When it comes to wine—and where and how it’s served—wine enthusiasts often look to the ‘Wine Spectator’ as their ‘bible.’ The big, glossy magazine and its corresponding online platforms offes ratings and reviews of wines of every variety. And it regularly highlights restaurants and wine shops that have a particularly good selection of wines that its readers may enjoy.
Each year, Wine Spectator publishes a list of thousands of wine establishments around the World that merit its ‘Award of Excellence’, and a smaller number designated as ‘Best of Award of Excellence’.
Three Southwest Michigan wine purveyors have been honored on the Award of Excellence Listing: The Bistro On the Boulevard in downtown St. Joseph, and two wine venues at Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, Kankakee Grille and Copper Rock Steakhouse.
Award of Excellence establishments offer approximately 90 or more wine selections that “feature a well-chosen assortment of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style.”
Three additional restaurants in the larger West Michigan region were designated on the even more exclusive Best of Award of Excellence listing: Butch’s Dry Dock in Holland, Nibi at Firekeepers Casino in Battle Creek, and Noto’s Old World Italian Dining in Grand Rapids.
The Best of Award of Excellence designation recognizes wine purveyors that “display excellent breadth across multiple winegrowing regions and/or significant vertical depth of top producers, along with superior presentation,” according to the magazine. Restaurants awarded in this category typically offer 350 or more wine selections.
