It seems locals don't have to travel far for a good glass of wine.
Four Chattanooga-area restaurants were honored in Wine Spectator's "2018 Best Restaurant Awards" announced earlier this month. The New York City-based publication honored more than 3,700 dining destinations from all 50 states and more than 75 countries worldwide in the awards program this year, which started in 1981.
St. John's Restaurant at 1278 Market St. downtown won big out of the four restaurants in the area with the "Best of Award of Excellence," which means they offer more than 350 selections that showcase "excellent breadth across multiple wine-growing regions and/or significant vertical depth of top producers, along with superior presentation," the publication states.
Easy Bistro & Bar and Ruth's Chris Steak House in Chattanooga and Bald Headed Bistro in Cleveland all won "Award of Excellence" honors. These winners all offer at least 90 selections and a "well-chosen assortment of quality producers."
Michelle Richards, general manager and sommelier for St. John's, said the restaurant first won an "Award of Excellence" from Wine Spectator before elevating to the next highest honor this year. She said Josh Carter, the restaurant's owner, who is also a partner at Imbibe Chattanooga on Broad Street, has been building the "diverse" wine list for the past 17 years at the restaurant.
"One thing that is really important to us is to have wine in all price points," she said. "We want affordable wines that are delicious and ones that are really exciting and pushing the envelope."
For wine drinkers, Richards suggests the Albarino from Uruguay - a more unique wine region. Or try a Cabernet Franc from Damiani Wine Cellars - a full-bodied wine from the Finger Lakes in New York that is great for summer drinking, she said. Both have a price point in the $35-$45 range.
Easy Bistro & Bar prides itself on being one of the only restaurants in the Southeast with a wine list curated by the owner and head chef, Erik Niel.
Amanda Niel, his wife and co-owner of the restaurant, said they also carry many esoteric brands. This is the third year the restaurant has been honored with the Award of Excellence.
"You're talking about wine that maybe only 300 cases have been produced, not 13,000," she said. "We also try to make it very affordable."
The restaurant, which prints a menu each day and usually adds two to five new items, is featuring rosé wine right now to go with the blackberries and tomatoes that are in abundance during the summer season, Niel said. She recommended the Young Inglewood wine out of California or "Relentless" from Shafer Vineyards. Easy Bistro also has wine on draft.
No Chattanooga-area restaurants won the highest award given by Wine Spectator, the "Grand Award," which usually honors wine lists that feature 1,000 or more selections. The publication's website states these restaurants "deliver serious breadth of top producers, outstanding depth in mature vintages, a selection of large-format bottles, excellent harmony with the menu and superior presentation." Only 91 restaurants earned this award worldwide, including Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tenn.
Contact staff writer Allison Shirk at ashirk@timesfreepress.com, @Allison_Shirk or 423-757-6651.