{"id":8019,"date":"2017-07-14T20:52:59","date_gmt":"2017-07-15T03:52:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=8019"},"modified":"2017-07-14T15:55:27","modified_gmt":"2017-07-14T22:55:27","slug":"cocktail-corner-local-restaurants-earn-wine-spectators-top-honors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=8019","title":{"rendered":"Cocktail Corner: Local Restaurants Earn Wine Spectator\u2019s Top Honors"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The

The Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch, courtesy photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! \u00a0By\u00a0Leslie Dinaberg<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

As if there were any doubt that Santa Barbara County is<\/em> Wine Country, Wine Spectator<\/em> <\/a>recently honored 20 local restaurants with their highest honors for excellence.<\/p>\n

“Wine Spectator<\/i>‘s Restaurant Awards recognize restaurants whose wine lists offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers,” according to the guidelines.<\/p>\n

The Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch<\/a> earned The Grand Award<\/a>, which is\u00a0Wine Spectator<\/i>‘s highest honor, given to only 89 restaurants around the world. According to\u00a0Wine Spectator, <\/i>this honor is “given to restaurants that show an uncompromising, passionate devotion to the quality of their wine programs. These wine lists typically feature 1,000 or more selections, and deliver serious breadth of top producers, outstanding depth in mature vintages, a selection of large-format bottles, excellent harmony with the menu, and superior presentation. These restaurants offer the highest level of wine service.”<\/p>\n

Angel Oak at the Bacara Resort & Spa<\/a>, Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe<\/a>,\u00a0Opal Restaurant & Bar<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Wine Cask <\/a>all earned The\u00a0Best of Award of Excellence. “These wine lists display excellent breadth across multiple winegrowing regions and\/or significant vertical depth of top producers, along with superior presentation. Typically offering 350 or more selections, these restaurants are destinations for serious wine lovers, showing a deep commitment to wine, both in the cellar and through their service team,”\u00a0according to\u00a0Wine Spectator.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

“We are thrilled for the honor in our first year of opening,” says Anne Elcon,\u00a0<\/span>Director of Marketing & Communications\u00a0at\u00a0Bacara Resort & Spa<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Angel Oak Wine Cellar, LaFemme Photography, courtesy photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

Also receiving The\u00a0Award of Excellence, for “wine lists, which typically offer at least 90 selections, feature a well-chosen assortment of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style,” were several other local restaurants:\u00a0Barbare\u00f1o<\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>Bella Vista at Four Seasons\u00a0Resort The\u00a0Biltmore Santa Barbara<\/a>, Bouchon Santa Barbara<\/a>, Chuck’s Steak House Of Hawaii<\/a>, Les Marchands Wine Bar & Merchant<\/a>, Olio Pizzeria<\/a>, Olio e Limone Ristorante,<\/a> S.Y. Kitchen<\/a>, Sly’s<\/a>, The Harbor Restaurant<\/a>, The Hitching Post II<\/a>, The Lark<\/a>, Tre Lune<\/a> and Willows at Chumash Casino Resort<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cheers!\u00a0Click\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0for more Cocktail Corner columns.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Leslie Dinaberg<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

When she\u2019s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes<\/i>\u00a0magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a \u201cgoal-oriented drinker.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b>Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons<\/em><\/a> on July 14, 2017.<\/span><\/p>\n

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