Snapshots of Wine Spectator’s Grand Award Winners

From left to right, restaurant partner Eben Dorros Chef Gabriel Kreuther, and wine director Aukai Bell have created a world-class wine program that includes more than 2200 wines deep within Burgundy and the white wines of Alsace.

Since 1981, Wine Spectator has recognized establishments that have exceptional wine programs. The Grand Award is the highest honor granted to those who show remarkable dedication to their wine offerings and service. These places, listed alphabetically, are the dining bucket lists for wine lovers to fantasize about and design their trips. Thank you to all of the Grand Award winners!

Acquerello * San Francisco * 2012

His hometown of Bologna influences co-owner Giancarlo Paterlini to bring a traditional Italian dining experience to Bay Area. The son of Paterlini, Gianpaolo, is in charge of the collection of exceptional wines from the region and beyond.

Addison * San Diego * 2009

Being the only Grand Award winner in San Diego, Addison explores the abundance of what California offers. Chef William Bradley runs it; tasting menus made with regional and seasonal ingredients are served with breathtaking views and top-quality wines from regions like Burgundy and California.

Ai Fiori * New York * 2018

The Midtown bustle seems to be far away in the Fifth Avenue wine haven. The restaurant takes diners into the world of Mediterranean elegantness inspired by the beauty of the coast and the beauty of the French Riviera and Northeastern Italy. The finest wines of these regions are well worth spending money on, and the food is the perfect equilibrium between luxury and light.

Alfredo Di Roma Mexico * Mexico City * 2019

Alfredo Di Roma Mexico offers the chance to taste excellent wines from many New World regions, but the list of wines is robust across France, Spain, and Italy. Combine your selections with a wide selection of Italian dishes.

The American Hotel * Sag Harbor, N.Y. * 1981

The year was 1972. Ted Conklin transformed a neglected structure in the Hamptons into a charming restaurant-hotel. In 1981 the restaurant’s Bordeaux and California-focused wines menu was awarded one of the 13 original Grand Awards. Conklin still owns the restaurant, and his extensive cellar is home to a wide range of local wines.

The Angus Barn * Raleigh, N.C. * 1989

The Angus Barn’s atmosphere is a blend of rustic and sophisticated. With the red barn doors, visitors can enjoy an array of delicious steakhouse essentials and world-class wines. The Angus Barn isn’t just an establishment, but it’s a place to be with an upscale cigar bar and Wild Turkey lounge for guests to enjoy and an opportunity to visit its meat lockers and shop in its store for country goods.

Antica Bottega del Vino * Verona, Italy * 2004

Antica Bottega del Vino is a vibrant and renowned wine hub that the local Amarone producers manage. The interior of the 19th century retains the old town’s appeal and has a vast cellar with more than 18,000 bottles containing maturing vintages from Italy’s finest wineries.

Atrio’s 45,000-bottle wine cellar is part of its Grand Award-winning wine menu.

Atrio * Caceres, Spain * 2003

Atrio is Spanish, meaning “atrium,” a core part of Mediterranean architecture where all paths meet. The name refers to the structures located in Caceres (a UNESCO World Heritage site) in addition to the Old World meets New World theme of the wine selection and menu in this tourist hotel and restaurant located in the Extremadura region in the western part of Spain.

Aux Beaux Arts * Macau, China * 2015

Aux Beaux Arts is a place to enjoy elegant French wine and food in the serene outdoor courtyard of the MGM Macau resort. Alongside the traditional regions and a wide selection of wines, the wine list includes exciting bottles made in Japan and Portugal.

Barolo Grill’s wine room shows off some of the restaurant’s Italy-focused wine collection.

Barolo Grill * Denver * 2018

Barolo Grill lives up to its name by offering a menu of Piedmont specialties and a wine list infused with the region’s top labels. The Barolo team’s top picks from every trip they make to Italy frequently are added to the extensive list of Italian-focused wines.

Bern’s Steak House * Tampa, Fla. * 1981

The strip mall that was once a bar has now become the most extensive wine collection among any Restaurant Award winner in the United States. The old-fashioned way of life is evident here, and the wines served by glass dating from the 1970s to today. The owner David Laxer upholds the legacy of his father’s passing, Bern, who opened the restaurant in 1956. It was one of the first Grand Award winners in 1981.

Billy Crews Dining Room * Santa Teresa, N.M. * 1986

The restaurant has been a New Mexico mainstay since 1956. This neighborhood restaurant serves steaks cut according to your specifications and a wine selection with exciting value. The wine selection is extensive, with more than 2,000 options, most of which are from California as well as Bordeaux.

Blackberry Farm * Walland, Tenn. * 2006

Blackberry Farm brings the luxury hotel experience into the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains. Visitors can anticipate elegant American food in the wild natural beauty, using ingredients from the on-site farm. The wine selection will celebrate old and contemporary, drawing inspiration from a vast collection of over 150,000 bottles from the finest producers in Europe and North America.

Bleu Provence * Naples, Fla. * 2015

The neighborhood gem is based on the passion for wine of husband-and-wife proprietors Jacques and Lysielle Cariot, who founded Bleu Provence in 1999. They’ve both set new standards for Naples and the region’s wine scene, offering a wide selection of wines that is exceptionally well-balanced in French wines that go well with the seafood-centric menu local to Naples.

Brennan’s Restaurant * New Orleans, L.A. * 2021

Recently celebrating 75 years in operation, This family-owned business in New Orleans’ French Quarter has a long-standing tradition. Sazeracs, Eggs Sardou and Bananas Foster, are all still essential to its current incarnation in the hands of Ralph Brennan. After losing its storied Grand Award-winning cellar due to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Brennan’s restored it to over 15,000 bottles, regaining the top prize. The wine selection also favors the classics, with notable wines from classic regions such as Burgundy, Bordeaux, and California.

Blue Hill at Stone Barns * Pocantico Hills, N.Y. * 2016

Blue Hill lives and breathes the “farm-to-table” concept, bringing freshness and authenticity to the often-used phrase. Every aspect of Dan Barber’s tasting menu experience emphasizes the link between food and farming. The wine list highlights local treasures but covers all over the world.

Canlis * Seattle * 1997

Brothers Mark and Brian Canlis are the third-generation owners of this iconic Seattle restaurant. The striking design of the midcentury-modern style at Canlis sets the stage for its slick American food and wine menu that highlights Washington wines alongside Old World stalwarts.

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