The restaurant industry is growing and thriving. According to data sourced from thousands of restaurants using the BentoBox Marketing & Commerce Platform, restaurant spending was up 6.7% in 2023 and 10,608 new restaurants opened across the United States; the industry saw restaurant openings surpass levels before the pandemic for the first time.
That doesn’t mean restaurateurs are entirely breathing easy. Most report that eateries are less profitable than pre-pandemic days, thanks to rising product and labor costs. The overall forecast for 2024 looks good, however, with the National Restaurant Association projecting over $1 trillion in restaurant sales this year for the first time in history.
One way restaurants are taking advantage of the uptick is to invest in their wine programs, rebuilding cellars that many tapped during the pandemic as a source of income while their doors were closed. After those few years spent downsizing their lists to control costs, they are seeing value in refreshing those programs.
And importantly, they are deepening the relationships they have with wineries and winemakers. From curating wine dinners to creating private wine labels, restaurants are looking to expand what they offer their customers as they lay the groundwork for continued growth.
Recognition Is Due
Restaurants that make wine a priority are what the Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards program is all about. It’s the only program focused exclusively on recognizing the best in restaurant wine service. Restaurants can earn one of three levels of recognition: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence and, the highest, the Grand Award.
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New Zealand's Success Story - From small beginnings, the country's wines have ascended to global prominence
Since then, New Zealand has become one of the world’s most successful wine nations. Currently there are 102,000 acres planted, and 40 million cases were sold in 2023, according to the New Zealand Winegrowers. The tiny country produces less than 2% of the global wine supply, but it’s the world’s sixth-largest exporter of wine by value. Another thing that’s evolved? The image of corks no longer applies, as most vintners there eschew cork (only about 15% of the wines we review still use the closure).
Wine Is Healthiest Choice for Drinkers - Decades of research has linked light to moderate drinking, especially of wine, to a range of health benefits.
There’s also strong evidence that alcohol consumption raises the risk of certain cancers and that heavy drinking carries serious health risks. But the reasons why moderate drinking seems to be neutral or beneficial for some people and harmful for others remains a mystery.A new study sought to solve that puzzle. Looking at health and lifestyle information for a large population, the researchers found that while any alcohol posed risks for adults with existing health problems from poorer areas, healthy adults from wealthier areas suffered no additional risks from moderate drinking, and those who drink wine with food even enjoyed better health.
In Pursuit of the Perfect Crust
“Dough is always the hardest challenge for any home chef,” explains chef and restaurateur Tony Gemignani. “But it’s the foundation of any great pizza.”
SEAVEY VINEYARD
In Napa’s Conn Valley, a family-run winery marches to its own drum
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Anchored by the 2021 vintage, Tuscan reds set a new standard of quality
The Absolute Best Places to Eat and Drink in America
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Events- A Grand Tour for Wine Spectator- a perfect day with an evening of outstanding wines.
A young couple in shorts and festival shirts sped into the ballroom of the New Orleans Marriott on a mission.
Big Wine Players Target Pinot Noir - Plenty of small winery owners are cashing out, either because they're looking to retire or they see selling as the best way to keep their label growing
Plenty of small winery owners are cashing out, either because they’re looking to retire or they see selling as the best way to keep their label growing
Restaurant Awards- Lazy Bear- Lazy Bear bills itself as a modern American dinner party. But it's so much more.
Lazy Bear bills itself as a modern American dinner party. But it’s so much more. This Mission District restaurant effortlessly strips away the formality of a multicourse dinner and replaces it with conviviality, nostalgia and curiosity. With reverence for time and place, Lazy Bear is an ode to California where guests dine in concert with the season and can explore diverse wines, including an impressive collection of older California vintages.
