1. Cities & Towns
About.com
Orlando

Discuss in my forum

Best Wine Lists for Orlando Area Restaurants

Where to Find the Top Wine Lists

By , About.com Guide

See More About:
Each year, Wine Spectator, the premier magazine focusing on wine, comes out with a listing of they consider the most wine-friendly restaurants around the world. This list does not focus on the food, but rather the wine lists at the individual restaurants. Each year, three levels of awards are given to restaurants that submit an application and meet the magazine's criteria.

  • An Award of Excellence recognizes a list that offers "a well-chosen selection of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style."
  • The Best of Award of Excellence honors a list that displays "either vintage depth, with vertical offerings of several top producers from major regions, or excellent breadth spread over several winegrowing regions."
  • The Grand Award, honor lists that "typically offer 1,500 selections or more, and feature serious breadth of top producers, outstanding depth in mature vintages, a selection of large-format bottles, excellent harmony with the menu and superior organization, presentation and wine service."
For 2008, in the Orlando area, there were no restaurants meeting Wine Spectator's Grand Award, four given the Best of Award of Excellence and 38 receiving the Award of Excellence. The following are listed in alphabetical order.

Best of Award of Excellence

  • Emeril's Orlando
    Wine Strengths: California, France, Australia
    Wine Pricing: Moderate
    Cuisine: Contemporary regional
    Entrées: $20 to $38
    Meals: Lunch and Dinner
    Corkage Fee: $20
    Universal's CityWalk, Orlando

  • The Capital Grille
    Wine Strengths: California, France
    Wine Pricing: Moderate
    Cuisine: Steak house
    Entrées: $28 to $42
    Meals: Lunch and Dinner
    International Drive, Orlando
    More: Top Orlando Steak Houses

  • Victoria & Albert's
    Wine Strengths: California, France, Italy
    Wine Pricing: Expensive
    Cuisine: American
    Meals: Dinner
    Corkage Fee: $20
    Entrées: $125 to $175
    Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Lake Buena Vista
    More: Top Places to Dine at Disney

  • Vito's Chop House
    Wine Strengths: California, Italy, France
    Wine Pricing: Moderate
    Cuisine: Steak house
    Entrées: $13 to $37
    Meals: Dinner
    Corkage Fee: $10
    International Drive, Orlando
    More: Top Orlando Steak Houses

Next Page: Award of Excellence; Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Lake Mary

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved.

A part of The New York Times Company.