365 California Restaurants Honored With Wine Spectator Awards

CALIFORNIA — Two California restaurants were awarded Wine Spectator’s Grand Award, an ultra-prestigious designation that was awarded to only four total restaurants in the world. Grand Award winners have 1,000 or more selections, presenting diners with a depth of vintages from some of the world’s most acclaimed winemakers.

Grasing’s, which serves steak and California coastal cuisine in Carmel-by-the-Sea, boasts a wine list that is “among the most compelling in the world,” according to a profile from Wine Spectator. Lazy Bear, which serves local and seasonal food in San Francisco’s Mission District, features four large wooden tables, an open kitchen, and is modeled after a “retro summer camp” - one that serves more than 2,300 bottles of the world’s best wine, that is.

This being California, a total of 365 restaurants have been recognized for their wine programs, joining 3,700 establishments worldwide as winners in Wine Spectator’s 2024 Restaurant Awards.

Award winners are from all 50 states and more than 75 countries and territories. Awards are given across three categories: Award of Excellence, presented to about 2,150 restaurants; the Best of Award of Excellence, presented to about 1,531 restaurants; and the Grand Award, presented to only four restaurants in the world. The only two American restaurants to win the Grand Award are located in California.

Wine Spectator said the Award of Excellence winners generally have a wine list of at least 100 vintages, while the Best of Award of Excellence winners generally have at least 350 selections.

See here for a list of all winning 365 California locations.