34 MD Restaurants Earn 2021 Wine Spectator Awards

MARYLAND — Coronavirus has brought unique challenges to restaurants in Maryland. Despite the hardships, nearly three dozen were able to shine in the last year, earning a 2021 Restaurant Award from Wine Spectator magazine.

The annual Restaurant Awards honor excellence in restaurant wine lists, as well as those who have demonstrated passion and devoted extensive resources to creating outstanding wine programs. This year’s awards are featured in the Aug. 31 issue of Wine Spectator.

Check out the Maryland restaurants that earned nods for excellence this year:

• Bas Rouge, Easton
• CuVino, Timonium
• La Cuchara, Baltimore
• Lewnes’ Steakhouse, Annapolis
• Magdalena, Baltimore
• Tagliata, Baltimore
• The Capital Grille, Baltimore
• The Capital Grille, Chevy Chase
• The Oregon Grille, Hunt Valley
• The Smokehouse Restaurant at Antrim 1844, Taneytown
• The Wardroom, Easton
• Voltaggio Brothers Steak House, National Harbor
• Citron, Baltimore County
• Facci Ristorante, Laurel
• Facci Ristorante, Ellicott City
• Fogo de Chao, Baltimore
• Fogo de Chao, North Bethesda
• Gordon Ramsay Steak, Baltimore
• Grapes Wine Bar, Annapolis
• Locavino, Silver Spring
• Manalu Italian Restaurant, Frederick
• Mortons, The Steakhouse, Bethesda
• Mortons, The Steakhouse, Baltimore
• Osteria Costa, National Harbor
• Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Pikesville
• Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Annapolis
• Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Baltimore
• Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Odenton
• Seasons 52, Columbia
• Seasons 52, North Bethesda
• The Oceanaire Seafood Room, Baltimore
• The Stewart, Easton
• The Vineyard Wine Bar, Havre de Grace
• Wilcom’s Inn, Monrovia

See all winners of this year’s Wine Spectator awards.

The list typically gives us a generous glimpse at the best spots for wine in Maryland and nationwide.

More than 2,900 restaurants in 50 states and 72 countries and territories earned awards this year. The awards are given across three categories: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence and Grand Award.

The Grand Award is Wine Spectator’s most prestigious honor, given to the world’s most elite wine programs. Read profiles of all 100 current Grand Award winners.

Typically, recipients of the Grand Award offer at least 1,000 or more wine selections, showcasing “immense depth and breadth of regions, producers, vintages and bottle formats.” All Grand Award winners must also pass a rigorous inspection of their restaurants, including the wine cellars.

Three new restaurants won the Grand Award this year: Brennan’s in New Orleans, Le Bernardin in New York and SingleThread Farms in Healdsburg, California.

— By Megan VerHelst and Elizabeth Janney