural winners. The main prize — the Golden Fork — and the historic title went to the Michelin-starred restaurant “NOA Chef’s Hall” and the “Restaurant NOA” team. Second place was awarded to “Humal Bistro”, and third place to “Sadu Resto”. 

 

Arūnas Starkus, the founder of the contest and co-owner of Vilnius' leading fine wine retailer “Vyno Klubas”, said he was delighted that so many restaurants and cooking schools dared to participate in this new-to-Estonia competition, that is going to accelerate evolution of dessert culture and sweet wine market.   

 

“I was eager to observe cultural and gastronomic differences from Lithuania, where this year it is quite common to present desserts topped with caviar, challenge the concept of sweetness, go vegan, or base desserts on vegetables. In Estonia, we tried some spectacular pairings and most of them used more traditional ingredients. When organising the contest across different countries, we want to see different tastes and trends. Estonians like it sweet — and it’s great!” says Arūnas Starkus. 

 

The event was organised in partnership with the Estonian Sommelier Association, with support from “Liebherr” appliances, Lithuanian water brand “Akvile” and Copenhagen Sparkling Tea Company. 

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Full List of Winners 

 

I Place & Most Insta-Worthy Dessert — NOA Chef's Hall & Restaurant NOA 

Team: Sander Kuldsaar, Mihhail Korot, Aleksei Pogrebnoi 

Pairing “Olive Renaissance”: 2017 Domaine Rotier Renaissance, Vendanges Tardives, Gaillac, France paired with a dessert made of kalamata olives, olive oil, plum, almonds, elderflower, Maldon, bourbon, vanilla, strawberries. 

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II Place — Humal Bistro 

Team: Riho Sommerman, Liisa Pajula 

Pairing “Vormsi Vieux”: Maxime Trijol Pineau des Charentes Vieux Blanc paired with Vormsi Forest Honey Cake (crème diplomate, fresh curd, bee bread & white chocolate balsamic, honey biscuit, pollen). 

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III Place — Sadu Resto 

Team: Karmen Kähr, Kristjan Jekimov, Madis Einpalu, Viktoria Aleinik, Mari Reier 

Pairing “Asian Confusion”: Yunguna Takju, cloudy Korean rice wine (Denmark), paired with Rhubarb Bingsoo (rhubarb ice, condensed milk foam, persimmon and plums). 

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​IV Place & Lightest Pairing Nomination — Tabula Rasa 

Team: Keili Õispuu, Achim Braitsch, Kirill Dubrovski 

Pairing “Muhu Autumn”: Josef Rosch Trittenheimer Apotheke Riesling Auslese paired with quince, walnut and cultured milk dessert. 

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V Place — Härg Restaurant 

Team: Taigo Lepik, Madis Einpalu, Kalev Vanker, Elo Pulk, Berit Roi 

Pairing “A Walk in the Park with Autumn Flavours”: Edlinger Chardonnay Beerenauslese 2018, Niederösterreich, Austria paired with pistachio-plum tiramisu (pistachio mousse, compressed plums, oat ladyfingers, plum purée, honey crisp, golden marigold). 

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VI Place & Best Estonian Drink and Dessert Pairing — Fotografiska Tallinn 

Team: Gerli Travkin, Kristjan Kiho 

Pairing “Apple Pie”: Tori x Fotografiska Jääsiider served with apple pie, chanterelle ice cream, pine oil. 

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Best Estonian Dessert — Horisont Restaurant & Bar 

Team: Marko Sõmer, Jüri Viital 

Pairing “Rhubarb and Basil”: Matiesen Muhu Veinitalu Dessert Sweet Rhubarb 2022 paired with rhubarb cooked with hibiscus and blood orange, white chocolate and apricot ganache, blood orange sorbet, rhubarb and grapefruit gel, basil and olive oil dressing, honey tuile, apricot crumb. 

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Best Wine of the Contest — Restoran Anno  

Team: Anna Kaasik, Erno Kaasik, Rauni Tillisoo, Kerli Jalas 

Pairing "Pistachio cake I fresh berries": 2022 Beerenauslese Red Roses, Kracher, Illmitz, Austria paired with pistachio biscuit, blackcurrant-cherry cream, pistachio cream, fresh raspberry, blueberry, strawberry, caramelised walnuts, pistachios. 

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About the Contest 

 

The Wine + Dessert Pairing Contest began in Lithuania 15 years ago and expanded to Latvia and Estonia for the first time this year. 

 

During the contest, sommeliers team up with pastry chefs to create what they believe could be the perfect wine and dessert match. Guests also had the opportunity to taste selected desserts and watch the often-overlooked teams present their creative concepts. 

 

“This event celebrates normality. Too many people skip dessert at the end of dinner, arguing about health and blaming sugar. But desserts are little joys of life, pastry chefs are artists, and sommeliers can elevate the end of an evening to another level with the right pairing. In moderation, good-quality desserts and sweet wines are something we should look forward to, not avoid,” says founder Arūnas Starkus. 

 

Next Dates & Baltic Champions 

 

Organisers hope to host the second edition of the contest in Riga, Latvia, this coming February, and aim to return to Estonia next year — pending sponsor support. 

 

And if you travel in the Baltics, make sure to visit all three Baltic champions for 2025:  

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Latvia: “Kest” 

Lithuania: “Demo” 

Estonia: “NOA Chef’s Hall” 

 

Next time you visit — request a dessert pairing! 

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Photos:

Robertas Daskevičius, Eiko Lainjärv