Wine Spectator, The List, August 2012
The annual Wine Spectator “best of wine lists” is out and 75 Restaurants from Jupiter to Key West have been acknowledged by Wine Spectator for their wine lists (chain restaurants have only been counted once, ex. Capital Grille, Truluck’s)
There are three categories in which a restaurant can receive recognition; first is the entry-level Award of Excellence, which recognizes a wine list that offers a good selection of quality wines that match a restaurant’s cuisine, there are 2,842 restaurants in this category worldwide.
The second level award is the Best of Award of Excellence, a mid-tier ranking for a wine list with significant vintage depth and/or breadth in one or more major wine regions, there are 878 restaurants worldwide in this category.
And the Grand Award represents Wine Spectator’s [program] top level. Restaurants in this elite group—representing 13 countries and 16 U.S. states— offer 1,500 or more selections, with superior extensiveness in many of the world’s classic wine-producing regions. They have also passed a rigorous inspection that evaluates the overall quality of their wine program, cellars, service, ambiance and cuisine. There are 75 restaurants worldwide in this influential category, two are from the state of Florida, L’Escalier at The Breakers Palm Beach and Bern’s Steakhouse in Tampa. To view the remaining 73 Grand Award recipients click here.
69 restaurants in South Florida have been given the nod with the Award of Excellence and 17 of them have received the Best of Award of Excellence. I included corkage fees, if the restaurant has them, should you decide to bring your own wine.
The 17 restaurants in South Florida receiving the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence are:
Arturo’s Restaurant Boca Raton Wine Strengths: California, Italy, Bordeaux. Corkage Fee: $30
Bourbon Steak at Turnberry Isle Aventura Wine Strengths: California, France. Corkage Fee: $25
Café Boulud at The Brazilian Court Palm Beach Wine Strengths: France, California
Café l’Europe Palm Beach, Wine Strengths: California, Bordeaux, Burgundy. Corkage Fee: $50
Casa D’Angelo Fort Lauderdale, Wine Strengths: Italy, California. Corkage Fee: $35
Casa Juancho Miami, Wine Strengths: Spain, California. Corkage Fee: $15
Casa Tua Miami, Wine Strengths: Tuscany, Piedmont, Bordeaux
db Bistro Moderne Miami, Wine Strengths: Bordeaux, California, Burgundy. Corkage Fee: $50
Fifth Avenue Grill Delray Beach, Wine Strengths: California, Bordeaux. Corkage Fee: $30
Hollywood Prime Hollywood, Wine Strengths: California, Bordeaux
Marcello’s La Sirena West Palm Beach, Wine Strengths: Italy, California, France
Ortanique Miami, Wine Strengths: California Corkage Fee: $20
Red, The Steakhouse Miami, Wine Strengths: California
The Capital Grille Miami and Fort Lauderdale Wine Strengths: California, Bordeaux Corkage Fee: $20
The Forge Miami Wine Strengths: Bordeaux, California
The Restaurant at The Setai Miami Wine Strengths: California, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Tuscany, Piedmont Corkage Fee: $35
The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence goes to five restaurants in The Keys:
Pisces By Café Des Artistes 1007 Simonton St. Key West, FL, 33040 Wine Strengths: France, California
Mangia Mangia 900 Southard St. Key West, FL, 33040 Wine Strengths: California, France Corkage Fee: $20
Hot Tin Roof Zero Duval St. Key West, FL, 33040 Wine Strengths: California Corkage Fee: $20
Dining Room At Little Palm Island 28500 Overseas Highway Little Torch Key, FL, 33042 Wine Strengths: California, France Corkage Fee: $40
Antonia’s Restaurant 615 Duval St. Key West, FL, 33040 Wine Strengths: Italy Corkage Fee: $20
Click here for the list of restaurants in Palm Beach, Broward and Dade counties that have received the Award of Excellence.
The Wine Spectator wine list issue (August 2012) will be on newsstands July 24.
