The wine programs at 28 San Diego County restaurants have won 2026 awards of excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine.
Launched in 1981, the Wine Spectator awards are judged on the quality, breadth and depth of restaurants’ wine programs, as well as the how the wines harmonize with the menu and how they’re presented to guests. There are three levels of awards, based on the number of wine selections.
Addison by William Bradley, the Michelin three-star restaurant in San Diego’s Carmel Valley, has been on the Wine Spectator list since 2009. Addison remains the only San Diego County restaurant to earn the Grand Award, Wine Spectator’s highest honor, which recognizes the best wine programs with more than 1,000 selections. There are only 99 Grand Award winners in the world.
Addison’s wine list, curated by Wine Director Sean McGuinness, has 2,800 selections and an inventory of more than 10,000 bottles. To celebrate its vast wine cellar, Addison in May debuted a no-reservations-required champagne lounge where diners can enjoy champagnes, wines and more with an optional mini tartlet tasting menu.
The only other Southern California Grand Award winners are Capo in Santa Monica, Spago in Beverly Hills, The Stonehouse in Santa Barbara and Wally’s in Beverly Hills.
Savannah Riedler smiles after being awarded the Michelin Sommelier Award during the California Michelin awards ceremony at Eve on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Ten local restaurants earned the Best of Award of Excellence, which honors programs with 350 or more wine selections. There are 1,830 restaurants with this designation worldwide.
New to the “Best of” category this year are Michelin-starred Lilo Restaurant in Carlsbad, The Fishery in Pacific Beach and Mastro’s Ocean Pub in downtown San Diego.
On June 24, Lilo’s Wine Director Savannah Riedler was named Michelin Sommelier 2026 for the state of California. She created Lilo’s wine program from scratch. It opened in April 2025 with 88 hand-selected wines and now boasts more than 350 selections that represent the wine regions of California, the West Coast and other international coastal regions.
“I’m super excited about this,” Riedler said of the Wine Spectator award in a recent interview.
Also honored with the “Best Of” award this year are returning restaurants Callie in East Village, Juniper & Ivy in Little Italy, The Marine Room in La Jolla, Mister A’s in Bankers Hill, Nine-Ten in La Jolla, Pony Room in Rancho Santa Fe and Stake Chophouse & Bar in Coronado.
And 17 restaurants earned the Award of Excellence, honoring wine programs with at least 75 selections. There are 2,083 restaurants with this award worldwide.
This year’s Award of Excellence winners include five first-time honorees: Barona Oaks Steakhouse in Lakeside, Barra Oliba in Little Italy, Grant Grill in downtown San Diego, Le Charcuterie Bar in East Village and Top of the Hyatt in downtown San Diego.
Also honored with the Award of Excellence are returnees A.R. Valentien in La Jolla, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood restaurants in both La Jolla and downtown San Diego, Ember & Rye in Carlsbad, The Grove Steakhouse in Alpine, Hell’s Kitchen in Valley Center, Huntress in downtown San Diego, Marisi in La Jolla, Morton’s Steakhouse in downtown San Diego, Seasons 52 in La Jolla, Solare Ristorante in Arts District Liberty Station and STK Steakhouse in downtown San Diego.
Wine Spectator Chairman and CEO Marvin R. Shanken said in a statement that wine-drinking at restaurants has softened in recent years, so the value of these awards has helped award-winning restaurants distinguish themselves among wine connoisseurs.
“The restaurant industry is rapidly transforming as diners become more selective about when, how and what they drink. As wine drinkers grow more mindful, restaurants are adapting with creative wine programs,” Shanken said.