Ciccio Sultano, Cracco, Caffè Dante Bistrot and Pierluigi now in the Gotha of wine lists

As everyone knows, the kitchen is the backbone of restaurants, the dining area is equally as critical to its success, and the third pillar of the perfect dining experience is the wine list. The US magazine “Wine Spectator”, one of the most widespread and influential in the wine world has been awarding its “wine list Oscars” since 1981 to the best in the world. In 2018, it has awarded 7 new “Grand Awards”, the highest recognition that goes to wineries counting more than 1.000 wines, important vintages and a prominent selection of large formats. Wine Spectator has given the award to 91 restaurants around the world. Three of the new “magnificent 7” are in the United States, but are definitely Italian (Sistina and Ai Fiori of New York and Barolo Grill of Denver in Colorado), while 5 awards confirm the not-to-be missed Italian restaurants for your perfect wine experience. They are the triumphant Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence by Giorgio Pinchiorri and Annie Feolde (who has been receiving the award since 1984) and the Pergola at the Rome Cavalieri by Heinz Beck, where Marco Reitano heads the dining area and wine cellar, La Ciau of Treaviano di Treiso by the starred chef Maurilio Garola, La Bottega del Vino in Verona, a temple of good drinking, now owned by the Historical Families of Amarone, and led by Luca Nicolis, and the Poeta Contadino of Alberobello by Leonardo Marco.

There are important new entries for Italy in the “Best of Awards” category, the award that is one step away from the highest recognition, given to restaurants that have enhanced or made an investment that has greatly improved their wine supply, so they have a varied and broad selection of wines among the territories and an important vintage verticality of the most prominent wines.
1.215 restaurants around the world have been awarded in this category and the new Italian entries are the two Michelin stars Duomo di Ragusa, by chef Ciccio Sultano, the new Cracco restaurant in Milan (one Michelin star), the historic Pierluigi restaurant in Rome and Caffè Dante Bistrot of Verona.

These four names have now been added to the 13 Italian restaurants that have already received the award (Acanto of Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan, Antico Pignolo of Hotel Montecarlo and Lineadombra restaurant in Venice, Borgo Antico in Pescantina, in the province of Verona, Ristorante del Cambio of Matteo Baronetto and Magazzino 52 in Turin, Due Cigni The Restaurant in Montecosaro Scalo, in the province of Macerata, the Convivi Troiani and the Rinaldi at the Quirinale in Rome, La Vineria del Colle in Sestriere, in the province of Turin, Le Petit Restaurant in Cogne, in Valle d’Aosta, La Torre Restaurant in Florence, and the Walter Redaelli Restaurant in Sinalunga, in the province of Siena).