CURATION SEAL
One seal. Five award-winning sommeliers.
A wine list validated
every quarter.
An annual continuous-validation programme. A panel of five sommeliers reviews your wine list with periodic revisions, floor-team training, and in-person visits in the higher tiers.
Founding Partners 2026: the first cohort.
In 2026 we are opening a limited number of Founding Partner seats. These are restaurants where one of the five sommeliers has already done deep consulting work (wine list, floor training, ongoing support) and will accompany 5 Sommeliers in the public launch of the Seal. They receive the Gold tier with founders' terms and take part in the programme's launch.
Criteria are restrictive. If you think your restaurant fits the profile, tell us.
THE THREE TIERS
Bronze
€590 /YEAR
- Digital validation + virtual panel of five
- Minimum 40 diversified Portuguese references
- Use of the seal (sticker + digital badge)
- Wine list review · Annual
- Institutional video
- In-person visits per year
- Floor-team training
- Co-marketing
- Priority listing on 5sommeliers.com
Silver
€850 /YEAR
- Digital validation + virtual panel of five
- Minimum 40 diversified Portuguese references
- Use of the seal (sticker + digital badge)
- Wine list review · Bi-annual
- Institutional video
- In-person visits per year · 0–1
- Floor-team training
- Co-marketing
- Priority listing on 5sommeliers.com
Gold
€1,900 /YEAR
- Digital validation + virtual panel of five
- Minimum 40 diversified Portuguese references
- Use of the seal (sticker + digital badge)
- Wine list review · Quarterly
- Institutional video
- In-person visits per year · 2–3
- Floor-team training
- Co-marketing
- Priority listing on 5sommeliers.com
HOW WE VALIDATE
Your wine list goes through three layers of validation.
01
ALGORITHMIC
The digitised wine list is evaluated automatically for Portuguese regional coverage, vintage depth, balance across whites, reds, rosés, sparkling and fortified, and presence of Port and Madeira.
02
VIRTUAL PANEL OF FIVE
The five sommeliers receive the application, vote individually, and consolidate the decision quarterly in a collective session.
03
IN-PERSON VALIDATION · GOLD TIER ONLY
A visit from one of the five sommeliers during a full meal, with assessment of the floor service.
Sommelier of the Year 2014·Sommelier of the Year 2016·Sommelier of the Year 2019·WSA World Vice-Champion 2008·Best Sommelier of Portugal 2017
FAQ · SEAL
Before you apply.
How does annual renewal work?
Automatic unless cancelled with 30 days' notice. You receive a wine-list review before renewal so the decision is informed.
Can I change tier during the year?
Upgrade at any time with pro-rata difference. Downgrade only at annual renewal.
Can the seal be used physically at the restaurant?
Yes. All tiers receive a door sticker, a digital badge for site and social, and a suggested line for use on the wine list.
What if your assessment is negative?
The panel returns concrete recommendations and gives 90 days for implementation. Only then is the seal withdrawn. If you decide to leave before the annual term, there is a pro-rata refund for unused time.
Who keeps the seal if I sell the restaurant?
The seal is tied to the restaurant and the floor team, not to ownership. It transfers with the business, subject to wine-list revalidation within 60 days.
APPLICATION
Tell us about
your restaurant.
You will receive a reply within 48 business hours. Application confirmation followed by Seal implementation takes 14 days.
· Reply within 48 business hours
· Implementation in 14 days after confirmation
· Annual payment after tier agreement