award

Wine Spectator

Wine Spectator's Restaurant Awards function as a global directory of restaurants serious about wine. The three-tier system—Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence, and Grand Award—helps you identify which restaurants have invested in their wine programs beyond the basics. The 2025 awards represent the program's latest edition. These aren't spontaneous recognitions; restaurants apply and pay for evaluation. That self-selection means the award indicates intentionality about wine service, though the pay-to-apply model differs from critic-driven restaurant awards. For wine-focused diners, the awards offer a practical filter when choosing where to eat in unfamiliar cities.