Gourmet, Fine Dining, Top Restaurants - NAANII GLOBAL Luxury Family Lifestyle MAGAZIN 'en Vogue' - NAANII GLOBAL Quality & Luxury Family Lifestyle - MAGAZIN 'en Vogue'-

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          Rekondo, San Sebastian - Spain (Grand Award 2020)

Atrio, Cáceres,  Spain (Gran Award 2020)



Wine Spectator awards  - Best Restaurants for WINELOVERs 2020 -  out of 80 countries and 3.800 restaurants !

No doubt about it: 2020 has been a challenging year for restaurants.
But amid the shutdowns and the strictly regulated reopenings have come inspiring stories, as an entire industry came together to support its members and the communities they serve.

Through the economic crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, wine has continued to be a source of pleasure for diners and of profit for restaurants.
The Wine Spectator team is pleased to recognize the achievements of nearly 3,800 restaurants, hailing from all 50 states and 80 countries and territories, that have demonstrated the passion and devoted the resources to create outstanding wine programs.

The awards are given across three Wine Spectator categories: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence and Grand Award.

USA:
“I'm so honored that we have won!” responded wine director Gabrielle Sonnier of Gabrielle Restaurant, an Award of Excellence winner in New Orleans. The restaurant had previously received an award before it was forced to close in 2005 due to damage sustained during Hurricane Katrina, reopening only in 2017. “We are a small, neighborhood, family-run restaurant. My dad and I have worked very hard in creating our wine list, and it's nice to receive validation.”

HUNGARY:
Fiaker, one of two new award winners for 2020 in Hungary, has a 260-selection list specializing in good-value bottlings. (Courtesy of Fiaker)
This year marks the addition of a new country to the Restaurant Awards program—Hungary, which has two first-time Award of Excellence winners, Fiaker and Felix Kitchen and Bar. “We hope that the first award for Hungary brings us more guests who will appreciate our wine concept,” said Máté Horváth, Felix’s head sommelier.

In 2020, 2,289 restaurants earned the Award of Excellence, which recognizes thoughtfully chosen wine lists that offer quality and diversity, as well as compatibility with the restaurant’s style and menu. These lists can range in size from just under 100 to several hundred selections.

USA:
Just a year after opening his wine bar with a weekly three-course menu, Saint Urban chef-owner Jared Stafford-Hill earned an Award of Excellence. (Courtesy of Saint Urban)
The Award of Excellence “is a great reward for the work that’s gone into the wine list,” said Saint Urban chef-owner Jared Stafford-Hill, who returned to his hometown of Syracuse, N.Y., after an extensive restaurant career in New York City, to open the wine bar and restaurant only a year ago. “We want to extend our clientele out of the area, so international press, like a Wine Spectator award, is very helpful.”

Another 1,387 restaurants achieved our Best of Award of Excellence, for more expansive lists that show a greater commitment to wine.
->Of these, 139 are new entries this year, while 140 restaurants improved their programs and were upgraded from their previous Award of Excellence. These lists, typically with 350 selections or more, offer an array of wines from top producers across a breadth of regions.

These restaurants’ teams invest time in extensive staff training, carefully designed presentations, innovative menu pairings and showpiece wine cellars.
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The Grand Award is Wine Spectator’s most prestigious honor, given to the world’s elite wine programs. This award is a reflection of steadfast dedication and unwavering passion to both building and growing an exceptional wine program year after year.
These lists generally have 1,000 selections or more, present diners with a depth of vintages from some of the most well-known producers and include multiple bottle formats.
Beyond their exceptional wine lists, Grand Award winners offer the ultimate dining experience, with extraordinary cuisine and flawless service, whether formal or casual in style. Candidates for the Grand Award are required to undergo a rigorous inspection by one of Wine Spectator’s judges.
Unfortunately, this year, travel restrictions and mandatory restaurant shutdowns made inspections impossible. As a result, there are no new Grand Award winners in the class of 2020.
Read updated profiles of all 100 current Grand Award winners:


Since 1981, Wine Spectator has been honoring restaurants with extraordinary wine programs. The top honor is the Grand Award, granted to those that show extraordinary commitment to wine service. In 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic, our Restaurant Awards team was unable to conduct in-person inspections for a new Grand Award class. But while there are no new Grand Award winners this year, 100 restaurants earned the title once again, representing 17 countries and 14 states. Profiled here alphabetically, these comprise a dining bucket list for wine lovers to dream about and plan for as restrictions on restaurants and travel gradually lift. Congratulations to all  Grand Award winners!

Acquerello • San Francisco • 2012
Co-owner Giancarlo Paterlini draws inspiration from his hometown of Bologna to bring an authentic Italian tasting menu to the Bay Area. Paterlini’s son, Gianpaolo, manages the list of exceptional wines from around the boot and beyond.

Addison • San Diego • 2009
Run by chef William Bradley, Addison is located in the Fairmont Grand Del Mar, a dream destination for fans of golf and wine. The dining room overlooks the resort’s 18-hole Grand Golf Club, a serene yet stately backdrop for the seasonal French tasting menus and prestigious wines from regions including Burgundy and California.

Ai Fiori • New York • 2018
The Midtown hustle seems far away at this Fifth Avenue wine haven. The restaurant transports diners to a world of Mediterranean elegance, where top wines are worth the splurge and the cuisine strikes an ideal balance between light and luxurious.

Alfredo Di Roma Mexico • Mexico City • 2019
Alfredo Di Roma Mexico offers an opportunity to discover the great wines of many New World regions, but the wine list is also strong in France, Spain and Italy. Pair your choices with an extensive menu of Italian specialties.

The American Hotel • Sag Harbor, N.Y. • 1981
In 1972, Ted Conklin transformed a neglected building in the Hamptons into a charming hotel-restaurant. His Bordeaux- and California-focused wine list earned the restaurant one of the original 13 Grand Awards, in 1981. Conklin still owns the property, where his well-rounded cellar includes many local labels.

The Angus Barn • Raleigh, N.C. • 1989
The Angus Barn’s vibe is both rural and refined. Behind the red barn doors, guests find a mouthwatering selection of steak-house staples and world-class wines. The property also includes a cigar lounge, a Wild Turkey lounge and a country store.

Antica Bottega del Vino • Verona, Italy • 2004
Antica Bottega del Vino is a lively, hallowed wine hub now owned by local Amarone producers. The 19th-century interior continues the historic charm of the surrounding old town and includes a cavernous cellar of 20,000 bottles rich in mature vintages of Italian wines.

Atrio’s cellar
A 48,000-bottle cellar supports Atrio’s Grand Award–winning wine list. (Joaquin Cortes)
Atrio • Cáceres, Spain • 2003
Atrio is Spanish for “atrium,” a core component of Mediterranean architecture in which all paths converge. The name is a nod to the buildings of Cáceres (a UNESCO World Heritage site), as well as the Old World-meets-New World themes of the wine list and menu.

Aureole Las Vegas • Las Vegas • 2000
Wine is quite literally the centerpiece of Aureole Las Vegas, a Charlie Palmer restaurant in the Mandalay Bay resort. Guests enter via stairs that wrap around a 42-foot, glass-enclosed wine tower displaying the 25,000-bottle inventory.

Aux Beaux Arts • Macau, China • 2015
Aux Beaux Arts is an oasis for refined French wine and dining, tucked in a tranquil, indoor courtyard of the MGM Macau resort. Alongside traditional regions, the extensive wine list also offers exciting bottlings from Japan and Peru.


Barolo Grill • Denver • 2018
Barolo Grill lives up to its name with a menu of Piedmont specialties and a wine program steeped in that region’s premier labels. A page of the wine list is dedicated to the team’s favorite finds on their annual trip to Italy.

Bern's Steak House • Tampa, Fla. • 1981
What began as a strip-mall bar now boasts the largest cellar collection of any Restaurant Award winner in the United States. Age is a virtue here, with wines by the glass ranging back to the 1970s. Owner David Laxer upholds the legacy of his late father, Bern, who opened the restaurant in 1956 and was among the original Grand Award winners in 1981.

Billy Crews Dining Room • Santa Teresa, N.M. • 1986
A New Mexico mainstay since 1956, this neighborhood restaurant offers steaks custom cut to order and a wine list filled with exciting values, including in the program’s strongest regions of California and Bordeaux.

Blackberry Farm • Walland, Tenn. • 2006
Blackberry Farm brings the luxury resort experience to the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains. Guests experience sophisticated American dining amidst the region’s rugged natural beauty, with ingredients sourced from the on-site farm.

Bleu Provence • Naples, Fla. • 2015
This neighborhood gem relies on the wine passions of husband-and-wife owners Jacques and Lysielle Cariot, who opened Bleu Provence in 1999. Together they’ve raised the bar for Naples’ wine scene, creating a diverse wine list that’s especially strong in French selections.

Blue Hill at Stone Barns • Pocantico Hills, N.Y. • 2016
Blue Hill lives and breathes the farm-to-table movement, bringing refreshing authenticity to the oft-bandied term. Every aspect highlights the connection between diner and agriculture, from chef Dan Barber’s ever-changing tasting menu to the on-site research center. The wine list spotlights local gems but also spans the globe.

Canlis • Seattle • 1997
Brothers Mark and Brian Canlis are the third-generation owners behind this Seattle landmark. The striking midcentury-modern design sets the tone for artful American dishes and a wine list that champions Washington labels alongside Old World stalwarts.

Capo • Santa Monica, Calif. • 2015
Capo is the brainchild of Bruce Marder, the California restaurateur credited with developing Venice and Santa Monica into dining destinations in the 1970s. The wine list is filled with eye-popping verticals across California, France and Italy, and the menu’s uncomplicated Italian approach lets local ingredients shine.

Casa Don Alfonso • Macau, China • 2010
The Grand Lisboa Hotel’s upscale Italian concept shares a cellar with the other Grand Award winner on the property, Robuchon Au Dôme. Together they have a whopping inventory of 500,000 bottles that represent a range of international regions in depth, with Bordeaux and Burgundy a focus.

Clos Maggiore • London • 2014
Local wine wholesaler Paul Corrett first opened Clos Maggiore in a single townhouse space. Six years later, he bought the entire building and transformed it into a charming inn with a bolstered wine program. The British-influenced Provençal cuisine is particularly wine-friendly and seamless pairings abound on the French-focused list.

Commander’s Palace • New Orleans • 2012
The late restaurateur Ella Brennan helped build Commander’s Palace into a New Orleans icon. Decades later it remains an elegant temple of Creole cuisine. It’s an ideal spot for celebrations, with a signature jazz brunch and a host of large-format bottles and Champagnes.

Crabtree's Kittle House Inn • Chappaqua, N.Y. • 1994
Crabtree’s Kittle House Inn was built in 1790, and the family-owned property remains at the forefront of American restaurants for wine. It took the owner and wine director just four years to grow a list of 150 selections into a Grand Award winner with 4,000 selections.

Daniel • New York • 2002
Chef Daniel Boulud is a globally renowned culinary authority, and when you dine at his flagship restaurant, it’s easy to see why. The perfectly executed French cuisine is a harmonious match for the wine program, which shows particular depth in France’s Rhône and Burgundy regions.

Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse • New York • 2017
Del Frisco’s is a shining example of a large restaurant group building a carefully curated world-class wine program. Steps from the famed Radio City Music Hall, the restaurant embodies New York’s grand steak houses, serving prime aged cuts and a wine list of remarkable depth.

Del Posto • New York • 2008
Del Posto executes Italian fare at the highest level, serving refined takes on familiar favorites in a stately dining room with Manhattan flair. The wine list reflects the caliber of the cuisine, with incredible breadth and depth in Piedmont and Tuscany.

Delmonico Steakhouse • Las Vegas • 2004
Emeril Lagasse was one of the first celebrity chefs to stake a claim in Las Vegas. At his elegant restaurant inside the Venetian resort, the chef’s signature Creole style spices up the traditional steak house menu. The eclectic wine list ranges from California classics to up-and-comers in Australia and Oregon.

Element 47 • Aspen, Colo. • 1997
The Little Nell is a ski resort known for its prime mountain setting, but the main attraction for wine lovers is the on-site restaurant, Element 47. Numerous top sommeliers have honed their craft here, each adding a personal stamp to the expansive bottle collection.

Eleven Madison Park • New York • 2011
Chef Daniel Humm strives for perfection, and so does wine director Cedric Nicaise. The program offers some of the world’s best Burgundies to pair with chef Humm’s seasonal tasting menus, where each dish is crafted with an unparalleled level of creativity and complexity.

Emeril’s New Orleans • New Orleans • 1999
Superstar chef Emeril Lagasse gives wine top priority throughout his extensive restaurant empire. At his flagship New Orleans restaurant, the Creole cuisine is comforting yet refined and the wine list is packed with robust collections from top regions around the world.

Enoteca Pinchiorri • Florence, Italy • 1984
A devastating firebombing in 1992 forced Enoteca Pinchiorri to undergo a major refurbishment, but the restaurant returned stronger than ever. Today, it remains the only Grand Award winner in Florence and features a comprehensive cellar stocked with French and Italian gems.

Epicure • Paris • 2016
Inside Le Bristol, a hotel that resembles a Parisian palace, Epicure offers the epitome of haute cuisine. Its wine program is exclusively French and includes nearly 200 grand cru red Burgundies. The 3,000-selection list was secured partially through personal connections with winemakers.

Fiola • Washington, D.C. • 2019
Fabio Trabocchi is a leading force in Washington, D.C.’s Italian restaurant scene. A short stroll from the National Mall, his flagship venue brings superior Italian labels and authentic regional cuisine to the heart of the capital city.

Flagstaff House Restaurant • Boulder, Colo. • 1983
Fine French wines dominate the list at this family-owned restaurant, where highlights include nearly 100 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti labels and 22 vintages of Château Lafite Rothschild. At an elevation of 6,000 feet, the dining room features floor-to-ceiling windows that frame panoramic views of the Colorado mountains.

The French Laundry • Yountville, Calif. • 2007
The crown jewel of chef Thomas Keller’s many wine-centric restaurants, the French Laundry represents the pinnacle of Napa Valley dining. Keller treats carefully sourced, local ingredients with traditional French techniques, an ideal match for the California- and French-focused wine list.

Geranium • Copenhagen, Denmark • 2016
Geranium’s themed tasting menus showcase Scandinavian cuisine through inventive dishes centered on foraged, wild and organic ingredients. The wine program offers a similar element of surprise with a mix of traditional, Old World styles and new-age, minimal-intervention labels.

Graycliff Restaurant • Nassau, Bahamas • 1988
Discover fine Bahamian cuisine, paired with a spectacular international wine list, in the country’s capital city. The cellar houses benchmark bottles and prized rarities.

The Greenhouse • London • 2005
A tree-lined pathway through a landscaped sculpture garden brings you to the Greenhouse, whose principals deal directly with wine estates to secure rare bottlings and better prices for guests. The 3,400-selection list impresses in a plethora of international regions and complements the high-end French cuisine presented through various tasting-menu options.

Griggeler Stuba • Lech am Arlberg, Austria • 2019
Since its inception in 1997, Griggeler Stuba has been a champion of local wine. The 18-seat dining room is an intimate environment in which to peruse the international wine list’s staggering number of Austrian verticals and trophy bottles, along with global benchmarks.

The Grill • New York • 2019
Contemporary meat-centric cuisine is served with extravagance and drama at the Grill. Located in the former Four Seasons restaurant space in the Seagram Building, the Grill merged with fellow Major Food Group concept the Pool in early 2020. The 3,600 wine selections represent the world’s greatest wine regions but lean most heavily on France and California.

Grill 23 & Bar • Boston • 2017
Grill 23 & Bar is a classic Boston steak house that goes above and beyond for its wine-loving clientele. The restaurant's investment in aged wines means plenty of hard-to-find bottlings are on offer, yet the wine experience here is far from exclusive, with hundreds of options priced at $100 or less.

HMF at the Breakers • Palm Beach, Fla. • 1981
One of the three original Grand Award winners that still hold the title today, HMF is the central dining concept at the Breakers. The resort exudes old-school Palm Beach glamour, as does HMF’s wine list, which focuses on Bordeaux, Burgundy and California Cabernet Sauvignon.

Il Poeta Contadino • Alberobello, Italy • 1997
Il Poeta Contadino offers a lengthy selection of Italian benchmarks and big-name Bordeaux verticals. With stone walls, archways and vaulted ceilings, the dining room is a luxurious rendering of the historic 14th-century limestone huts that line the streets of the surrounding city.

The Inn at Little Washington • Washington, Va. • 1995
About 70 miles from Washington, D.C., the Inn has long been a destination for serious wines and great food, thanks to chef and owner Patrick O’Connell. But rather than rest on their laurels, the team is constantly seeking cutting-edge wines from up-and-coming producers to enhance the 2,000-label list.

Jean-Georges • New York • 2016
The flagship restaurant of legendary French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten delivers New York City grandeur. The wine list emphasizes classic French wines, supporting a menu that ranges from surprisingly simple to mind-bendingly creative.

JM • Sylt-Westerland, Germany • 1993
Top European wines await behind the charming red-brick facade of the boutique hotel that houses JM, formerly known as Restaurant Jörg Müller, where the namesake chef presents a rustic menu of regional specialties.

Joël Robuchon Restaurant • Las Vegas • 2009
The legacy of the late French chef Joël Robuchon lives on in the 22 restaurants worldwide that bear his name. Robuchon’s MGM Grand outpost oozes opulence, with a lavish townhouse-inspired interior, an enchanting tasting menu and a wine list of countless collectibles.

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon • Hong Kong • 2010
Robuchon’s signature Asian-influenced French cuisine is right at home in Hong Kong. Instead of traditional tables, a counter lined with red leather chairs wraps around the open kitchen, giving guests a front-row view of the action.

La Ciau del Tornavento • Cuneo, Italy • 2013
Overlooking Barbaresco vineyards in the Piedmont hills, this restaurant is a passion project of its owners, who seek to elevate the region’s cuisine to the caliber of its wines. The food is comforting and complex and the wine list is a treasure chest of Piedmont labels.

La Pergola • Rome • 2004
Soak up sweeping views of the Eternal City from this rooftop restaurant, where the wine program is divided into an international list and an exclusively Italian one. The cellar contains rare vintages as well as carefully selected lesser-known labels.

La Toque • Napa, Calif. • 2014
California Cabernet Sauvignon shines at chef Ken Frank’s La Toque, where the program also features picks from nearly every corner of the wine-producing world. The tasting menus are designed to pair with wines, and a flexible format lets guests choose from a range of four to nine courses.

Le Coureur des Bois • Beloeil, Québec • 2018
Wine is an essential element at Hôtel Rive Gauche, whose restaurant’s collection continues to grow as a leader in Québec’s wine scene. Delve deep into Burgundy, discover bottlings from regions like Lebanon and Hungary or sample from an assortment of Canadian labels.