3 Stamford Restaurants Honored With Wine Spectator Awards

STAMFORD, CT — Three Stamford 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, including two California restaurants, Grasing’s in Carmel-by-the-Sea and Lazy Bear in San Francisco.

Barcelona Wine Bar, located at 222 Summer St., received the "Best of Award of Excellence."

Terra Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse won the Award of Excellence, as did The Capital Grille. Both restaurants are at 230 Tresser Blvd.

According to Wine Spectator, the wine lists at restaurants with the Best of Award of Excellence "display excellent breadth across multiple winegrowing regions and/or significant vertical depth of top producers, along with superior presentation." They are "destinations for serious wine lovers, showing a deep commitment to wine, both in the cellar and through their service team," Wine Spectator added.

Wine lists at restaurants with the Award of Excellence "feature a well-chosen assortment of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style. Whether compact or extensive, focused or diverse, these lists deliver sufficient choice to satisfy discerning wine lovers."

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. The 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.