Wine Spectator's top cellars award list includes 103 Colorado restaurants

Wine Spectator's top cellars award list includes 103 Colorado restaurants

By Laura Shunk Fri., Jul. 29 2011 at 4:53 PM

It's that time of year again. Wine Spectator has just unveiled its annual list of restaurants with admirable cellars, bestowing the eateries with tiered awards of excellence -- and giving anyone who chooses a restaurant for its wine list a handy place to start.

Of the 3,700 places worldwide that scored accolades this year, 103 are in Colorado -- including two Grand Awards of Excellence, which is the highest honor the publication bestows, reserved for restaurants that have at least 1,500 excellent selections on hand at any given time.

In 2011, one of those coveted designations went to Boulder's Flagstaff House, which, with its 20,000-bottle cellar, has landed the award every year since 1983. The other Colorado Grand Award resides with Montagna at the Little Nell in Aspen, which has picked up the prize every year since 1997. Those two restaurants join just 72 other restaurants on the planet -- including New York's Eleven Madison Park and San Francisco's RN74 -- that boast the top honor.

Twenty-five spots took the Best Award of Excellence, the second highest designation, which is given for lists with breadth and depth in several vintages and regions. Denver and Boulder spots that nabbed the honor include the Greenbriar Inn, the Capital Grille, Shanahan's Steakhouse, Restaurant Kevin Taylor, Palace Arms, Frasca Food and Wine, Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse, Brook's Steak House and Barolo Grill.

And that leaves 76 Colorado restaurants that picked up an Award of Excellence, which designates a thoughtful, excellent wine list that matches the price and cuisine of the restaurant. Those winners include Ocean Prime, Rioja, Black Cat Restaurant, Vesta Dipping Grill and Elway's Downtown.

Cheers.

Follow @CafeWestword on Twitter and at facebook.com/denvercafesociety

Tags:

Flagstaff House, Grand Award, Montagna, Wine Spectator

We Recommend

Biroldo

What does it take to get an "Award of Excellence" from Wine Spectator? $250, an imaginary restaurant and a "high-priced reserve wine list largely chosen from among some of the lowest-scoring Italian wines in Wine Spectator over the past few decades." The top cellar list is a money grab by Wine Spectator. With 3,700 restaurants chosen at $250 each for the application fee, that is over 925,000 in cash for the magazine. Read all about it here:http://blindtaste.com/2008/08/...

Barrfly2

Let's not forget WS charges a hefty fee to be a part of their "list" much like the "have your best interest at heart" Tom Martini and BBB sites do. I think they charge an application fee. Pretty convenient. Hey, at least Westword is doing that yet to be part of the "best of"!Either way it is nice to see Colorado having some good wine list with focus even though most Denver restaurants care more about the free tixs and perks more than the actual juice they are selling their customers.

Abe Froman

^^ you sound wildly ignorant."Free tixs" and "perks" have mostly disappeared, and the companies you are referring to that offer said advantages provide excellent wine portfolios. I for one would also assert that there are a great deal of reputable wine lists both in Denver and throughout the state, and given the recognition Colorado has received as a legitimate culinary landscape, saying its "nice to see" simply implies a certain lack of respect and lack of knowledge about the industry as a whole. You are flat out wrong if you genuinely feel as though "most Denver restaurants" throw all caution to the wind when tasting and selecting bottles. If you are what your name is, then I somewhat understand: bars don't tend to be an appropriate venue for proper wine lists, but regardless of this, I have been to many bars that offer attractive wine selections. Its all relative, and a vast majority of restaurants that would be expected and obliged to provide an intelligent wine list do just that.

And by the by, calling it "juice" is kind of a douchey industry cliche in my humble opinion..."Vino" isn't much better either. Just sayin...

Barrfly2

And which big wine distributor do you work for? Or restaurant taking kick backs?It's corrupt! Not saying all are by any means but most are. Hate to burst your bubble. The name is from an old Micky rourke and Fay Dunaway movie; if I spelled their names right. But, I could be ignorant and douchy I guess..... So you got that part right. Anybody else know of an application fee of 5k for wine spectator? That was the original comment. Anyone?

Barrfly2

Oh yeah, I sold some of those restaurants wine AND I can assure you it wasn't about the "juice" as much as it was kickbacks unfortunately. Although plenty of them did run a good program! The small independents are generally the only "clean" lists and some of those guys are kicking ass with their "juice" list.

Just sayin