Best Designed Wine List

Best Designed Wine List

Best Designed Wine List

Criteria

The Best Designed Wine List category is to promote those restaurants that put dedicated thought, time and effort into the design and format of their wine list. All Judges assess and return their ratings for the list design; however we are fortunate to have expert insight from colleague Alder Yarrow, who has a background as a high-level professional designer. Judges will consider the criteria and everything from the creative design (font, font size, and layout), to the organizing principles, whether those be color, country, region, style, price, or some other consideration.

Criteria

The Best Designed Wine List category is to promote those restaurants that put dedicated thought, time and effort into the design and format of their wine list. All Judges assess and return their ratings for the list design; however we are fortunate to have expert insight from colleague Alder Yarrow, who has a background as a high-level professional designer. Judges will consider the criteria and everything from the creative design (font, font size, and layout), to the organizing principles, whether those be color, country, region, style, price, or some other consideration.

WINNERS

Bu'ul at Chablé Maroma

South & Central America and the Caribbean | Regional Winner

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Chable Maroma celebra la cocina Mexicana en el Restaurante Bu ´ul, frescura, creatividad y personalidad convergen en el plato de Bu ´ul, con una cocina contemporánea e influenciada por las tradiciones culinarias del centro y sur de México, complementada por una espectacular carta de vinos, Bu ´ul, es la palabra Maya frijol, el uso de maíz, frijol y hierbas, cultivadas en el jardín inspirar ala influencia del chef Corporativo Jorge Vallejo en el menú de bu ´ul. El chef Ejecutivo Residente Luis Quiroz añade su interpretación única a la experiencia del Restaurante. la comida a la vez es sustento y placer, los ingredientes locales y las recetas tradicionales se combinan con la innovación y la creatividad de la mano del chef Luis Quiroz y su talentoso equipo de cocina. las que dan como resultado experiencias gastronómicas emocionantes para los huéspedes, incluso el entorno sublime, en asientos en el interior en un ambiente espacioso y acogedor con materiales locales artísticamente representados y asientos al aire libre acompañados del sonido de las olas, el servicio de vinos es el más aplaudido.

Website

Frog by Adam Handling

Europe | Regional Winner

London, United Kingdom

Frog by Adam Handling opened in September 2017 as the flagship restaurant for Chef/Owner Adam Handling MBE. Located in Covent Garden, the tasting menu at Michelin-starred Frog showcases the best of what Britain has to offer, from all parts of the country. The team works closely with farmers, fishermen and growers, and goes out foraging themselves too, to get the best seasonal produce. The restaurant has won many prestigious awards, including ‘Best Newcomer Restaurant’ in the 2018 Food & Travel Awards, ‘Best Overall Wine List’ at the 2019 Wine List Confidential awards and is currently at number 9 in the National Restaurant Awards list. In February 2022, the restaurant was awarded its first Michelin star, which it continues to retain.

An extensive wine list has been carefully selected to complement the restaurant’s innovative dishes, offering an eclectic selection from every corner of the winemaking world. The restaurant prides itself on providing exceptional quality wines at all price points for wine lovers to discover flavours from all over the globe. It’s important to the team that the wine list is not just focused on gross profit, but is fairly priced, to accessibly showcase an incredibly diverse list of quality wines, many of which are limited or exclusive to the restaurant. Tracking them down and building trusted relationships with wine producers and suppliers has been crucial in being able to successfully implement this ethos.

The quality of the offering is paramount, not just in bottles themselves, but also in the wine pairing, which guides guests through wines they may have never tasted before. The variety of the offering is extensive – from sake and sparkling wines to esoteric and classical styles and fine, rare vintages – ensuring guests have access to a broad range of high-quality wine that offers a tasting adventure.

Website

Sabi Sabi

Middle East & Africa | Regional Winner

Johannesburg, South Africa

For more than 40 years, Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve has been a custodian of the wilderness, offering a luxurious haven in the heart of the bush at its 5-star lodges. Seamlessly integrated with the vast Kruger National Park, Sabi Sabi is unwavering in its commitment to both the local community’s well-being and the protection of the diverse flora and fauna within the reserve.

Taking pride in featuring undiscovered and much-loved boutique South African wines, Sabi Sabi enjoys seeing the reactions of guests as they find a new favourite which they will always associate with their stay. More than 6,000 bottles of the finest South African wine is found in the cellar at Earth Lodge, with the Sabi Sabi team having personally sought out and selected the very best from family owned or boutique wineries, as well as independent wine-makers located in some of the country’s lesser known wine regions.

Great thought, care and expertise came into play when designing the Lodges’ wine lists which feature local and international wines. The selection, which varies from lodge to lodge, takes into account the bushveld setting, menu and climate and has input from the lodge managers.

In 2010, Sabi Sabi appointed the Stellenrust winery as the estate of choice for its house wine. Situated in the well-known Stellenbosch area of South Africa. Guests can sample Sabi Sabi’s own label wines, produced by Stellenrust. Choose from a Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon, matured in the cellar of Earth Lodge in oak barrels and bottled in early 2017.

Website

SingleThread Farms

North America | Regional Winner

California, USA

In the heart of downtown Healdsburg, one of the country’s most accomplished Chefs Kyle Connaughton, along with Head Farmer Katina Connaughton, bring you SingleThread; a 3 Michelin-Star Restaurant with five luxurious guest rooms.

SingleThread’s focus is to provide its guests with an unparalleled hospitality experience in the center of Sonoma Wine Country.

Website

March

Global Winner

Texas, USA

MARCH is a fine dining restaurant with a ticketed tasting menu that explores the evolution of the Mediterranean through its food, history, and cultures. The culmination of Goodnight Hospitality’s contributions to food and drink in Houston, MARCH was built to examine the regions in the Mediterranean where boundaries meet and intersect, creating tension, richness and diversity through food.

The word ‘March’ signifies a territory in the boundary lands; an area of land on the border between two territories; a frontier between realms. They see the Mediterranean as a collection of marches that have endless layers of cultures, languages, ideas, and skills.

Chef/Partner Felipe Riccio and the team at MARCH have been researching the exchange of ingredients and food items throughout the Mediterranean for years. Chef Felipe, in particular, has been exploring his roots and the flavors he grew up with as a Mexican native with an Italian father and Spanish mother.

The MARCH sommelier team, led by master sommelier and partner June Rodil, beverage director Mark Sayre, and wine director Gillie Malone, curates MARCH’s 11,000-bottle cellar. The awarding-winning sommelier team is deeply rooted in hospitality and their love of food and also act as Captains to the dinner experience – seamlessly maneuvering an elevated wine experience while entrenched in warm and engaging service.

As Chef Felipe’s food menu is a deep dive into the history of a region, the wine list at MARCH goes deep into the history of producers the team loves, specifically focusing on the breadth of single producers’ programs. Strong connections with the people and producers behind the wines are paramount for the MARCH list, which specifically highlights the connection between the team and the winemakers.

Website

Email: reservations@marchrestaurant.com

Telephone: 832-380-2481

29

Europe | Regional Winner

Istanbul, Turkey

Panoramic dining experience, offering fine dining style with a magnificent and unique view of Bosporus. 29 is one of the oldest restaurants in Istanbul. Ranked among the best restaurants in the world with its restaurant and nightclub concept from day to night, 29 is the most iconic address of the city with its sophisticated and innovative high-level service quality.

Since 1983, 29 has been a central focus of Istanbul’s nightlife in Bebek, serving far more European meals and sharing international chefs’ delicacies with the city’s residents. In the years that followed, 29 consistently updated its concept and added fresh attractions to its setup, continuing to provide spectacular evenings to nightlife regulars.

Website

Email: info@29.com.tr

Telephone: 90 212 358 29 29

Cyann Restaurant, Constance Ephelia

Middle East & Africa | Regional Winner

Mahé, Seychelles

Constance Ephélia Seychelles is a luxurious resort located on the northwest coast of Mahé, the largest island in the Seychelles archipelago. The resort offers a wide range of activities and amenities to ensure that guests have an unforgettable experience.

The resort has five restaurants, each offering a unique culinary experience. Guests can enjoy international cuisine at the Corossol main restaurant, Mediterranean and seafood at Helios, Creole-inspired dishes at Seselwa, Asian-inspired cuisine at Cyann, and grilled specialties at Adam & Eve.

In addition to the restaurants, Constance Ephélia Seychelles also has four bars, each offering a different atmosphere and selection of drinks. Guests can enjoy cocktails at the Helios bar, poolside drinks at the Kabana bar, refreshing beverages at the Seselwa bar, and fine wines at the Cyann bar.

The resort also boasts an extensive wine cellar with a wide selection of international wines. Guests can enjoy wine tasting sessions led by the resort’s sommelier, or choose from the cellar’s extensive wine list to accompany their meals.

For those looking for a unique dining experience, Constance Ephélia Seychelles also offers private dining options. Guests can choose from a range of locations, including on the beach, in their villa, or in a secluded spot in the resort’s gardens.

Overall, Constance Ephélia Seychelles offers a wide variety of dining options and experiences, ensuring that guests have the opportunity to indulge in delicious cuisine and fine wines throughout their stay.

Website

Telephone: (248) 4395 000

Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant

South & Central America and the Caribbean | Regional Winner

Nassau, Bahamas

Graycliff Restaurant is the first five-star restaurant in the Bahamas and Caribbean.

The restaurant’s cuisine epitomizes elegance in the finest continental and Bahamian tradition with a menu that is both tasteful and distinctive. The secret recipes at Graycliff have set its reputation in the hallmark of the rich and famous. Creative culinary innovation has resulted in a variety of sumptuous dishes that is distinctly its own.

Bahamian dishes have been creatively transformed into sophistication and refinement with the end result being an international reputation for Bahamian cuisine.

Wines, Cognacs, Armagnacs and Ports – Graycliff’s Wine Cellar with an inventory of over 270,000 bottles from over 500 vintners in 21 countries is world renowned.

Website

Email: info@Graycliff.com

Telephone: +1 242-302-9150

Kuda Villingili

Asia | Regional Winner

Malé, Maldives

Kuda Villingili in North Malé Atoll, Maldives offers unmatched diversity, subtle luxury and personalised exploration located just a 30-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport in Malé.

The beautiful offering of 75 one-to-four-bedroom villas is home to elegant beach retreats with private pools, through to captivating water villas.

New for the 2022/23 winter sun season, 28 water villas have seen the addition of private pools overlooking the ocean. New beach residences with private pools launch, including a three-bedroom beach retreat – The Suite – with an oversized swimming pool directly facing the shimmering lagoon. The interiors of each residence capture the relaxed and elegant spirit of the Maldives with Asian eclectic style complemented by traditional Maldivian arts and fabrics.

Whether for an intimate escape or an indulgent family retreat, Kuda Villingili provides impeccable choice and seamless service for a destination perfectly fitting for multigenerational families where every detail has been meticulously crafted to inspire journeys of discovery and enjoyment.

Website

Email: reservations@kudavillingili.com

Telephone: (+960) 4001700

Society

Australasia | Regional Winner

Melbourne, Australia

Society is a dream realised. Seductive and nurturing in equal parts, restaurateur Chris Lucas’s vision to bring a sophisticated and global dining experience to Melbourne has manifested into a space of great beauty, comfort and breathtaking detail.

The service, articulate and intuitive, anticipates the guests’ needs. The unadulterated joy of the staff’s commitment to hospitality shines through from the swift placement of the linen napkin, the silver-served slices of sourdough bread to the just-shucked oysters, the hand-made lobster tortellini and a perfectly cooked fillet of Jack’s Creek tenderloin with fermented sugarloaf and black garlic.

The art of wine service at Society is a moving masterpiece. The cellar, of over 10000 bottles, including a collection of Château d’Yquem with vintages not seen anywhere else in the country, is carefully curated by a hand-picked team of wine professionals.

It includes an ever-changing wines-by-the-glass list with a Coravin selection that may offer the Fontaine Gagnard Criots-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2017 or Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz 1997 in 75ml or 150ml glasses.

The globally trained wine team is constantly tasting, trying and talking to the global wine community to tap into the best of the best.

With precision insisted upon, a refined approach and international scope of Society, you could be anywhere in the world, but this is an innately Melbourne venue; refreshing, intelligent and constantly evolving.

This is indeed a vision realised. This is Society.

Website

Email: bookings@societyrestaurant.com

Telephone: 03 8618 8900