Detroit Home To 11 Restaurants With Best Wine Lists In The World
DETROIT (WWJ) - Wine Spectator magazine has uncorked its 2014 Restaurant Awards, and Detroit is blushing with pride.
Gillian Sciaretta, the magazine's Restaurant Awards Manager and Associate Tasting Coordinator, said the Motor City is home to 11 locales honored for their exquisite wine lists. She said the award-winning restaurants have a range of good-tasting wine flavors from around the world -- and a menu to match.
"They have a great variety of selections, they're well presented with accurate information and they meet the cuisine, all the selections pair well with the cuisine of the restaurant," Sciaretta told WWJ's Scott Ryan.
While no Michigan vineyards got a mention in the awards, Sciaretta said a new trend is emerging that could change things.
"A lot of restaurants in cities, in the U.S. in particular, there is a movement toward finding those quirky, artisanal, off the beaten path sort-of places," she said.
Europe is traditionally known for its vineyards, but California has closed the gap, putting domestics on the map in a big way.
"It's a little bit more, I would say, straight forward," Sciaretta said. "You know what type of grape variety you're going to be drinking, you know its from the United States, whereas if its from France, you kind of have to deal with a whole lot of French words that may or may not be familiar to you."
Here are Detroit restaurants that won awards:
Coach Insignia
Renaissance Center, 72nd Floor
- Wine Strengths: California, Germany, France, Italy
- Wine Pricing: Moderate
- Cuisine: Steak house
- Entrées: $20 to $65
- Prix Fixe: available
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Wolfgang Puck Steak
MGM Grand Detroit, 1777 Third St.
- Wine Strengths: Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, California, Spain
- Wine Pricing: Expensive
- Cuisine: Steak house
- Entrées: $30 to $55
.
Andiamo Riverfront
Renaissance Center, Wintergarden
- Wine Strengths: California
- Wine Pricing: Moderate
- Cuisine: Italian
- Entrées: $16 to $45
.
Brizola
Greektown Casino Hotel, 555 E. Lafayette Ave.
- Wine Strengths: California
- Wine Pricing: Moderate
- Cuisine: American
- Entrées: $28 to $88
- Prix Fixe: available
.
Fountain Bistro
800 Woodward Ave.
- Wine Strengths: International, France, Italy
- Wine Pricing: Inexpensive
- Cuisine: French/Mediterranean
- Entrées: $19 to $30
- Corkage Fee: $30
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Giovanni's Ristorante
330 S. Oakwood Blvd.
- Wine Strengths: Italy
- Wine Pricing: Moderate
- Cuisine: Italian
- Entrées: $19 to $40
- Prix Fixe: available
.
Iridescence
MotorCity Casino, 2901 Grand River Ave.
- Wine Strengths: California
- Wine Pricing: Inexpensive
- Cuisine: Regional/American
- Entrées: $26 to $85
- Prix Fixe: available
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Joe Muer Seafood
Renaissance Center, Level 1 Tower 400
- Wine Strengths: California
- Wine Pricing: Moderate
- Cuisine: Seafood/steak house
- Entrées: $28 to $50
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Mario's Italian Restaurant
4222 Second Ave.
- Wine Strengths: Italy, California
- Wine Pricing: Moderate
- Cuisine: Italian
- Entrées: $30 to $60
- Prix Fixe: available
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The Rattlesnake Club
300 River Place
- Wine Strengths: California, France
- Wine Pricing: Expensive
- Cuisine: New American
- Entrées: $25 to $50
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Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria & Cucina
MGM Grand Detroit, 1777 Third St.
- Wine Strengths: California, Italy
- Wine Pricing: Moderate
- Cuisine: Italian
- Entrées: $18 to $35