Wine Spectator has announced the winners (Read Story) of their Restaurant Awards for 2020, which recognize outstanding wine programs. Though there’s been a major shutdown of the hospitality industry due to the coronavirus pandemic, their team was able to recognize nearly 3,800 restaurants – hailing from all 50 states and another 80 countries/territories. Readers can check out their full coverage of the restaurant industry in the latest issue (on newsstands July 14th).

The awards began it’s program to recognize the world’s best wine lists in 1981 with three levels: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Excellence and the Grand Award.

The Award of Excellence recognizes restaurants whose wine lists feature a well-chosen assortment of quality producers along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style.

Best of Award of Excellence recipients offer more extensive selections with significant vintage depth and excellent breadth across multiple regions.

The Grand Award is the program’s highest honor and comprises the world’s best wine programs, which deliver serious breadth of top producers, outstanding depth in mature vantages, a selection of large-format bottles, excellent harmony with the menu and superior presentation.

For the full list in the country, visit the updated Wine Spectator restaurant website (Visit Site). The list of area winners are as follows:

Bacari Grill – Washington Township – Website
Capital Grille – Paramus – Website
Esty Street – Park Ridge – Website
Felina – Ridgewood – Website
Fleming’s – Edgewater – Website
Ho-Ho-Kus Inn – Ho-Ho-Kus – Website
Il Villagio – Carlstadt – Website
Molos – Weehawken – Website
Morton’s – Hackensack – Website
The Oceanaire Seafood Room – Hackensack – Website
Oceano’s – Fair Lawn – Website
River Palm – Edgewater – Website
Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas – Clifton – Website
Ventanas – Fort Lee – Website