Hapag Earns the 2025 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence

Hapag has been honored with the 2025 Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator, joining the ranks of the world’s best restaurants for wine. The award celebrates restaurants whose wine programs feature a thoughtful selection of quality producers and show a thematic alignment with the food in both style and price.

This year, 14 restaurants in the Philippines received the Award of Excellence, including global steakhouse brands Wolfgang’s and Morton’s, both branches of Finestra at Solaire , Old Manila at The Peninsula hotel, Raging Bull Chophouse and Bar at Shangri-La hotel in BGC,  Il Lupino Trattoria in Opus Mall, and La Piazza at Okada. Hapag stands out as the only progressive Filipino restaurant on the list, making its recognition all the more significant.

“Many thanks to Wine Spectator for this recognition,” said Erin Ganuelas-Recto, Head Sommelier at Hapag. “At Hapag, our wine program is curated to enhance our dining experience, connect culture through wines, and celebrate Filipino heritage with care and purpose. This award means a lot to our team.”

Ganuelas-Recto serves as the operations manager and sommelier at Hapag. As a sommelier, her love of wine is deeply intertwined with her Filipino heritage and love for wine pairing. Her approach to the wine list is rooted in intention and cultural connection. “The wine list at Hapag is curated to complement the bold, layered, and often unexpected flavors of modern Filipino cuisine,” she explained. “We focus on expressive, food-friendly wines—many from small producers—that can stand up to sweetness, acidity, salinity, and spice. It’s a thoughtful mix of classic and offbeat, designed to complement the dishes on our menu.”

Among the standout pairings in their new Western Mindanao menu is Bathala by Champagne Florence Duchêne, a wine made by a French-Filipina winemaker. “It’s super expressive and pairs beautifully with our satti—cutting through the spice while highlighting the dish’s depth,” Ganuelas-Recto shared.

She also highlighted a current favorite: “Our Riyandang and Camaron Alavar with a smoky syrah from the Rhône Valley. It’s a bit unexpected, but the wine’s earthy, peppery notes match the richness and spice of the dishes so well—it’s like they’re having a deep, savory conversation on the palate.”

“A wine list is a restaurant’s identity in print, and this year’s Wine Spectator Restaurant Award winners reflect both deep knowledge and a passion for discovery,” said Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher of Wine Spectator. “I proudly present the 3,811 restaurants worldwide that earned a Restaurant Award this year—we raise a glass to all our winners.”

With this newest accolade, Hapag not only joins a global community of wine-forward restaurants, it affirms its role as one of the country’s culinary leaders in reimagining Filipino dining and hospitality.

Hapag, 7th floor Balmori Suites, Hidalgo Drive, Rockwell, Makati,  0917.888.5757