While Utah may be famous for its quirky liquor laws, those in the know look to the state as a place where you can raise a very interesting glass of wine if you know where to order. This year’s Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards gave the nod to 25 restaurants in the Beehive State—13 of them located on the Wasatch Back.
The awards bring, “increased visibility and prestige to the local dining establishments, potentially attracting more tourists and boosting the local economy,” explains Josh Hockman, Resort Director of Beverage for Deer Valley Resort.
We spoke with several of the winning restaurants’ beverage directors to find out more about their wine lists.
Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence Winners
Five restaurants along the Wasatch Back received the Best of Award of Excellence, bestowed to locations with hundreds of wine selections and qualify as destinations for serious wine lovers.
Courchevel Bistro
“It’s great to be recognized with the Best of Award of Excellence again this year [since 2021],” Bill White, Talisker Club Beverage Director, begins. “It’s fantastic to see so many Utah restaurants receive recognition from Wine Spectator.”
He delights in the fact that Park City is becoming known more for its fine dining than just for outdoor activities. “This community has an amazing group of chefs, sommeliers, front-of-house professionals, and restaurateurs and with the growth of the restaurant culture, I believe we are also becoming a culinary destination.”
While Courchevel’s wine list constantly fluctuates, guests will find about 460 selections at any given time. White points to Domaine des Ardoisieres Schiste, a white blend from high in the French Alps, as a defining wine for the restaurant. “When Courchevel Bistro first opened, I knew it had to be on our wine list. It’s fresh, elegant, complex, contemplative, and multi-dimensional. It’s a spectacular example of a mountain wine.”
201 Heber Ave, Park City, UT 84060 | 435-572-4398 | www.courchevelbistro.com
Yuta
Making the Wine Spectator list for the first time, Yuta restaurant in the Lodge at Blue Sky, an Auberge Resorts Collection property, popped the cork in a big way by landing a Best of Award of Excellence.
Rand Elsbree is the sommelier and wine buyer for Yuta. “Coming into wine from the world of geology, I’m most intrigued by the land and soil, or terroir, where great wine grapes are grown.”
That interest had led Elsbree to heavily lean into the state’s special ordering system, “which can bring in obscure labels from small producers and distributors. This has given access to products not yet seen in the state, or in many cases anywhere else in the country.”
Find approximately 750 bottles on the wine list at Yuta, including the Nebbiolo from Dominio De Las Abejas in Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico. “It’s a wine that never fails in creating a sense of awe in what is being achieved in Mexico, especially with Italian varietals,” Elsbree explains. “The high toned, acidity forward structure transports you to some of the best Barbaresco vineyards of Italy, with a kind of ethereal minerality and balance that is achieved with the estate’s proximity to the cooling Pacific Ocean currents. The team behind this wine is staunchly opposed to spraying any kind of chemical or artificial treatment in the vineyards and the winery, creating a very low intervention style that still oozes with finesse and classical feel.”
Elsbree concludes, “The collective effort to raise the bar on restaurant wine selections in the state is changing the perception of Utah as a place to call home for people who value curated dining experiences. Utah has a driven, creative community of wine professionals who are pushing the status quo of what wine programs have to offer in such a state-restricted environment.”
27649 Old Lincoln Hwy, Wanship, UT 84017
435-336-6420
www.aubergeresorts.com/bluesky/dine/yuta
Tupelo
Tupelo’s Beverage Director Mackenzie Wallace is proud of the restaurant’s recognition from one of the most respected authorities in the wine industry since 2019. “This award is a testament to our commitment to providing a superior wine experience, catering to both connoisseurs and casual enthusiasts alike,” she says. “It not only boosts prestige but also serves as a trusted guide for patrons seeking memorable experience with or without a pairing.”
With 364 labels and a little over 2,000 bottles in total to choose from, Wallace explains, “Every label has a place and a purpose on our list.” But she looks to Antiquum Daisy Pinot Gris because the winery “uses grazing-based viticulture that matches our values at Tupelo as well as pairs nicely with our fried chicken, and beets on the summer menu. This Pinot Gris has an extended hang time due to its altitude letting the Pinot Gris skins turn to a beautiful orangish green hue which imbues some more tropical notes unlike other Pinot Gris just down the road.”
1500 Kearns Blvd., Park City, UT 84060
435-292-0888
www.tupeloparkcity.com
Riverhorse On Main
“While Utah is renowned for its stunning mountains, exceptional snow, otherworldly southern canyons, and the endless list of activities to do here in all seasons, its culinary and wine scene may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Utah or consider visiting,” says Ashley Smith, Beverage Manager at Riverhorse.
“For Utah to receive an award of this type shows that we are constantly evolving as a state and eager to grow in ways that might surprise people. Despite the liquor and wine industry being different from other states, receiving this award is a great honor and shows that even with some challenges we are still able to provide that experience which might not be associated with Utah.”
For Riverhorse, catering to guests has always been top of mind. “We go the extra mile to ensure that we can offer an outstanding and memorable experience in the restaurant scene along with the beautiful outdoors,” Smith continues.
She oversees between 225-275 labels on the restaurant’s wine list that’s adjusted to the variety of clientele in town during each season. And if she had to recommend one wine to diners? “This is an easy one for me, and I recommend it to everyone I meet. Barlow Barrouge Bordeaux style blend from Calistoga, California. I tried this wine about 5 years ago and I have loved it ever since. It continues to be one of my favorite wines that we serve. We are currently on the 2017 vintage, and it is a bold yet approachable wine. It pairs best with robust dishes but is refined enough to be savored on its own. I absolutely love this wine, it tastes like an extravagant bottle meant for special occasions, but its price is what I believe would surprise most people. It’s extremely affordable for the product that you are receiving. I have introduced it to numerous guests who eventually end up ordering their own case themselves. It is a beautiful wine that I feel everyone should enjoy.”
540 Main St., Park City, UT 84060 | 435-649-3536 | www.riverhorseparkcity.com
Two other Deer Valley restaurants round out the Best of Award of Excellence winners. Glitretind, featured on the list since 2007 with a cellar featuring 2,190 bottles and Rime Seafood and Steak with 750 wine selections and listed since 2020, both provide opportunities to raise a glass with spectacular views.
Wine Spectator Award of Excellence Winners
The Award of Excellence distinction requires a minimum of 90 bottles that represents a well-chosen assortment of quality producers and complements the restaurant’s menu in style and price. Eight Summit County restaurants made the list this year.
Deer Valley Resort Fireside Dining, Mariposa, and Cast & Cut
Resort Director of Beverage Josh Hockman, oversees the wine lists for Fireside, Mariposa, and Cast & Cut at Deer Valley Resort. He sees the inclusion of three of the property’s restaurants as recognition of their distinctive wine selections, service, and overall dining experience.
“This recognition highlights Utah as a destination for wine enthusiasts and food lovers, showcasing the quality and sophistication of its culinary offerings and underscores the growth and evolution of Utah’s gastronomic landscape.”
With 350 wines to choose from, he points to Brut Rose from Soter Vineyards in the Willamette Valley in Oregon because, “who doesn’t love a great sparkling wine!”
Hockman continues, “This is a single vineyard bottling, which is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The vineyard’s name is Mineral Springs, located in the Yamhill-Carlton district. This vineyard is certified biodynamic and is in the heart of Oregon’s wine growing region. I love showcasing wines from Oregon, and talking with our guests about how the Oregon winegrowing region is becoming such a strong force in the wine industry, producing world-class wines.”
2250 Deer Valley Dr S, Park City, UT 84060
435-649-1000
www.deervalley.com/things-to-do/dining
Four other Park City restaurants received this year’s Award of Excellence. Deer Valley’s Cena Ristorante at The Chateaux with 105 bottle options and newcomer La Stellina with 350 wines, as well as Edge Steakhouse with 285 choices. On the list since 1998, 350 Main Brasserie continues to be recognized for its 220 wines with a focus on California varietals.
