CARLSBAD, CA — Coronavirus has brought unique and unprecedented challenges to restaurants in Carlsbad. Despite the hardships, at least one eatery was still able to shine in the last year, earning a 2021 Restaurant Award from Wine Spectator magazine.
The annual Restaurant Awards honor excellence in restaurant wine lists, as well as those who have demonstrated passion and devoted extensive resources to creating outstanding wine programs. This year’s awards are featured in the Aug. 31 issue of Wine Spectator.
The list typically gives us a generous glimpse at the best spots in Carlsbad. This year, Paon Restaurant & Wine Bar earned a coveted nod from Wine Spectator, boasting reasonably priced wines from across the Golden State and Italy since 2016.
More than 2,900 restaurants in 50 states and 72 countries and territories earned awards this year. The awards are given across three categories: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence and Grand Award.
The Grand Award is Wine Spectator’s most prestigious honor, given to the world’s most elite wine programs. Read profiles of all 100 current Grand Award winners.
Typically, recipients of the Grand Award offer at least 1,000 or more wine selections, showcasing “immense depth and breadth of regions, producers, vintages and bottle formats.” All Grand Award winners must also pass a rigorous inspection of their restaurants, including the wine cellars.
Just one restaurant in San Diego County, Addison, was crowned with the Grand Award this year. The eatery, run by chef William Bradley, offers cuisine with seasonal and locally sourced ingredients to pair with top-quality wines from regions including Burgundy and across the Golden State, according to Wine Spectator.
Three new restaurants won the Grand Award this year: Brennan’s in New Orleans, Le Bernardin in New York and SingleThread Farms in Healdsburg, California.
