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.
Denne historien er fra August 31, 2024-utgaven av Wine Spectator.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra August 31, 2024-utgaven av Wine Spectator.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
New Zealand's Success Story
From small beginnings, the country’s wines have ascended to global prominence
Wine Is Healthiest Choice for Drinkers
Decades of research has linked light to moderate drinking, especially of wine, to a range of health benefits.
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
CALIFORNIA RHONES Show Their Range
RECENT VINTAGES DELIVER EXCELLENT REDS AND WHITES IN AN ARRAY OF STYLES
Tuscany Comes of Age
Anchored by the 2021 vintage, Tuscan reds set a new standard of quality
The Absolute Best Places to Eat and Drink in America
PROFILES OF THE 63 WINE SPECTATOR GRAND AWARD WINNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TODAY, AS THE PROGRAM MARKS ITS 44TH YEAR
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.