Restaurants & Bars
6 East Bay Restaurants Earn 2021 Wine Spectator Award
Despite unprecedented challenges due to the pandemic, 2,900 restaurants nationwide were recognized on this year's list. See: East Bay list.
EAST BAY, CA — Coronavirus has brought unique and unprecedented challenges to restaurants in the East Bay. Despite the hardships, several were still able to shine in the last year, earning a 2021 Restaurant Award from Wine Spectator magazine.
The annual Restaurant Awards honor excellence in restaurant wine lists, as well as those who have demonstrated passion and devoted extensive resources to creating outstanding wine programs. This year’s awards are featured in the Aug. 31 issue of Wine Spectator.
The list typically gives us a generous glimpse at the best spots in the East Bay. This year, six restaurants earned a nod from Wine Spectator.
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More than 2,900 restaurants in 50 states and 72 countries and territories earned awards this year. The awards are given across three categories: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence and Grand Award.
The Grand Award is Wine Spectator’s most prestigious honor, given to the world’s most elite wine programs. Read profiles of all 100 current Grand Award winners, including several from the Bay Area including the North Bay, San Francisco, the Peninsula, and the South Bay.
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Typically, recipients of the Grand Award offer at least 1,000 or more wine selections, showcasing “immense depth and breadth of regions, producers, vintages and bottle formats.” All Grand Award winners must also pass a rigorous inspection of their restaurants, including the wine cellars.
Three new restaurants won the Grand Award this year: Brennan's in New Orleans, Le Bernardin in New York and SingleThread Farms in Healdsburg, California.
Check out the East Bay restaurants that earned nods for excellence this year:
- Livermore: Posada Restaurant
- Livermore: Uncle Yu's at the Vineyard
- Oakland: A16 Rockridge
- Oakland: Commis
- Pleasanton: Sabio on Main
- Walnut Creek: Montecatini Ristorante
- Walnut Creek: Walnut Creek Yacht Club
See all winners of this year’s Wine Spectator awards.
Written by Megan VerHelst/Patch with additional reporting by Bea Karnes
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