The winners of the 2026 azcentral wine contest
The Arizona Republic’s Richard Ruelas announces the winners of the 2026 azcentral wine contest.
Every year, Wine Spectator magazine awards several hundred restaurants in the U.S. that offer outstanding wine programs. The awards are separated into three tiers: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence and the highest tier, the Grand Award.
This year, 32 Arizona restaurants earned the Award of Excellence. An additional 27 Arizona restaurants earned the Best of Award of Excellence.
The Award of Excellence is given to restaurants with wine lists with at least 75 offerings that encompass an assortment of high-quality producers and that thematically match the restaurant’s menu. The Best of Award of Excellence is given to restaurants with wine lists with at least 350 selections and that show a deep commitment to wine, making the restaurants destinations for wine enthusiasts.
Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 2026 recipients
Over 30 Arizona restaurants earned the Award of Excellence designation, including 21 in metro Phoenix. They were:
- Arrowhead Grill, Glendale
- Belmont Kitchen & Cocktails, Scottsdale
- Dolce Vita Bistro, Tempe
- Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, Scottsdale
- Frasher’s Steakhouse, Scottsdale
- Hearth ’61, Paradise Valley
- Kid Sister, Phoenix
- Litchfield’s, Litchfield Park
- The Living Room, Scottsdale
- Luna by Giada, Scottsdale
- Marcellino Ristorante, Scottsdale
- The Mick Brasserie, Scottsdale
- Morton’s the Steakhouse, Scottsdale
- Nineteen 86 Steakhouse, Glendale
- Pa’La Kitchen, Phoenix
- The Patio at Las Sendas, Mesa
- Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille, Gilbert
- Quiessence at the Farm, Phoenix
- Seasons 52, Phoenix
- STK, Scottsdale
- Turquoise Wine Bar, Glendale
Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence 2026 recipients
27 Arizona restaurants earned the Best of Award of Excellence designation, including 19 in metro Phoenix. They were:
- Bourbon Steak, Scottsdale
- Cafe Monarch, Scottsdale
- The Capital Grille, Phoenix and Scottsdale
- Catch, Scottsdale
- The Fat Ox, Scottsdale
- Geordie’s at Wrigley Mansion, Phoenix
- J&G Steakhouse, Scottsdale
- Jamie’s Bottle Shop, Scottsdale
- Le Ame, Phoenix
- Lon’s at the Hermosa, Paradise Valley
- Maple & Ash, Scottsdale
- Mastro’s City Hall, Scottsdale
- Mastro’s Ocean Club, Scottsdale
- Mastro’s Steakhouse, Scottsdale
- Prime, A Shula’s Steakhouse, Chandler
- Toca Madera, Scottsdale
- Vincent Guerithault on Camelback, Phoenix
- Virtu Honest Craft, Scottsdale
Reach the reporter at eddie.fontanez@azcentral.com. Follow @ERFontanez on Instagram.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
