Seven Utah restaurants earned top honors last month, when Wine Spectator magazine released its 2019 Restaurant Wine List Awards.
Veneto Ristorante Italiano in Salt Lake City and Tupelo in Park City moved up in the rankings to earn the Best of Award for the first time. Repeat winners include the Aerie at Snowbird, Spencer’s for Steaks and Chops in Salt Lake City; and Bangkok Thai on Main, Glitretind and J&G Grill in Park City.
The mid-tier award is given to restaurants that offer 350 or more quality selections with vintage depth or superior breadth in one or more major wine regions. In all, 1,244 restaurants across the globe received this designation.
(Tribune file photo) Veneto Restaurant
Another 14 Utah restaurants received the magazine’s entry-level Award of Excellence. It recognizes restaurants that offer at least 90 selections and include an interesting and diverse selection of wines that match the restaurant’s cuisine in price and style. There were 2,447 winners selected in this category.
No Utah restaurant has attained Wine Spectator’s top accolade, the Grand Award — but, then again, only 100 restaurants in the world have that.
Here’s snapshot of Utah’s seven best restaurants for wine in Utah — and 14 other medal winners.
Veneto Ristorante Italiano • This 3-year-old restaurant — which separates itself from other fine-dining restaurants with its no-tipping policy — has about 385 wine selections. Strengths include wines from Tuscany and Piedmont. 370 E. 900 South, Salt Lake City; (801) 359-0708 or www.venetoslc.com.
Tupelo • This farm-to-table restaurant, which also opened in 2016, increased its selections to 375 from 2018. Strengths include wines from California, Italy and France. 508 Main St., Park City; 435-615-7700 or tupeloparkcity.com.
(Tribune file photo) The main floor dining room at Tupelo Restaurant in Park City.
Bangkok Thai on Main • This Park City restaurant has maintained its “best of” status for more than a decade, having first earned it in 2007. It has more than 650 wines in the collection, many that keep the savory and spicy flavors of Thai cuisine in mind. Strengths: wines from California, Bordeaux and Italy. 605 Main (inside Park Hotel), Park City, 435-649-8424 or bangkokthaionmain.com.
Aerie at Snowbird • Located in the Cliff Lodge, this restaurant offers a spectacular view of the mountains and one of the largest wine lists in the state with more than 1,200 offerings. Strengths: wines from California, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhône, Italy, Argentina and Oregon. 9600 Little Cottonwood Canyon Road, Salt Lake City; 801-933-2160 or snowbird.com.
Glitretind at Stein Eriksen Lodge • The signature restaurant, inside a Norwegian-inspired lodge, has 1,500 wine selections and has an expert staff willing to help customers navigate the options. Strengths: wines from California, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhône, Italy, Oregon and Champagne. 7700 Stein Way, Park City; 435-645-6455 or steinlodge.com.
J&G Grill • The signature restaurant at the St. Regis Deer Valley has 900 wine selections on its list ranging from the industry icons to small producers using new wine-making techniques. Strengths: wines from California, Bordeaux, Burgundy and Italy. 2300 Deer Valley Drive East, Park City; (435) 940-5760 or jggrilldeercrest.com.
Spencer’s for Steaks & Chops • This Salt Lake City steakhouse has nearly 450 wines in the collection. It also does a lot of special ordering of wines that aren’t usually available in Utah’s state-run liquor stores Strengths: wines from California, France and Italy. 255 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City; 801-238-4748 or spencersforsteaksandchops.com.
Award of Excellence • First-time winners include Cucina Toscana in Salt Lake City and Riverhorse on Main in Park City. La Caille at Quail Run also returned to the list in 2019, after a short absence.
Repeat winners include BTG Wine Bar, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Log Haven and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, all in Salt Lake City; the Steak Pit in Snowbird; 350 Main, Cena Ristorante and Edge Steakhouse in Park City; and Fireside Dining, The Mariposa and Seafood Buffet at Deer Valley Resort.
