6 Anne Arundel County Restaurants Awarded For Their Wine Selections

MARYLAND — Marylanders don't have to visit Napa Valley to enjoy some fine wine. Instead, residents can patronize one of several Anne Arundel County restaurants that recently won awards for their wine selections.

Wine Spectator on June 27 unveiled the 2022 Restaurant Awards winners, which honor the world's best eateries for wines. This year's awards went to 3,169 dining destinations from all 50 states and more than 70 countries.

The honors recognized 35 Maryland restaurants, including six in Anne Arundel County. Since 1981, the Restaurant Awards have had three distinct levels: The "Award of Excellence," the "Best of Award of Excellence" and the "Grand Award."

The annual Restaurant Awards honor excellence in restaurant wine lists, as well as those that have demonstrated passion and devoted extensive resources to creating outstanding wine programs.

Lewnes' Steakhouse in Annapolis was the county's only restaurant to earn the Best Of Award Of Excellence this year.

Eateries that took home the Award of Excellence are:

• Grapes Wine Bar, Annapolis
• Ruth's Chris Steak House, Annapolis
• Ruth's Chris Steak House, Odenton
• Smashing Grapes, Annapolis
• Smashing Grapes, Gambrills

Only 97 restaurants around the world have received the coveted Grand Award; none of those went to a Maryland venue.

Then there's the Award of Excellence, given to restaurants that carefully choose their wine lists to have 100 or more selections, containing both quality and diverse wines, according to the magazine. There were 1,782 Award of Excellence winners this year.

The Best of Award of Excellence is given to restaurants that "go the extra mile," with lists of 350 or more selections from top producers, with a wide variety of regions and vintage depths. These restaurants might also carefully design the presentations of the list, train their staff to assist diners with the list and have curated wine dinners, according to Wine Spectator. Worldwide, 1,290 restaurants received the Best of Award of Excellence award.

Find more info on all 2022 Restaurant Award Winners from Wine Spectator.

Editor's Note: Regional Manager Deb Belt originally wrote this story for the Across Maryland Patch. Field Editor Jacob Baumgart adapted it and republished it with Anne Arundel County's information.

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