One of the world’s leading authorities has tapped 16 restaurants in Alabama for awards honoring superior wine programs.
Wine Spectator recently announced its 2024 restaurant awards, uncorking its list of 3,777 establishments around the world that the oenophiles deemed outstanding for their wine selection and how they match it with the food they serve.
The full list is included in the magazine’s August 31 issue and on its searchable database.
Most of Alabama’s restaurants are repeat honorees, with Villagio Grille in Orange Beach marking its 14th year. Joining the Alabama group this year is Little Betty Steak Bar, a newly opened restaurant in the Lane Parke development at Mountain Brook Village.
We broke down Alabama restaurants receiving Wine Spectator awards, ordering our list by city, and providing information about what they serve and their selection. Reservations are recommended or required at most of these places.
Auburn
Location: The Laurel Hotel and Spa at the Rane Center
Cuisine: American and French
Wine emphasis: California, Oregon, France, Italy, Spain
On the list since: 2023. The cellar includes some 3,500 bottles. The wine list offers 675 different labels.
Reservation link
Location: 210 East Glenn Avenue
Cuisine: American, seafood
Wine emphasis: California
On the list since: 2019. The cellar includes some 2,000 bottles. The wine list offers some 500 different labels.
Reservation link
Location: 124 Mitcham Avenue
Cuisine: American, seafood
Wine emphasis: California, France
On the list since: 2016. The cellar stocks nearly 800 bottles. The wine list includes nearly 150 labels.
Reservation link
Birmingham
Location: 2220 Highland Avenue South
Cuisine: Seasonal, American
Wine emphasis: California, France, Italy, Oregon
On the list since: 2016. The wine cellar has some 1,800 bottles. The wine list includes more than 500 labels.
Reservation link
Location: 4 Perimeter Park South
Cuisine: Steak house
Wine emphasis: California
On the list since: 2017. The restaurant maintains some 1,400 bottles in inventory. The wine listincludes 140 labels.
Reservation link
Location: The Summit shopping center
Cuisine: American
Wine emphasis: California
On the list since: 2014. The wine cellar stocks more than 1,700 bottles. The wine list offers 90 labels.
Reservation link
Fairhope
Location: 915 Nichols Avenue
Cuisine: Regional American
Wine emphasis: California, France
On the list since: 2023. Its cellar boasts 10,000 bottles, with some 450 labels on its wine list.
Reservation link
Hoover
Location: 6801 Cahaba Valley Road
Cuisine: Italian, steaks
Wine emphasis: California, Italy
On the list since: 2020. It keeps some 700 bottles in its cellar, with 150 labels on the wine list.
Reservation link
Huntsville
Location: 931 Bob Wallace Avenue
Cuisine: Steak house
Wine emphasis: California
On the list since: 2020. It maintains some 650 bottles in its cellar, with 110 on its wine list.
Reservation link
Location: 200 West Side Square
Cuisine: American, European
Wine emphasis: Oregon, California, France
On the list since: 2023. It keeps some 1,200 bottles in its cellar. The wine list features 200 labels.
Reservation link
Le Petit Bijou by Domaine South
Location: 103 Northside Square
Cuisine: Southern American, European
Wine emphasis: France, California
On the list since: 2022. The wine and cheese shop, with a relatively petit café menu, cellars some 1,200 bottles, with 300 labels available.
No reservations
Mountain Brook
Location: 321 Rele Street in Mountain Brook Village
Cuisine: Steak house
Wine emphasis: California
On the list since: A newcomer to the awards, it keeps more than 600 bottles in inventory, with a wine list featuring 145 labels.
Reservation link
Montgomery
Location: 36 Commerce Street
Cuisine: Italian
Wine emphasis: California, Piedmont
On the list since: 2022. The cellar has more than 2,000 bottles. The wine list features 265 labels.
Reservation link
Location: 405 Cloverdale Road
Cuisine: Regional American
Wine emphasis: California
On the list since: 2019, with 500 bottles in its cellar and 125 labels on the wine list.
Reservation link
Orange Beach
Location: 4790 Wharf Parkway (Wharf in Orange Beach)
Cuisine: Italian, seafood
Wine emphasis: California
On the list since: 2010. It maintains an inventory with some 850 bottles. Among the 125 labels on its regular wine list and reserve list is a 1986-vintage Château La Mission Haut-Brion from Pessac-Léognan in the Graves region of France, for $2,100.
Reservation link
Location: 27200 Perdido Beach Boulevard (Perdido Beach Resort)
Cuisine: Regional, seafood, steak house
Wine emphasis: California, France
On the list since: 2010. It maintains nearly 11,000 bottles in its cellar, with nearly 200 labels on its wine list.
Reservation link
