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    Wine Programs of the Year

    Houston's 7 best restaurants to sip and savor a glass of wine

    Eric Sandler
    Mar 28, 2018 | 9:05 am

    Cocktails and beer are wonderful, but no beverage matches up with food quite the way wine does. With so many different regions, varietals, and vintages, the challenge is finding the right wine to pair with someone's dish.

    For the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Wine Program of the Year category, our panel of former winners and restaurant industry experts selected the finalists that not only offer extensive selections but also have knowledgeable staffs that can guide their customers to the right wine at the right time.

    To find out which restaurant takes the prize, join us at the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards party on April 4. We'll celebrate the nominees, snack on bites provided by 20 Houston restaurants, and reveal the winners during a ceremony hosted by Houston hip hop legend Bun B. Tickets are on sale now.

    13 Celsius
    As noted in the bar of the year article, 13 Celsius remains a charming date spot with a super-friendly staff that’s led by general manager Adele Corrigan. The wine list is deep, with a broad range of selections from all parts of the world. Styles and regions may be familiar, but the vintages probably won’t be. Don’t hesitate to ask the staff to suggest a favorite.

    a'Bouzy
    No surprise that a restaurant named a town in France’s Champagne region and decorated with hundreds of glass bubbles offers Houston’s deepest list of sparkling wines at prices that are frequently below retail. The extensive list of non-sparkling red and white wines is almost as well-priced. Either way, the deals offered by owner Shawn Virene are so good and the selections are so extensive that it’s easy to linger on the patio and order another bottle.

    Camerata at Paulie's
    With features like the city’s deepest selection of English sparkling wines and an expansive selection of trendy orange wines, this Montrose bar caters to both dedicated oenophiles and newbies alike. General manager Chris Poldoian and his staff are as well-schooled in the different terroirs of the Champagne region as they are in the Spanish producers currently featured on the menu. Or just let the staff pour a glass of whatever it is they’re most excited about currently. It’s probably delicious.

    Coltivare
    Having earned both Restaurant of the Year and Chef of the Year honors last year, it’s no surprise that Coltivare is a repeat nominee in this category. Just as with the food features carefully selected local ingredients, Coltivare’s wine selection features small production vintages from independent wineries that are as delicious as they are affordable. General manager Jeb Stuart may be departing for a new opportunity, but expect the wine program’s overall excellence to continue in his absence.

    One Fifth
    Considering the restaurant rolled out a wine list for both its steakhouse incarnation and its current life as a European restaurant, One Fifth certainly has earned this nomination. Wine director Matthew Pridgen’s draws from mostly Old World selections to match the cuisine. Even better, the prices are low enough that choosing bottles over glasses is a reasonable decision.

    Star Fish
    This Heights-area seafood restaurant pairs its extensive oyster selection with a full range of sparkling wines. Red and white options pull from around the world to suit the menu’s global perspective. Looking for something different? Try the lambrusco rose from Italy’s Cantina della Volta, which pours a pale pink and possesses a very mild sweetness.

    State of Grace
    As befits a Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year winner, the wine list at this River Oaks restaurant offers an eclectic mix of wines to match the wide-ranging menu. That means sparkling wine to satisfy oyster lovers and plenty of hearty reds to stand up to the beef rib or a steak. General manager Matt Crawford earned his Advanced Sommelier certification, which ensures the service and presentation will match the quality of the food.

    Pair oysters with rose at State of Grace.

    State of Grace oysters and rose
      
    Photo by Julie Soefer
    Pair oysters with rose at State of Grace.
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    Meet the Tastemakers

    Here's your taste of the best restaurants and bars in Texas for 2018

    Arden Ward
    Apr 23, 2018 | 2:30 pm
    Here's your taste of the best restaurants and bars in Texas for 2018
    Photo by Paula Murphy
    Houston Restaurant of the Year, Xochi.

    Each year, we hold a Texas-sized celebration of two of the things we love most: food and drink. The annual CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, presented by Woodford Reserve, honors the top restaurant and bar talent in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio.

    Our mission is to shine a spotlight on the people making each city's culinary scene special. First, we collaborated with a panel of experts, including previous Tastemaker winners, to determine the nominees in each city. The panels then selected winners in every category, except Best New Restaurant, which was determined by our readers in a tournament presented by Whole Foods Market.

    It all culminated in our series of signature tasting events and awards ceremonies, held in Houston, Austin, and Dallas, where guests mixed and mingled with top culinary talent and fellow foodies, while we unveiled the 2018 Tastemaker Awards winners. Join us in toasting the best of Texas dining right now.

    Austin

    • Restaurant of the Year: L’Oca d’Oro
    • Chef of the Year: Kevin Fink, Emmer & Rye
    • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Zach Hunter, The Brewer’s Table
    • Pastry Chef of the Year: Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Emmer & Rye
    • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Texas French Bread
    • Best New Restaurant: Be More Pacific
    • Favorite Food Truck: Veracruz All Natural
    • Bar of the Year: Nickel City
    • Bartender of the Year: Erin Ashford, Olamaie
    • Brewery of the Year: St. Elmo Brewing Co.
    • Wine Program of the Year: Texas French Bread

    Dallas

    • Restaurant of the Year: Town Hearth
    • Chef of the Year: Omar Flores, Whistle Britches
    • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Anastacia Quinones, The Cedars Social
    • Pastry Chef of the Year: Keith Cedotal, The Joule
    • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Nova
    • Best New Restaurant: Ferris Wheelers
    • Best Biscuits: Crossroads Diner
    • Bar of the Year: Parliament
    • Bartender of the Year: Trevor Landry, Jalisco Norte
    • Wine Program of the Year: Bullion

    Fort Worth

    • Restaurant of the Year: Piattello Italian Kitchen
    • Chef of the Year: Lanny Lancarte, Righteous Foods
    • Best New Restaurant: B&B Butchers & Restaurant
    • Bar of the Year: Proper on Magnolia

    Houston

    • Restaurant of the Year: Xochi
    • Chef of the Year: Chris Shepherd, Underbelly Hospitality
    • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Jason Vaughan, Nancy’s Hustle
    • Pastry Chef of the Year: Jillian Bartolome, Aqui
    • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Paulie’s
    • Best New Restaurant: Field & Tides
    • Poke Restaurant of the Year: Izakaya
    • Bar of the Year: Better Luck Tomorrow
    • Bartender of the Year: Alex Negranza, Better Luck Tomorrow
    • Brewery of the Year: Eureka Heights Brewing Company
    • Wine Program of the Year: a’Bouzy

    San Antonio

    • Restaurant of the Year: Battalion
    • Chef of the Year: Pieter Sypesteyn of The Cookhouse
    • Best New Restaurant: Tenko Ramen
    • Favorite Coffee Shop: Bakery Lorraine
    • Bar of the Year: Downstairs at the Esquire Tavern

    Houston Restaurant of the Year, Xochi.

    Houston, Xochi, Cremoso de Chocolate, August 2017
      
    Photo by Paula Murphy
    Houston Restaurant of the Year, Xochi.
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