Rising-Star Wine Restaurants for 2023

Between the U.S. and Canada, these 12 restaurants have made it up to the Wine Spectator Restaurant Award level, the Best Of Award of Excellence for their outstanding wine programs.

In the thousands of Wine Spectator Restaurant Award winners worldwide that span a broad spectrum of culinary styles and new ideas, Where should a discerning wine lover start (or continue) their journey to a restaurant? Don’t worry; we’re here to assist! We just made public the 2019 Restaurant Award honorees, including several previous Awards of Excellence-winning restaurants who expanded their wine menus and improved the guest experience last year, which earned them an upgrade to the next award level, the Best of Award of Excellence.

The following restaurants are just a few that have accomplished this. They are spread across both the U.S. and Canada; these establishments provide top-of-the-line wine selections that are memorable, no matter if you want to sip a fantastic bottle of wine that is paired with regional cuisine, the ambiance of a French bistro experience, superb caviar services or traditional steakhouse fare. Wine-focused dining experiences that are great for food and drink are gaining popularity! These provide evidence.

To find more fantastic wine and dining locations worldwide, look into the numerous Wine Spectator Restaurant Award-winning establishments in 2023 with more than 90 Grand Award recipients.

Bistro du Midi

Enjoy Boston’s best dining experiences at Bistro du Midi in Back Bay, part of the Himmel Hospitality Group (the force behind Grand Award winner Grill 23 & Bar). This cafe was awarded the first Restaurant Award in 2019 for its extensive wine list enhanced by its vibrant, French-inspired style. Director of Wine Benjamin Chesna oversees a list of around 400 wines taken out of France in France and California. The list includes bottles from renowned brands from Champagne, Burgundy, Napa, Sonoma, and beyond, including Chateau Smith-Haut Lafitte and Groth. Chesna is also the curator of Robert Sisca’s seasonal tasting menu of six courses, which showcases all the deliciousness of New England with pairings such as summer flounder crudo served with Champagne Seared foie gras with Vouvray and lobster that has been poached with butter and Chardonnay. (Guests can also select from the menus available a la carte.)

Caviar Bar

It’s not a surprise. It’s no secret that caviar is enjoying a moment on menus all over the U.S. However, only some establishments, like the Best of Award of Excellence winner Caviar Bar, put it on the menu. It is located within Resorts World Las Vegas. Caviar Bar features a high-spectacle seafood-focused menu by Australian Chef Shaun Hergatt (also the chef at Best of Award of Excellence winner Vestry in New York). Hergatt procures the finest fish worldwide, including Alaskan Black Cod to Tasmanian Ocean trout. Director of Wine Brian Browning oversees France’s 2,000-bottle wine cellar and 350-wine selection, particularly Burgundy. The collection is impressive of Champagnes, with champagnes from renowned houses like Taittinger and Billecart-Salmon. There is no better way to impress your guests than by offering them bubbly and caviar.

Grouse Mountain Grill

Few things enhance an experience in dining, like a spectacular setting in a mountain getaway. The exhibit is in the Pines Lodge in Avon, Colo., home to Best of Award of Excellence winner Grouse Mountain Grill. Director of Wine Andrew Weakly oversees a list of over 400 wineries that are mainly sourced from regions like California, France, and Italy. This collection is diverse and includes the entire range that is from Rochioli’s Russian River Valley Pinot Noir to Eva Fricke’s Rheingau Riesling to go alongside the chef Frank Blea’s American food menu that includes items like corn soup infused with Guajillo chilies, pretzel-crusted pig chops Alaskan Halibut, broccolini with alfredo pasta with shellfish.

Longoven

Longoven provides unique meals within Richmond, Va. There, guests can relish the menu of 10 to 13 courses that feature home-cooked food prepared by Chef Andrew Manning, whose ability to blend American dishes and regional ingredients with Asian influences produces dishes like poached prawns from the spot with Rhubarb noodles and grilled lamb loin topped with fresh wasabi and ramps that are pickled. Director of Wine Grayum Vickers meets Manning’s style with nearly 400 wines, primarily made in California, France, Italy, and Germany. The list was awarded its very debut Restaurant Award in 2022 and is now stocked with options like Mosel Riesling, Burgundy, Champagne, Napa Cabernet, and Sonoma Pinot Noir from well-known producers, such as Matthiasson along with Albert Bichot.

Marmalade Restaurant & Wine Bar

To enjoy some of the finest dining experiences in historic Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, wine enthusiasts should pay attention to Marmalade Restaurant & Wine Bar. In conjunction with the restaurant’s sommelier team, Director of Wine Rafael Valles oversees the restaurant’s 585-wine selection, which won it the restaurant’s first Restaurant Award in 2008. California and France are two of the most important regions within the inventory of 4,700 bottles, complemented by wines from Spain, Italy, Austria, Washington, and more. The selection is broad, including everything from Pierre Sparr’s Cremant d’Alsace to the Rhone-style white produced from Paso Robles’ Tablas Creek for the few choices. Restaurant owner Peter Schintler taps local, organic, and sustainably raised ingredients to create tasting menus that include a variety of seafood as well as vegan and vegetarian options, including white bean soup made with the oil of black truffle, Halibut topped with corn-parmesan grits as well as Golden lentil curried meatballs.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *