Snapshots of Wine Spectator's 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. We are excited to welcome two new winners in the Class of 2022. As restaurants recover from the difficult pandemic period, dining out is more special than ever. These destinations, profiled here alphabetically, comprise a dining bucket list for wine lovers to dream about and plan for as they start traveling again. Congratulations to all our 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
As the only Grand Award winner in San Diego, Addison explores the bounty of what California has to offer. Run by chef William Bradley, the tasting menus formed with seasonal and regionally-sourced ingredients are paired with stunning views 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 over 18,000 bottles rich in mature vintages of Italian wines.

A 45,000-bottle cellar supports Atrio’s Grand Award–winning wine list. (Joaquin Cortés)

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 26,000-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 Portugal.

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

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. The team’s favorite finds on their annual trip to Italy often are added to the extensive Italian centric wine list.

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.

Brennan's Restaurant • New Orleans, L.A. • 2021
This family-owned institution in New Orleans’ French Quarter runs on tradition: Sazeracs, Eggs Sardou and Bananas Foster are all still mainstays in its latest iteration under Ralph Brennan. After losing its long-time Grand Award-winning cellar to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Brennan’s has built it back to more than 15,000 bottles, earning the top honor once again. The wine list also favors the traditional, with highlights coming from classic regions in Burgundy, Bordeaux and California.

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 of Dan Barber’s tasting menu experience highlights the connection between diner and agriculture. 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 space reminiscent of the enchanting inns one would find in Provence or Tuscany, 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.

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.

In Aspen, Colo., Element 47’s wine cellar houses over 22,000 bottles. (Courtesy of Element 47)

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 Gabriel Di Bella. The program offers some of the world’s best Burgundies to pair with chef Humm’s seasonal, plant-based 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 5,000-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 over 100 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti labels and 25 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.

Greenwalk Hatchery trout with red pepper-olive relish and potato-coconut velouté is representative of Gabriel Kreuther's dishes, which often play sweet and sour elements off each other or are infused with smoky flavors. (Evan Sung)

Gabriel Kreuther • New York • 2022
After 10 years as executive chef at the Modern, Gabriel Kreuther opened his eponymous restaurant—a beautiful, airy yet intimate space in Midtown Manhattan—in 2015 with partner Eben Dorros. Informed by the chef’s passion for wine, the cellar—overseen by wine director Aukai Bell—has grown to more than 2,200 selections and an inventory of 9,000-plus bottles, deep in Burgundy and the whites of Alsace, which pair particularly well with the creative dishes influenced by Alsatian cuisine, like sturgeon and sauerkraut tart.

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.

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 3,500 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 nearly 20 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's wine cellar houses 58,000 bottles. (Courtesy of La Ciau Del Tornavento)

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 the tasting menu or an à la carte dining experience.

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 or sample from an assortment of Canadian labels.

Le Bernardin • New York, N.Y. • 2021
For more than three decades, Le Bernardin has flourished as one of New York City’s premier dining destinations. Star chef Eric Ripert highlights the purity of seafood by preparing dishes with a light hand, buttressed by graceful technique. The wine list highlights selections from cooler Old World regions, with landmark bottlings of classic reds that show the diversity of wine and fish pairings.

Le Louis XV - Alain Ducasse • Monte Carlo, Monaco • 1995
Inside the historic Hotel de Paris, chef Alain Ducasse’s Monte Carlo concept features a temperature-controlled wine cellar originally carved out of rock in the 1800s. The 250,000 bottles stored there support a wine list that is 70 percent Bordeaux and overwhelmingly French overall.

Le Taillevent • Paris • 1984
This time-honored gem is the epitome of Parisian fine dining. Set in a luxurious townhouse, Taillevent is devoted to classic haute cuisine and refined service and provides a heavily French wine list that wows in Bordeaux and Burgundy.

Les Amis • Singapore • 1996
Velvet-covered walls, intricate chandeliers and high ceilings set the scene for a polished French menu at Les Amis. The wine list, dominated by prized Old World selections, is just as extravagant.

Les Climats • Paris • 2017
Burgundy fans, take note. Les Climats’ wine list focuses exclusively on the region, with the addition of some picks from the oft-overlooked area of Beaujolais. The result is a stunning collection of labels that illuminate the diverse expressions of these coveted wines.

Marcello's La Sirena • West Palm Beach, Fla. • 2015
In 1996, Marcello Fiorentino set out to expand the wine program at his parents’ Italian restaurant, growing the list from just 24 selections to more than 1,100. Today, Fiorentino co-owns the Florida institution with his wife, Diane.

Mastro's Steakhouse at the Post Oak Hotel • Houston • 2019
This location of Landry’s, Inc.’s popular steak house is home to the largest wine list of any Wine Spectator award winner in the group’s portfolio. It’s located in the Post Oak Hotel, which features opulent accents such as a chandelier inspired by a piece in the Dubai Opera House, displayed in a three-story lobby.

Metropolitan Grill • Seattle • 2018
While you’ll find plenty of big-name benchmarks from around the world at Metropolitan Grill, Washington wines are the heart of the program. This commitment to showcasing local labels brings an innovative twist to the classic steak house experience and roots it deeply in its community.

The Modern • New York • 2016
The Modern boasts the most impressive wine program in Danny Meyer’s restaurant empire. The thoughtful wine list is a harmonious match for the kitchen’s six-course menu of contemporary American dishes. Plating is particularly artistic, a nod to the restaurant’s home inside the Museum of Modern Art.

Murray Circle Restaurant • Sausalito, Calif. • 2016
In the picturesque Cavallo Point Lodge, Murray Circle Restaurant draws guests for its striking views of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and keeps them coming back for its local fare and bounty of California wines.

Nice Matin • New York • 2014
Nice Matin delivers a high-caliber wine program in the comfortable charm of a French bistro on Manhattan’s bustling Upper West Side. The wine director hunts for values from just outside famed regions to create an especially accessible, well-priced list.

Opus Restaurant on Prince Arthur • Toronto • 2002
Supported by the largest cellar inventory of any Wine Spectator award winner in Canada, the wine list at Opus on Prince Arthur presents Old World trophy labels while also spotlighting Canadian producers.

Palais Coburg • Vienna, Austria • 2007
Explore one of Austria’s best wine collections in the intimate, elegant dining room at Palais Coburg, a hotel inside a renovated 19th-century palace. The encyclopedic list of 5,200 wines includes more than 20 pages of Austrian picks.

Pappas Bros. Steakhouse Dallas • Dallas • 2011
Brothers Harris and Chris Pappas started Pappas Bros. as a steak house, but it’s grown into a major force in Texas wine culture with three Grand Award–winning locations. Large-format labels are a brand-wide strength, especially at the Dallas location, which offers more than 400.

Pappas Bros. Steakhouse Downtown Houston • Houston • 2019
This newer addition to the Pappas Bros. family continues the tradition of superior steaks and over-the-top wine experiences. The list is a showstopper, from the sprawling Champagne collection to the outstanding French verticals to the diverse dessert wine selection.

Pappas Bros. Steakhouse Houston • Houston • 2010
Opened in 1995, this is the original location of the family-run steak-house brand and the first of the three to earn a Grand Award. It’s also home to the largest of the Pappas Bros.’ wine lists, with 5,000 selections.

Per Se • New York • 2013
Per Se brings the top-tier dining for which chef Thomas Keller is known to the East Coast. The nine-course tasting menus can be effortlessly paired with picks from the French-leaning wine list, all enjoyed with views of Central Park.

Picasso • Las Vegas • 2003
Eight works from the namesake master hang on the walls at Picasso. The wine list is well-rounded but offers a wealth of Spanish wines to pair with the tasting menu’s four and six course meal options, which seamlessly marry French and Spanish styles.

The Pluckemin Inn • Bedminster, N.J. • 2011
Set in a restored 18th-century farmhouse about an hour’s drive from Manhattan, the Pluckemin Inn pairs a locally driven American menu with a list of wine labels that span the globe.

The Plumed Horse • Saratoga, Calif. • 2015
Though the wine program excels in a number of regions, from California to Italy to Germany, Champagne is a must at the Plumed Horse. There are over 100 options to choose from, some of which are available by the glass from a Champagne cart that’s wheeled through the dining room.

PM & Vänner • Växjö, Sweden • 2017
Venture off the beaten path through winding woodland roads to PM & Vänner, a boutique hotel-restaurant in a remote area of Sweden. You’ll be rewarded with an abundance of well-priced collectible wines and a distinct menu using ingredients sourced from nearby woods, lakes and meadows.

Post Hotel Dining Room • Lake Louise, Alberta • 2002
In a family-owned luxury ski resort inspired by the Swiss Alps, Post Hotel Dining Room serves a seasonal menu of signature Canadian dishes and accompanies it with a balanced wine list that includes a stunning array of magnums.

At the newly revitalized Press in St. Helena, guests can choose from nearly 1,500 Napa Cabernets, along with a mix of other varieties from Napa. (Angela DeCenzo)

Press • St. Helena, Calif. • 2022
When Samantha Rudd took over Press in St. Helena from her late father, Leslie Rudd, it was a beloved, classic steakhouse with a Napa-only wine list. Giving the restaurant a refresh, she brought on chef Philip Tessier, who brought creative flair to the menu, and wine director Vincent Morrow, who built the wine cellar to a formidable size, with nearly 1,500 Napa Cabernet selections, while bringing more diversity to the mix. Even as it evolves, Press remains a testament to Napa Valley and its history, showcasing the best agricultural products from the region and putting wine front and center, with historic vintages sourced from collectors and a private dining room overlooking the cellar.

Restaurant 301 at the Hotel Carter • Eureka, Calif. • 1998
The Carter family created this boutique hotel from the ground up, then built the restaurant’s wine list into a Grand Award winner. There’s much to discover among the diverse selection, which is strongest in California, Bordeaux and Burgundy.

Restaurant Gary Danko • San Francisco • 2001
Chef Gary Danko’s modern perspective to comfort food is in the spotlight at his dynamic San Francisco restaurant. The ever-evolving wine list includes a wealth of Burgundy grands crus and California benchmarks.

Restaurant Guy Savoy • Las Vegas • 2008
Chef Guy Savoy brings authentic French dining to Caesars Palace with his only venue outside France. The wine list honors Savoy’s hometown of Burgundy with 22 pages of the region’s best labels, many in large formats or half-bottles.

There are plenty of aged gems to discover among Restaurant Latour’s nearly 5,000 wine selections. (Courtesy of Restaurant Latour)

Restaurant Latour • Hamburg, N.J. • 2006
Just over an hour’s drive from New York City, in the scenic Crystal Springs Resort, Restaurant Latour is named after the owner’s favorite Bordeaux estate. Naturally, the highlight of the wine list is a 26-vintage Latour vertical back to 1888.

Restaurante Rekondo • San Sebastián, Spain • 2011
In a tranquil seaside town known for its gastronomy, Restaurante Rekondo offers a collection of Spanish wines that’s hard to beat; nearly every Denominación de Origen is represented, with examples of traditional and modern styles and great vintage depth.

Ristorante Cracco • Milan, Italy • 2019
Ristorante Cracco features a fast-growing cellar in a multifaceted space that also houses a café and art gallery. The wine program focuses on Italian and French wines, with classic names alongside cult favorites.

Robuchon au Dôme • Macau, China • 2005
The massive shared cellar of the Grand Lisboa Hotel enhances the legendary cuisine of the late Joël Robuchon. A glass dome on the top floor encloses the dining room, where the à la carte menu is filled with luxurious offerings including foie gras and lobster.

Saison • San Francisco • 2014
Dining at Saison is an intimate experience; only 18 guests at a time can enjoy chef Richard Lees’ distinct American tasting menu and memorable pairings from the thoughtfully selected wine list.

Sierra Mar • Big Sur, Calif. • 2012
Sierra Mar’s wine program spans a broad spectrum of styles and regions, offered as an “extended list” and an abbreviated and continuously evolving “sommelier selections.” The dining room is perched on a cliff that juts out over the Pacific Ocean, treating guests to dramatic views.

SingleThread Farms • Healdsburg, Calif. • 2021
Run by husband-and-wife duo Kyle and Katina Connaughton, SingleThread Farms elevates farm-to-table dining to the next level, incorporating ingredients from their own farm and garden in the Japanese-inspired menu. In just a few years, the wine list has grown to over 3,300 selections, making it one of the top lists in Sonoma County and the first to earn a Grand Award.

Sistina • New York • 2018
Set in a beautiful townhouse near the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Sistina feels right at home on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Owner Giuseppe Bruno has created one of the city’s top restaurants, with a vibrant list of more than 3,400 labels and a menu of timeless Italian dishes.

Spago Beverly Hills • Beverly Hills, Calif. • 2010
Chef Wolfgang Puck has built numerous excellent wine lists across many culinary ventures, but his supreme wine program can be found at Spago Beverly Hills. The restaurant seriously upped its wine game in the mid-2000s and its exceptional list now includes nearly 100 magnums.

Spruce • San Francisco • 2015
Spruce relies on personal relationships with farmers and winemakers to procure the finest ingredients and bottlings for guests. With most produce sourced from a nearby farm, the American menu provides exciting seasonal pairing opportunities with the international wine list.

The Stonehouse • Santa Barbara, Calif. • 2014
When devastating mudslides hit Santa Barbara in January 2018, San Ysidro Ranch suffered serious damage—and so did the treasured wine cellar of its restaurant. The reopened Stonehouse managed to rebuild a Grand Award–winning cellar that, while still a work in progress, reflects an unwavering commitment to wine.

Topper's at the Wauwinet • Nantucket, Mass. • 1996
The Wauwinet is a homey Victorian inn that first opened in 1875. Its Grand Award–winning restaurant has turned Nantucket into a wine destination with a list deep in mature vintages from prominent producers.

Tour d'Argent • Paris • 1986
Tour d’Argent is a French monument, for its history, its ambience and its wine list, the largest of any Wine Spectator Grand Award winner in Europe. More than a century in the making, the wine program delivers on both quality and quantity. All the bottles are French, except for a strong section of Ports.

Tribeca Grill • New York • 2002
This lower Manhattan hot spot is backed by acclaimed restaurateur Drew Nieporent, co-owner Robert De Niro and wine director David Gordon, who has managed the wine program since the restaurant opened in 1990. The list highlights wines from that inaugural year, alongside an array of California Cabernets and labels from top French regions, with particular strength in the Rhône Valley.

Vantre • Paris • 2019
The former head sommelier of Paris Grand Award winners Le Taillevent and Epicure created his own outstanding list at Vantre, paired with a menu that changes daily to showcase regional specialties. The casual atmosphere draws a broad array of serious wine lovers.

Via Allegro Ristorante • Etobicoke, Ontario • 2003
Via Allegro pairs continental Italian cuisine with the greatest number of selections of any Wine Spectator award winner in Canada. Special sections such as “gems” and “features under $50” help guests sift through a mind-boggling number of options.

The Village Pub • Woodside, Calif. • 2013
Though “pub” is in the name, fine wine is a main attraction of this eatery on the outskirts of Silicon Valley. Hard-to-find New World labels and deep verticals of French wines are hallmarks of the crowd-pleasing list.

Wally's • Beverly Hills, Calif. • 2017
This wine shop–restaurant hybrid draws everyone from movie stars to workaday enophiles. All of Wally’s 3,000 selections are available for retail purchase or for enjoying in-house with the indulgent New American menu.

Wickens at Royal Mail Hotel • Victoria, Australia • 2013
Set in a stylish hotel overlooking Grampians National Park, Wickens offers various tasting-menu formats and a wine list that is sure to satisfy a wide range of guests, whether you’re seeking traditional Old World wines or looking to delve into local labels.

Wild Ginger • Seattle • 2009
Casual dining meets fine wine at Seattle’s Wild Ginger, the only Grand Award winner to focus on the cuisines of China and Southeast Asia. The wine list is heavy on bright whites and low-tannin reds to complement the sweet and spicy dishes.

Permanently Closed as of 2020

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

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

Patina • Los Angeles • 1994
Situated in the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Patina was the ultimate place for luxury dining in downtown L.A. California and France stood out among the global wine offerings, and features like caviar service and an international “water list” lent yet more extravagance to a meal here.

The Restaurant at Meadowood • St. Helena, Calif. • 2016
Chef Christopher Kostow’s tasting menu was the focal point of this Napa Valley destination, housed inside a luxury resort; its building was destroyed in the 2020 Glass Fire that ravaged parts of the valley. Through both food and wine, there was a palpable connection between the restaurant and the rural beauty of the surrounding region.

Restaurant Mosaic • Pretoria, South Africa • 2018
East meets West at Restaurant Mosaic. Located on a game reserve, the exotic luxury hotel resembles an Indian palace, and its dining room featured French art nouveau décor. The creative cuisine was well-matched to the extensive South Africa–focused wine list.

'21' Club • New York • 2003*
Originally a speakeasy, ‘21’ Club morphed into a Midtown staple that delighted with its rough-yet-refined ambience and classic American fare. It sported a Prohibition-era cellar, where 20,000 bottles were hidden behind a moving wall, including bottles stored for celebrity patrons.