This year, restaurants seem to be looking back to the classics, as wine list trends reflect the best of the past—whether that means featuring more Old World or Old World–style wines, showcasing older vintages or including wines made from old-vine sites and historical, nearly extinct grape varieties. We are also seeing a resurgence of old-school steakhouses. “What’s old is new again” seems to be the overarching vibe of 2025, as represented by this year’s winners.
For examples, check out our newly revealed list of more than 3,800 restaurants that have earned Restaurant Awards from Wine Spectator in 2025. This year’s winning restaurants hail from all 50 states and more than 80 countries and territories, including a new country this year: Jordan. The awards are given across three categories: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence and Grand Award.
Wine Spectator is pleased to honor all the hard work of our award-winning restaurants.
At new Award of Excellence winner Lillian in Richmond, Va., wine director Grayum Vickers is proud that the team has been appreciated for their achievement. “It is an honor to have our hard work and passion for wine recognized by Wine Spectator, and we are thrilled to be acknowledged alongside some of the greatest wine restaurants in the region.”
“Winning the Wine Spectator Award for the sixth consecutive year is a humbling and heartfelt honor. For us, it reflects more than a passion for wine, it represents a journey of faith, family, fellowship and purpose,” says Jen Reyneri, owner of Award of Excellence winner The Grove, Cucina & Wine in Hobe Sound, Fla. “We are deeply grateful for the recognition, and for the community and grace that has carried us here.”
This year, 2,010 restaurants received an Award of Excellence for their well-curated wine lists. These lists typically feature about 100 selections, though some are considerably more extensive. They provide diners with a high-quality, diverse array of wines that complement the restaurant’s cuisine and price range. Each wine is presented clearly with all essential details, including, but not limited to, the vintage and appellation.
Restaurants recognized with the Best of Award of Excellence demonstrate an elevated commitment to wine service. This includes extensive staff training to provide expert guidance, hosting wine-focused events and elevated presentation. Their wine lists, featuring around 350 or more carefully selected options, showcase a vast array of wines from leading producers, encompassing diverse regions and significant vintage depth. This year, 1,704 restaurants achieved our Best of Award of Excellence, 197 of which were new to the program and 148 of which were upgraded from the Award of Excellence.
“Creating our wine list over the years has been a labor of love that expresses an art, versatility, a sense of place, perspective and simply great juice that should be shared,” said wine director Todd Johnston at Nashville’s Marsh House, newly upgraded to Best of Award of Excellence in 2025. “It is refreshing to have an iconic publication like Wine Spectator to recognize the time and intention that goes into creating that list.”
Wine Spectator bestows its most prestigious honor, the Grand Award, upon the world’s elite wine programs. These select programs offer the ultimate dining experience, which includes creative presentation, flawless customer service, comprehensive wine knowledge and pristine cellar conditions. Grand Award-winning wine lists typically boast 1,000 or more selections, featuring a deep array of vintages from highly regarded producers and encompassing a range of bottle formats. Lastly, to qualify for this esteemed recognition, candidates undergo a rigorous inspection by one of our judges. This year, we paid tribute to 97 deserving restaurants worldwide with Grand Awards.
Three restaurants have earned Wine Spectator’s Grand Award for the first time in 2025, joining this exclusive group. The new 2025 Grand Award winners are:
Read the full profiles at WineSpectator.com/Restaurants, or in the Aug. 31 issue of Wine Spectator, available on newsstands starting July 15.
To find more great dining spots for enjoying wine, go to the Restaurant Search at WineSpectator.com/Restaurants, which features all of Wine Spectator’s 2025 Restaurant Award winners in a free database searchable by name, location, cuisine type, wine strengths, pricing and award level. To access restaurant recommendations on the go, try Wine Spectator’s Restaurant Awards app, available free in the App Store. All award winners are featured in the Aug. 31 issue of Wine Spectator.
Throughout the year, keep on top of restaurant-related news and trends and learn more about the Restaurant Award winners in Q&As with leading sommeliers, chefs and restaurateurs, as well as in roundups of exciting restaurants in different categories, from the best chain restaurants for great wine to bucket-list destinations. Sign up for our free Private Guide to Dining email newsletter so you don’t miss anything!
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