Restaurant Wine, Issue 105 (Jan./Feb. 2005)

Restaurant Wine Awards Issue

Special Feature
2005 On-Premise Wine Marketer of the Year award, given to this Atlanta restaurateur, who operates two wine destination restaurants, both with unique, even extraordinary wine programs. We visit both restaurants, and provide detailed descriptions of what is being done to attract wine-savvy customers to both establishments--and keep them returning.

Winery of the Year
We’ve followed the wines from this well-known producer for more than 25 years, and always found them to be of good quality and value. But in the past few years, this winery has turned up the quality by a notch or two, but maintained its reasonable prices. (We recommend more than a dozen of its current releases in this issue.)

2005 On-Premise Wine Forecast
We make our prediction on the direction and scope of on-premise wine sales in 2005, and identify varietals and wine types likely to increase in popularity in USA restaurants this year.

Wine Recommendations
147 wines from five countries, including Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blancs, Rieslings, Cabernet Sauvignons, Cabernet Francs, Merlots, Pinot Noirs, Sangioveses, Syrahs, and Zinfandels from the USA; Australian & Italian white, red, and rose wines; and seven New Zealand whites. Issue highlights: a superb moderately priced Zinfandel; a great value Mt. Veeder Merlot; and outstanding Napa Valley mountain Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines.