Wine Spectator's Awards

For an area that is know for its great craft beers and fantastic bourbon, it is enlightening to see that Kentucky is an area known for restaurants that feature interesting wine lists. In the August issue of "Wine Spectator" it rewards outstanding restaurants for their passion on wine and cuisine. It is encouraging to see so many local venues mentioned.

BEST OF AWARD OF EXCELLANCE

Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse- Louisville
The Oakroom- Louisville


AWARD OF EXCELLANCE

Louisville
Asiatique
August Moon Chinese Bistro
Blu Italian Grille
Corbett's
The English Grill
Equus
L & N Wine Bar & Bistro
Lilly's
Limestone Restaurant
Morton's The Steakhouse
Proof on Main
Ruth's Chris Steak House
Winston's Restaurant
Z's Fusion
Z's Oyster Bar & Steakhouse

Lexington
Dudley's Restaurant
Malone's
The Melting Pot
Portofino
Sal's Chophouse
Summit

Midway
Holly Hill Inn

Covington
Bouquet Restaurant & Wine Bar

Frankfort
Serafini

So the next time you want to pair an interesting wine with your dining choice, this gives you some unique possibilities.

[Robin Garr]

With all respect, Wine Spectator awards are fairly bogus: They go to any restaurant that applies and pays their fee. It does tend to signal a restaurant that considers its wine list important, but as far as ranking restaurants goes, it's no more valid, than, say, the LEO or Louisville Mag annual awards.

For an area that is know for its great craft beers and fantastic bourbon, it is enlightening to see that Kentucky is an area known for restaurants that feature interesting wine lists. In the August issue of "Wine Spectator" it rewards outstanding restaurants for their passion on wine and cuisine. It is encouraging to see so many local venues mentioned.

With all respect, Wine Spectator awards are fairly bogus: They go to any restaurant that applies and pays their fee. It does tend to signal a restaurant that considers its wine list important, but as far as ranking restaurants goes, it's no more valid, than, say, the LEO or Louisville Mag annual awards.

For an area that is know for its great craft beers and fantastic bourbon, it is enlightening to see that Kentucky is an area known for restaurants that feature interesting wine lists. In the August issue of "Wine Spectator" it rewards outstanding restaurants for their passion on wine and cuisine. It is encouraging to see so many local venues mentioned.

I'd rate that response about 92.

Instead of trying to belittle an award, I'm just glad that some of our great local restaurants are getting some national press and recognition for potential visitors and customers that would be looking for great establishments. And regarding Robin's "bogus award" input, I forwarded his comment to Marvin Shanken and Thomas Matthews the editor and publisher of "Wine Spectator" for verification. I'm interested in their comments.

For one thing, it's spelled excellence. Any list such as this which doesn't include Seviche or Varanese is bogus IMO.

For one thing, it's spelled excellence. Any list such as this which doesn't include Seviche or Varanese is bogus IMO.

My bad. Spelling is not one of my virtues. Thanks for the correction.

[Robin Garr]

Nice, David. It'll be interesting to see how those guys defend their awards system.

For the magazine's own info page on entering for awards, see this Wine Spectator link:
http://www.winespectator.com/awards/0,2839,RAP,00.html

Here's a story about an event that really uncovered the system: A blogger filed a wine list entry for a fictitious restaurant, and it won an award:
http://www.drvino.com/2008/08/19/fictit ... xcellence/

Finally, here's an article I wrote a number of years ago comparing my ratings of the wine list at local places that won Wine Spectator awards in 2002:
http://www.louisvillehotbytes.com/spectator.shtml

Plenty there to chew on, but it still comes back to this: Wine Spectator awards are basically self-selecting; restaurants nominate themselves and pay a fee, and to the best of my knowledge, every entry wins an award. I'll leave it up to the individual to evaluate how meaningful the consumer should consider these awards ...

Instead of trying to belittle an award, I'm just glad that some of our great local restaurants are getting some national press and recognition for potential visitors and customers that would be looking for great establishments. And regarding Robin's "bogus award" input, I forwarded his comment to Marvin Shanken and Thomas Matthews the editor and publisher of "Wine Spectator" for verification. I'm interested in their comments.

Just read all the articles you suggested Robin,and I must say its very interesting. Especially when you read the part where the blogger discusses the ratings his wines received from WS.

"WS writes: “A total of 102 [out of 256] wines earned ratings of 80 points (good) or better.”

Setting aside the fact that the “reserve list” contained the most expensive and lowest-rated wines, this is their justification for why the list was “excellent” overall? If you look at all wines in Wine Spectator’s database, 167,710 of 190,071 wines ever rated–88%–earned 80 points or higher. Only 40% of Osteria L’Intrepido’s wines did."

I also found this comment on his blog to be very amusing.

"May I add to your very interesting post that I went to a ‘famous’ US restaurants a few years ago that had received and continues to receive the ‘WS Restaurant Wine Award’ but didn’t actually have any of the ‘great’ wines in stock.

It went like this: “Sir, we are out of this and this one. Oh, I’m so sorry, we are out of this one too. Sir, let me see, if we have this one in stock. Sorry, may I suggest another wine.”

Only 2 (!) wines from the entire first page of their ‘famous’ wine list were available.

My reponse was: “I’m terribly sorry, but I’m out out of here too.”

I paid for my mineral water and left. I can’t comment on their food as I have yet to return."

Robin, has there been a case (no pun inteneded) where the WINERY has done that?
In now knowing about the restaurant award designations, do I have to worry about which wineries might have that advantage? Just a thought.

[Robin Garr]

Robin, has there been a case (no pun inteneded) where the WINERY has done that?
In now knowing about the restaurant award designations, do I have to worry about which wineries might have that advantage? Just a thought.

Heather, I spent the morning in the dentist chair getting my teeth scraped and polished (speaking of red wine!), but I'm not exactly clear what you're asking. The winery has done what? Are you talking about the Wine Spectator reviews? Frankly, I don't think they're up for sale, although I personally don't care much for the big, alcoholic, blockbuster *style* of wine that The Spectator's tasting panel seems to prefer. Generally speaking, I shy away from the wines rated most highly by Spectator (and by Robert Parker) because my personal preference doesn't align well with theirs. But I don't think their ratings are for sale.

It is so bogus! If you have a PR person you get in Food Arts and such. It is true about Wine Spectator. If you pay your fee and send your wine list by the dead line you get mentioned. We forgot this year to send our $ 250 so we were not mentioned this year. It is bogus, that for 7 years we were in the list, but did'nt send our $250 so we were left out. Robin you are so right. If you pay for PR or fill out a bunch of ballets, you will get mentioned or win " best of awards " I'm proud to say that we did win Best new restaurant from Louisville Mag and Leo and did'nt have my family and friends fill out anything. We also won last year for the Bistro, but thay said since we won it already at Seviche, and the bistro was the same concept they did'nt count it. Once again bogus.

but as far as ranking restaurants goes, it's no more valid, than, say, the LEO or Louisville Mag annual awards.

Robin, could you please expound on this comment? I am by no means "in the know" when it comes to these awards, but my belief is that the awards bestowed by LEO and Louisville magazine are beyond being "bought," as the WS awards seem to be. If you mean that the local awards are glorified popularity contests voted on by foodies and non-foodies alike, I might accept that...but I would not deem thyem as bogus.

Just a bit of clarification please. Thanks. DD

[Robin Garr]

Robin, could you please expound on this comment? I am by no means "in the know" when it comes to these awards, but my belief is that the awards bestowed by LEO and Louisville magazine are beyond being "bought," as the WS awards seem to be. If you mean that the local awards are glorified popularity contests voted on by foodies and non-foodies alike, I might accept that...but I would not deem thyem as bogus.

Just a bit of clarification please. Thanks. DD

Sure, Derrick. You are right, of course, that the LEO and LouMag awards can't be "bought." Of course they can't. However, in both cases it's my understanding that a few of the more frequent winners make it a practice to buy up lots of copies (LouMag, at least, does not allow photocopy entries) and encourage supporters to vote. Your term "glorified popularity contests" works for me. My analogy was simply that neither the Spectator awards or the "Best of" awards necessarily yield winners on any real qualitative basis.

Restated, I have no argument at all with your statement above.

Sounds good to me Robin. I thought "bogus" was a bit much for the places that truly earned their awards. Now those spots that would stuff the ballot boxes etc. are truly BOGUS!

Thanks. DD

Sounds good to me Robin. I thought "bogus" was a bit much for the places that truly earned their awards. Now those spots that would stuff the ballot boxes etc. are truly BOGUS!

Thanks. DD

Kinda like how Tumbleweed was named "Best Steakhouse in Louisville" by the C-J a couple years back and proceeded to use it in all their advertising. I don't know how that happened without some serious ballot stuffing...