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Dishing Out the Wine Spectator Awards

Teri Williams

3,793 restaurants from around the world recently earned awards JoshuaOrrfor their wine lists from the leading wine publication in the world, Wine Spectator.

The Grand Award is the publication’s highest honor for a wine list that sommeliers “take to the summit” in quality. The list is usually 1,500 bottles or more.Judges go over every square foot of the cellars and lists for great taste and value, plus breadth of selection ( must be around the world and then some.) There were 73 such awards this year, including the Grand Del Mar’s Addison for the 5th consecutive year.The San Diego resort’s Amaya Restaurant was selected for the 2nd tier honor, The Best Award of Excellence for the 4th time, and Club M at the resort harvested the Award of Excellence for the 2nd year.

Marriott’s Marina Kitchen Leaps Forward with Award of Excellence

After just over a year since opening in the San Diego Marriott Marquis and Marina next to the convention center, Marina Kitchen has its first wine honor from Wine Spectator magazine, the Award of Excellence, recognizing its diverse and quality wine list of over 300 selections from 14 countries, with most wines priced under $100.

The fast-growing hot spot has already been voted Best Hotel Restaurant in San Diego by the readers of San Diego Magazine. Joshua Orr(see photo), the Sommelier and Bar Manager was a critical part of the creation of this “modern comfort” launch of a wine and food program with fresh, sustainable local ingredients.Orr already holds the Advanced Sommelier certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers and does he know his wines!”This is a mostly West Coast-centric list that takes in California, Oregon and Washington with over 2,300 bottles and 320 different types of wines,” enthused Orr.”You won’t see most of them in grocery stores.They are not the same old names.I have visited the vineyards and walked the walk.With our extensive seafood menu, you will see a lot of exciting Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.Currently I am big on the Santa Rita Hills area north of Santa Barbara.Lots of young winemakers have new ideas in places like Laetitia and Talley that over deliver in taste, with pricing like a value wine,” he said.

You don’t want to miss the private dining wine cellar that holds 14 diners comfortably.Dining is family style on a handsome oak banquet table, surrounded by fine wines.A call to the private dining host can reserve your party a place in this premium space.

When you and your party arrive in the wine cellar, be sure to meet the Executive Chef Aron Schwartz (see photo) and enjoy a demonstration of the “Ferrari of Prosciutto slicers.”Made in Italy, it slices this delicate artisan meat into paper-thin delicacies.This share-plate is the chef’s daily selection of 3 artisan meatsand 2 cheeses.Chef describes the menu as “modern comfort food” by presenting familiar favorites in a contemporary fashion.

Marina Kitchen began its new Tasting on the Terrace series on Saturdays from 5pm to 6:30pm.Accompanying premium cheeses will be 3 wines for $15.RSVP’s are requested.To reserve your place for the next Saturday event, call 619-699-8222.For more information on Marina Kitchen, follow it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MarinaKitchenSD.

Other Wine Spectator awards went to:Acqua Al 2, Bertrands at Mr. A’s, Donovans and Humphreys in San Diego; Delicias, Veladora and Mille Fleurs in Rancho Santa Fe; Flemings, The Marine Room and Seasons 52 in La Jolla; Pampelmousse Grille, Sbicca’s and Il Fornaio in Del Mar; and Firefly, Firenze, Paon and West Steakhouse in Encinitas/Carlsbad.

Wine Bytes

Frank Mangio is a renowned San Diego wine connoisseur certified by Wine Spectator.He is one of the leading wine commentators on the web.View and link up with his columns at www.tasteofwinetv.com. Reach him at mangiompc@aol.com.

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