2026 Wine Spectator Grand Award Winners: Elite Wine Lists

The Modern is a contemporary American restaurant at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Lazy Bear is a modern American dinner-party restaurant in San Francisco's Mission District.

The Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch is the most credentialed dining room in Santa Barbara, holding a Michelin Plate, Wine Spectator Grand Award, a 3,725-label cellar. Book Sunday brunch with free-flowing Champagne on the estate terrace for the strongest value proposition, or reserve the Wine Cellar for private groups up to 30. Hard to book; plan at least three weeks ahead.

The Pluckemin Inn in Bedminster, NJ is the strongest food-and-wine combination in suburban New Jersey, with a 5,500-selection cellar earning a Star Wine List White Star and an OAD Top 500 North America ranking. Food pricing sits at $$ for two courses, making the wine program the main spend. Booking is easy; no weeks-ahead planning required.

Topper's at The Wauwinet holds an AAA Five Diamond rating and a La Liste ranking, making it Nantucket's most credentialed fine-dining option for a destination dinner. The wine list; 1,550 selections, 20,000 bottles deep; is serious by any measure. Open seasonally May through October; resort casual dress; easy to book outside peak summer weekends.

A smart Beaune choice when the evening is built around Burgundy wine rather than a fully spelled-out tasting format. The strongest trust signal is its World's Best Wine Lists 2023; 3-Star recognition; cross-shop 8 Clos for clearer €€ traditional value or L'Alentour for a more modern-cuisine brief.

Grasing's is Carmel-by-the-Sea's most wine-serious steakhouse, with 3,400 selections, a $35 corkage fee, easy booking at the $$$ price tier. It won't match Aubergine Carmel for culinary ambition, but for a reliable, wine-forward dinner where service consistency matters, it's the practical first call; especially if you're building the evening around a serious California or Burgundy bottle.

Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace is Las Vegas's most formally structured French tasting experience, scoring 95 points on La Liste in both 2025 and 2026 and holding a top-3 Star Wine List ranking. Booking is easier than the reputation suggests; 2 to 3 weeks out for weekends. Plan your entire evening around it: no shows, no rush.

Grill 23 & Bar is Boston's most credentialed choice when wine matters as much as the meal. A World of Fine Wine 3-Star Accreditation, 2,540 selections, a 14,825-bottle cellar back up the $$$ pricing. Easy to book, strongest in fall and winter when seasonal American cooking and a serious red-wine program align.

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse on Avenue of the Americas is a large-format Midtown steakhouse that earns its $$$+ pricing mainly through one of the strongest wine programs in the category: 1,055 selections and 5,100 bottles, with depth in California, Bordeaux, Champagne. Best for groups and occasion dinners; easy to book, with bar walk-ins available most nights.

A strong pick for a formal downtown Houston steak dinner when dry-aged USDA Prime beef, polished service, a serious wine program are the point. The 2026 Wine Spectator Grand Award makes the wine list the clearest reason to spend here; choose the bar for a less ceremonial repeat visit or the dining room for business and milestone meals.

Barolo Grill is Denver's most serious Italian wine destination, with 2,105 selections and a staff that travels to Europe annually to back them up. The Northern Italian kitchen earned a 2024 Michelin Plate and. Book well in advance; this is a hard reservation; and consider bar seating for direct sommelier access.

One of the most credentialed French restaurants in North America, Joel Robuchon at The Mansion holds AAA 5 Diamond status, La Liste 96 points (2025), and an Opinionated About Dining #88 North America ranking. The $$$-tier dinner format with a 1,645-selection wine list is the right choice for a significant occasion; and easier to book than comparable restaurants at this level.

Enoteca Pinchiorri is a restaurant on Via Ghibellina in Florence.

Saison is a restaurant at 178 Townsend Street in San Francisco.

La Pergola is Heinz Beck's restaurant at Rome Cavalieri in Rome.

Canlis is a restaurant on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle.

Pappas Bros. Steakhouse Dallas is the right call for a special occasion or client dinner in Dallas, anchored by an in-house dry-aging program (21 days minimum) and one of the most credentialed wine lists in Texas; holding both a Star Wine List White Star and a World of Fine Wine 3-Star Accreditation. Book here when the wine selection and technical beef quality both matter.

Il Poeta Contadino holds a 3-Star World of Fine Wine accreditation and a 25,000-bottle inventory; the most serious wine list in Alberobello by a clear margin. Food pricing sits at $$ (two courses around $40–$65), but wine pricing is $$$, so come with a budget that reflects both. Book for dinner rather than lunch to get the most from the experience.

The Grill is a Michelin three-star American chophouse inside the landmark Seagram Building, run by Major Food Group with tableside-carved prime rib and a 22,800-bottle wine list. Book four to six weeks out for prime dinner slots; the bar after 9 PM is your best walk-in option. Named to New York Magazine's Best Restaurants list in 2025, it is one of the few $$$$ addresses where the room, service, food all justify the spend.

A Michelin-starred American kitchen operating inside what looks like a roadside pub in Woodside, CA. Chef Mark Sullivan's restaurant holds a 2025 Michelin star and an OAD Top 600 North America ranking, with food pricing at $$ and a 16,000-bottle wine cellar. Strong value for the credential level, but book 3–4 weeks out for weekends.

Metropolitan Grill is downtown Seattle's most wine-serious steakhouse, with 1,400 bottles, a $10 corkage fee, a White Star from Star Wine List. At $40–$65 per head for dinner, it earns its price through a deep California-focused list and consistent service. Book here for client dinners, anniversaries, or any occasion where a reliable, well-run room matters more than culinary novelty.

Sierra Mar earns its $$$$ price tag through a rare combination: daily-changing prix fixe menus driven by California coastal produce, a 12,000-bottle wine cellar with exceptional depth, cliffside views over the Pacific that are hard to match anywhere in the state. Book for dinner with enough lead time to catch the sunset, plan the drive on Highway 1 in advance.

Per Se is a Thomas Keller restaurant at Columbus Circle in New York City.

Element 47, inside the Little Nell Hotel at the base of Aspen Mountain, earns its $$$$ price through one of the Rocky Mountain West's most serious wine programs: 20,000 bottles, Star Wine List White Star, a sommelier team of genuine depth. The contemporary American food holds a Michelin Plate and 76.5 La Liste points. Book if wine matters; consider Bosq or Prospect if food alone is your priority.

Geranium is a restaurant in Copenhagen offering dining, private dining, conference service.

Casa Don Alfonso is Macau's strongest Italian fine dining option, drawing on its Campanian lineage and backed by a 500,000-bottle wine cellar with 3-Star World of Fine Wine accreditation. Ranked #83 in Asia by Opinionated About Dining (2025), it is the right booking for a formal occasion or a serious wine dinner at the $$$ price tier. Booking is straightforward with reasonable advance notice.

Le Taillevent is a restaurant on Rue Lamennais in Paris.

The Yeatman is a restaurant at The Yeatman hotel in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.

Gary Danko is a restaurant on North Point Street near San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf.

Plumed Horse is the Peninsula's clearest fine dining destination since Manresa closed, holding a 2025 Michelin star and La Liste recognition under chef Peter Armellino. The wine program runs to nearly 20,000 bottles across 2,734 selections, making it as serious a wine destination as a food one. Book well in advance: demand has risen and tables are hard to secure.

The Inn at Little Washington is a restaurant and inn in Washington, Virginia.

Addison serves William Bradley's California gastronomy in San Diego.

Bern's Steak House has been Tampa's most serious dinner reservation since 1956. The Michelin Plate-recognised steakhouse pairs cut-to-order, in-house-aged beef with one of the largest wine collections in the world; 7,000 selections, 500,500 bottles. Book two to three weeks out for weekends. The Harry Waugh Dessert Room is not optional.

Selby's is a Michelin-starred American restaurant in Atherton with a 3,600-selection wine list and consistent OAD North America recognition. At $$$$ per head, dinner-only service, booking difficulty that rewards planning two to three weeks out, it is the Peninsula's most reliable choice for a serious occasion dinner or a group corporate table.

Antica Bottega Del Vino is Verona's most practical answer for serious wine and a late-night table: open daily until midnight, with a 4,700-selection cellar and food priced at $$ for two courses. OAD ranked it no. 554 in Casual Europe for 2025. Book it for wine-led occasions where you want depth without the formality or cost of Verona's fine-dining rooms.

Brennan's on Royal Street is the strongest case for a special-occasion lunch in the French Quarter, with classic Creole cooking in the $40–$65 range and a 2,905-selection wine list that outpaces most competitors at this price. A 3-Star World of Fine Wine Accreditation and 4.5 stars across 5,500+ reviews back up the reputation. Book lunch over dinner for the best return.

Blue Hill at Stone Barns is a restaurant at Stone Barns Center in Tarrytown, New York.

Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse is a restaurant at Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo.

Daniel is Daniel Boulud's modern French flagship restaurant in New York City.

Mastro's at the Post Oak Hotel is Houston's strongest steakhouse for serious wine, with 4,250 selections earning a Star Wine List White Star and a deep sommelier team. At $$$, it delivers consistent, occasion-ready dining; backs that up. Book if you want à la carte beef and a credentialed cellar in one room.

Graycliff holds the claim of being the first five-star restaurant in the Bahamas, backed by a World of Fine Wine 3-Star accreditation and a cellar of 279,350 bottles spanning Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, beyond. At the $$$ price tier with French-Bahamian cuisine and a four-person sommelier team, it's the strongest case for a serious wine dinner in Nassau. Book here if the list matters; look elsewhere if it doesn't.

A family-run Italian dinner restaurant on South Dixie Highway where owner Marcello Fiorentino serves as chef, wine director, host. The 1,325-selection cellar; recognised with a White Star by Star Wine List; is the main reason to choose it over comparable options. At $$ for food and easy to book, it earns its 4.5-star rating through consistent, personal service.

The French Laundry is a restaurant in Yountville, California.

Robuchon au Dôme is a French restaurant at Grand Lisboa in Macau.

Tour d'Argent is a restaurant on Quai de la Tournelle in Paris.

Griggeler Stuba is a restaurant in Oberlech, Austria.

Joël Robuchon works for a formal special-occasion meal in Central And Western, especially when the room, pacing, Landmark Atrium setting matter. It is less compelling as a casual fallback or ingredient-led discovery meal; cross-shop Octavium, Sushi Shikon, L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Cristal Room by Anne-Sophie Pic, 8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA depending on cuisine preference.

Crabtree's Kittle House is the most wine-serious restaurant in Chappaqua, with back-to-back Star Wine List recognition in 2024 and 2026. It's the right call for a special-occasion dinner in Westchester when you want a credentialed wine program without Manhattan logistics. Bookings are straightforward; one to two weeks out covers most dates.

Les Amis serves French haute cuisine at Shaw Centre in Singapore.

Spago Beverly Hills is the reference point for California Fusion dining in the city, with a multi-course tasting menu, a 2,700-bottle wine list, four dedicated sommeliers. Ranked on La Liste, OAD, World of Fine Wine-accredited, it delivers consistent prestige-level dining. Book for dinner and a special occasion; lunch is not offered.

Billy Crews Dining Room in Santa Teresa, NM is an American steakhouse with one of the most serious wine programs in southern New Mexico; 2,300 selections, nearly 10,000 bottles, with many options under $50. Food pricing stays under $40 for two courses, making it the region's strongest case for a value-driven special occasion dinner.

Caruso's is a restaurant at Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito.

Book Wally's Wine & Spirits when the wine decision matters more than a formal restaurant arc. Its 3-Star recognition from World's Best Wine Lists 2022 makes it a stronger fit for bottle-led lunches and dinners than for diners chasing a chef-driven meal.

A Michelin-starred restaurant in the Barbaresco hills near Alba, La Ciau del Tornavento combines serious Piemontese cooking with one of the region's deepest wine cellars (60,000 bottles, 5,800 selections). Ranked #147 on OAD's Classical Europe list in 2024, it is the go-to address for a truffle dinner in autumn or a special-occasion meal in the Langhe. Book four to six weeks ahead; tables go fast.

Jean-Georges is Jean-Georges Vongerichten's restaurant at One Central Park West in New York City.

Flagstaff House is Boulder's most credentialed dinner destination: 42 Forbes Four Star ratings, a World of Fine Wine 3-Star wine list with 14,500 bottles. At $$$ pricing for dinner and a seriously deep wine program, it's the right call for a milestone occasion; but book well in advance and go for the wine as much as the food.

Restaurant Latour is the right choice in Hamburg, New Jersey, when the night calls for a formal, wine-led tasting-menu experience with mountain views and serious sommelier guidance. At $150 per person, it is strongest for adult celebrations, wine-focused groups, private cellar dinners rather than casual resort dining.

Fiola holds a Michelin star, a wine list of 2,405 selections, a room that communicates occasion from the first glance. It is the strongest choice for formal Italian dining in Washington, D.C., ahead of Masseria and L'Ardente in ambition and wine depth. Book three to four weeks out minimum; this is not a walk-in option.

Wickens at Royal Mail Hotel is the strongest wine destination in regional Victoria, holding a World of Fine Wine 3-Star Accreditation and the Australasia Regional Winner title. With 4,450 selections and Australian $$$ cuisine from Chef Robin Wickens, it rewards the drive from Melbourne; especially for returning guests ready to go deeper into the cellar with sommelier John Myers.

Emeril's is Emeril Lagasse's flagship restaurant in New Orleans' Warehouse District, serving a refined approach to Louisiana cooking.

The Angus Barn is Raleigh's go-to destination for a serious steakhouse dinner, with a wine list of 1,650 selections and 26,000 bottles that few restaurants in the region can match. At $$$ pricing, it earns its place for special occasions; especially if wine matters as much as the steak. Book two to three weeks out for weekend evenings; weeknights are easier.

Aux Beaux Arts at MGM Macau is the most wine-serious French restaurant you can book easily in Macau; Star Wine List #1 for 2025 and a World of Fine Wine 3-Star Accreditation back up a 1,585-selection list strong in Burgundy and Bordeaux. The brasserie format and 1930s art deco room make it a practical choice for lunch or dinner without the booking friction of Macau's Michelin-level French rooms.

The Barn at Blackberry Farm is a fine-dining room on a working Tennessee farm, with a 135,000-bottle wine cellar holding a World of Fine Wine 3-Star Accreditation and farm-sourced American cooking under Chef Cassidee Dabney. Access is tied to a Blackberry Farm resort stay, pricing is $$$+, and the experience is worth building a trip around for food and wine explorers who want land-to-table depth.

HMF at the Breakers holds a 3-Star World of Fine Wine accreditation and a White Star from Star Wine List, backed by a 55,000-bottle inventory across 2,230 selections. Wine Director Virginia Philip leads a deep sommelier team, making this Palm Beach's clearest choice for wine-led dining. Booking is easy, food sits at a mid-range price point, the Breakers setting does the rest.

Alfredo Di Roma Mexico sits inside the Hotel Presidente Intercontinental in Polanco, offering Italian cuisine under $40 per head alongside one of the most serious wine lists in the neighbourhood; 2,110 selections and 40,000 bottles in inventory. Easy to book. The wine program, led by sommelier Carlos Marín, is the main reason to return.

Bleu Provence is the strongest case for French dining in Naples, Florida: a family-run room with a 16,000-bottle cellar and dinner pricing at $40–$65 per head. The wine list alone, covering Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, California at depth, makes it the default choice for a special-occasion dinner in Southwest Florida. Book 2–3 weeks ahead in high season.

Eleven Madison Park is a fine-dining restaurant overlooking Madison Square Park in New York City.

Acquerello is an Italian restaurant on Sacramento Street in San Francisco.

Clos Maggiore is one of London's most reliable French-inspired restaurants, holding a Michelin Plate in both 2024 and 2025 and backed by a serious wine cellar of 7,550 bottles. The conservatory is the seat worth planning around. Book at least two to three weeks ahead, prioritise the set lunch menu for the clearest value in Covent Garden.

Restaurant JM is the most wine-serious fine-dining option on Sylt, with a 3-Star World of Fine Wine accreditation, 1,595 selections in inventory, a kitchen built around North Sea regional sourcing. At $$$ per head for dinner, it's a clear choice for a special occasion on the island; particularly for guests who want the wine list to carry the evening as much as the food.

Atrio is a restaurant at Plaza San Mateo in Cáceres, Spain.

SingleThread is a restaurant in Healdsburg, California.

Ranked #326 on Opinionated About Dining's North America list in 2025, Opus delivers European-influenced Canadian cooking and a serious wine cellar; 2,100 selections, deep in Burgundy and Bordeaux; at the $$$ tier rather than the $$$$ price ceiling most Toronto fine dining commands. Open seven nights a week in Yorkville, it is one of the easier OAD-ranked bookings in the city.

Soby's is a Michelin Plate-recognised Southern American restaurant in downtown Greenville with one of the most serious wine programs in the region; 3,100 selections, a World of Fine Wine 2-Star Accreditation, a full sommelier team. Food pricing sits at $$ (two courses $40–$65), making it strong value for the quality level. Dinner only; easy to book.

Pappas Bros. Steakhouse on Westheimer is the reference point for dry-aged prime beef in Houston, backed by a 4,100-selection wine list with 18,000 bottles in inventory, dual Michelin Plates, World of Fine Wine 3-Star accreditation. Book three to four weeks out for weekend tables. At the $$$$ price point, it delivers most clearly for anniversaries, business dinners, occasions where steak and serious wine both matter.

Chef Marco Zandona's contemporary Italian restaurant in Etobicoke pairs Wine Spectator Grand Award cellar depth with modern Italian cooking that rewards repeat visits. The 850-bottle list and consistent kitchen execution make it the western suburbs' most reliable wine-focused Italian option, easier to book than downtown peers and more serious than neighborhood trattorias.

Nice Matin is a dependable French bistro on the Upper West Side with a wine list that overdelivers for the price tier; 2,535 selections managed by a dedicated sommelier team, with food pricing at $$. It's an easy booking, serves lunch and dinner. The wine program is the main reason to return.

Le Bon Georges is the 9th arrondissement's most wine-serious bistro: ranked #49 on Opinionated About Dining's Casual Europe list in 2025 and #1 on Star Wine List in 2024, with 2,000 selections and a four-person sommelier team. Cuisine pricing sits at $$, booking is easy, counter seating is the way to access the list properly.

Gabriel Kreuther is a French restaurant on West 42nd Street in New York City.

Press Restaurant is a restaurant on St. Helena Highway in Napa Valley.

A Pearl Recommended, OAD-ranked contemporary French-American restaurant in Napa with a 2,500-selection wine list and structured tasting format. At the $$$$ tier, La Toque earns its price through a validated kitchen, serious sommelier program, one of Napa's deeper cellars. Book well in advance; availability is limited and demand is consistent.

The American Hotel is the wine-first choice in Sag Harbor: 2,750 selections, a 25,000-bottle inventory, serious depth across Bordeaux, Burgundy, California, Long Island. At $$$ for food and wine, it delivers a genuine cellar experience without big-city booking friction. Book here when wine is the anchor of the evening.

Restaurant 301 is the strongest dinner option in Eureka, with a 3,665-selection wine list and 29,000-bottle inventory anchored by California, Bordeaux, Burgundy. Food pricing sits at $$ with dinner service only, making it the practical choice for a special occasion meal. Booking is easy, corkage is $25 if you bring your own bottle.

Epicure is a restaurant at Le Bristol Paris on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.

Rekondo is the strongest case for traditional Basque asador cooking in San Sebastián if you prioritise wine depth over tasting-menu theatre. With a 98,500-bottle cellar ranked by Star Wine List and cuisine pricing well below the city's €€€€ tasting-menu tier, it delivers serious value; provided you plan around the August closure and the Mount Igueldo location.

Spruce is a Michelin Plate–recognised Californian restaurant in San Francisco's Presidio Heights, with 80% of its produce sourced from a private farm and one of the city's most serious wine lists (2,800 selections, 14,000 bottles). Book two to three weeks ahead for weekend dinners; weekday lunch offers the same kitchen at a more accessible price point. A strong choice for wine-focused diners who prefer à la carte over tasting menus.

Le Bernardin is a seafood restaurant in Midtown Manhattan.

Capo is a dinner-only Italian steakhouse on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica with one of LA's deepest wine lists: 2,725 selections, strong in Burgundy, Bordeaux, Italy. Ranked #317 on Opinionated About Dining's North America list in 2025 and Pearl Recommended, it earns its $$$-tier pricing for unhurried evenings with a serious bottle. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 6–9 pm only.

The Post Hotel Dining Room is Lake Louise's most complete fine-dining option, with Canadian regional cooking by Hans Sauter and a 3,400-selection wine cellar recognised by Star Wine List. Dinner runs at $66+ per head. Opinionated About Dining recommended it in 2023. Book it for a special occasion or a wine-focused dinner in the Rockies.

Book Ristorante Cracco if the wine program matters as much as the food. The 2026 Wine Spectator Grand Award, deep Italian and French cellar, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II setting, multi-level format make it a strong special-occasion choice in Milan. It is less compelling for diners seeking a low-ceremony, food-only value play.

Le Coureur des Bois is Beloeil's serious fine-dining anchor, pairing Canadian and French cuisine with one of Quebec's deeper wine lists: 5,310 selections, 17,550 bottles in inventory, strength across Burgundy, Bordeaux, Canada, Jura. At the $$$ price point with across 1,000-plus reviews, it's the most compelling case for a special-occasion dinner on the South Shore without crossing into $$$$ territory.

Commander's Palace is the reference point for serious Creole dining in New Orleans: seven James Beard Awards, a 2,800-selection wine list, kitchen sourcing that is genuinely place-specific. At the $$ cuisine price tier, it delivers more ambition per dollar than almost any comparable address in the city. Book well in advance; this is not a walk-in restaurant.

Sistina is the Upper East Side's most wine-serious Italian restaurant, with 5,000 selections and 125,000 bottles in inventory covering Tuscany, Piedmont, Bordeaux, Burgundy. Food pricing sits at $$ for lunch and dinner, making it a smart value relative to Midtown comparables. Book if you're near the Met or want a polished Italian dinner without a downtown commute.

Ai Fiori, on the second floor of the Langham Hotel on Fifth Avenue, is Midtown's most wine-serious Italian restaurant, holding the Star Wine List #1 ranking in 2025 and an Opinionated About Dining #235 North America position. At $$$$ pricing, it delivers formal service and a 1,750-selection wine list that justifies a return visit for anyone who treats the bottle as seriously as the plate.

Delmonico Steakhouse at The Venetian is the strongest choice for wine-focused diners in the Las Vegas steakhouse category. Emeril Lagasse's Creole-inflected American steakhouse ranked #545 on Opinionated About Dining's Casual North America list in 2025, backed by a 2,770-selection wine list and a dedicated sommelier team. Budget $$$ per head, book easily online, expect daily lunch and dinner service.

PM & Vänner is a restaurant on Västergatan in Växjö.