2025 Wine Spectator Awards
Editor and publisher of Wine Spectator Marvin R. Shanken said that "a wine list is a restaurant's identity in print." For New Orleans restaurants, this claim rings especially true. Spirits as much as food are a defining part of New Orleans culture and what it means to let the good times roll.
This year, Wine Spectator honored 3,811 restaurants globally, 30 of which hail from New Orleans, whose wine lists display intentionality and excellence.
Grand Awards
Three New Orleans restaurants earned a Grand Award, the highest honor that Wine Spectator bestows. Restaurants who receive the Grand Award have demonstrated long-term dedication to perfecting their wine list and are renowned globally as travel destinations for wine-connoisseurs. The local Grand Award winners were Brennan's Restaurant, Commander's Palace, and Emeril's.
A French Quarter favorite for 75 years, Brennan's had been a mainstay on the Grand Award list until Hurricane Katrina destroyed its prized cellar. Having bounced back in recent decades, Brennan's is back on top of the wine scene with bottles distilled in Burgundy, Bordeaux, and California.
Commander's Palace is known throughout New Orleans and abroad for its classic Creole dishes and array of wines. Travelers can hardly visit New Orleans without stepping foot in this iconic restaurant that serves as a New Orleans landmark for food and wine.
Renowned Chef Emeril Lagasse not only boasts a culinary empire but excellence in his wine selection. His flagship restaurant, Emeril's, has been awarded a Grand Award since 1999 for its wine offerings that pair perfectly with his dishes, famed worldwide.
More Honorees
Other New Orleans restaurants that Wine Spectator recognized include 34 Restaurant & Bar, Galatoire's, Restaurant R'evolution, Tableau, The Country Club, Ralph's on the Park, and many more!
