A trip to Italy conjures visions of steaming bowls of pasta coated in a delectable sauce, accompanied by a robust glass of red wine. And while the dream of perfect pasta with fine wine is readily met in restaurants throughout the boot, many Italian establishments offer much more. The country’s six Grand Award–winning wine lists, ranging from 2,500 to 4,700 selections, show impressive breadth and depth. Italy’s Best of Award of Excellence and Award of Excellence restaurants feature more concise lists, though still offering hundreds of wines in many cases, including bottlings from the greater wine world’s most exciting regions and top producers.
Wherever your travels take you in Italy, Wine Spectator recommends these restaurants and their award-winning wine lists as the go-to destinations for wine-loving diners.
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