The Top 10 Most Popular Restaurant Wines
When dining out these days, it’s almost unfashionable not to order wine with your meal at many of America’s finer restaurants. With the consumption of wine undergoing a dramatic increase across the nation, diners’ enthusiasm for drinking wine with their chef-prepared meals has rocketed.
As you can imagine, many restaurants wish to assemble wine lists that impress their patrons. And the wineries, not to be outdone, crave the recognition that placement on four- and five-star establishments’ wine lists can offer.
Wine & Spirits Magazine’s 18th Annual Restaurant Poll features the Top 50 Most Popular Wines ordered by American restaurant patrons.
This month’s Wine & Spirits magazine presents the results of this year’s 18th Annual Restaurant Poll. Having surveyed the top restaurateurs and sommeliers across America, W&S showcases how vibrant the restaurant wine scene has become. The wines featured in that poll have each built a pretty loyal following across America; you’re going to recognize many and be surprised, perhaps, by a few.
And so: here is a list of the top ten red wines from the April 2007 W&S poll, followed by a list of the top ten white wines. Some are quite affordable, and some are worth stocking for special occasions. All are worth drinking now, so make those dinner reservations!
Top Ten Red Wines Ordered by American Diners
- Jordan 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma County, California; $50 - Antinori 2000 Badia a Passignano Chianti Classico Reserva
Tuscany, Italy; $48 - Silver Oak 2002 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California; $100 - Ridge 2004 Geyserville Zinfandel
Sonoma County, California; $35* - Caymus 2004 Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California; $135 - Rodney Strong 2003 Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma County, California; ~$18 - Hess 2003 Collection Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California; $43 - Estancia 2005 Pinot Noir
Central Coast, California; $18 - Antinori 2004 Santa Cristina
Tuscany, Italy; $12 - Chateau Ste. Michelle 2004 Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon
Columbia Valley, Washington; $18
Top Ten White Wines Ordered by American Diners
- Chateau Ste. Michelle 2005 Indian Wells Riesling
Columbia Valley, Washington; $19 - Kim Crawford 2006 Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough, New Zealand; $19 - Chateau St. Jean 2003 Sonoma County Reserve Chardonnay
Sonoma County, California; $40 - Beringer 2005 Knights Valley Alluvium Blanc
Sonoma County, California; $16 - Cakebread 2005 Chardonnay
Napa Valley, California; $40 - Kendall-Jackson 2005 Grand Reserve Chardonnay
Central Coast, California; $20 - Banfi 2006 Le Rime (Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio)
Veneto, Italy; $10 - Chateau Ste. Michelle 2005 Eroica Riesling
Columbia Valley, Washington; $23 - Kendall-Jackson 2005 Vintners Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
California; ~$11 - Chateau Ste. Michelle 2005 Chardonnay
Columbia Valley, Washington; $10
*I tasted the 2004 Geyserville last week with Ridge winemaker Eric Baugher, and I can readily understand its popularity – it is truly a fine vintage. Heck, I even bought a bottle, and Eric signed it for me. It’s a keeper.
Sources: Wine & Spirits Magazine, April 2007 edition, wine.com
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April 13th, 2007 13:11
The Top 10 Most Popular Restaurant Wines…
Wine & Spirits magazine’s 18th annual restaurant poll lists the 50 most popular wines that diners enjoy drinking when dining out. I’ve split that list into the top ten reds and whites; you’re going to recognize a few….
April 13th, 2007 17:03
Wow. Wish I owned stock in Ch. Ste. Michelle. The whites list is not a huge shocker–except for that riesling in #1 spot–but the red list I found very surprising. Why don’t I go out to eat with people ordering Silver Oak cab?? This only happened once in my life, but apparently it’s happening every night, all over the country!
April 15th, 2007 17:18
This is a great list of wines. I have always struggled with what wine to order in a restaurant. Now I have my handy cheat sheet to refer to.
Thanx
David
April 15th, 2007 21:48
Doc, what’s interesting to me is that Silver Oak has gained the cachet that it has. I think somebody in their Marketing Dept. has done a fabulous job of getting the word out, but I’ve not been impressed with Silver Oak cabs.
I’ve attended Silver Oak tastings over the years. Recently I hosted a tasting of Alexander Valley cabs in which the Silver Oak, an ’03 and the most expensive wine at $60, came in 4th in the group rankings behind Roth Estate ’02, Murphy-Goode ’03, and Geyser Peak Reserve ’03 – labels that aren’t commonly found on restaurant wine lists. But for me, this particular tasting was not the first time Silver Oak didn’t have the QPR. Well heck, that’s not to say that the ’02 Napa Valley cab in the above list isn’t worth $100 – I’ve just developed a little jaundice about it, and it wouldn’t be my pick. The Jordan or the Hess, on the other hand? Oh yeah, baby!!
David, may you enjoy many great wining and dining deals! Thank you for writing – c’mon back any time.
April 16th, 2007 14:01
The Top 10 Most Popular Restaurant Wines…
When dining out these days, it’s almost unfashionable not to order wine with your meal at many of America’s finer restaurants. With the consumption of wine undergoing a dramatic increase across the nation, diners’ enthusiasm for drinking wine wit…
May 1st, 2007 12:33
great article!
does this list go beyond top 10?
May 1st, 2007 13:49
Yes, valet parking, the poll lists the Top 50 reds and whites; I merely pulled the top ten of each from that list.
July 27th, 2007 13:47
There should have wine awards just like the oscars.. I know more people that are into wine and wine drinking than watching movies these days.
March 13th, 2009 08:29
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