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The Perfect Pair!
 In a city where the locals traditionally "eat at home," Charleston's transition to a dining destination in the last quarter century is nothing shy of remarkable. Today, it's hard to imagine a city that takes its food—and wine—more seriously than this magnificent South Carolina coastal community. In fact, the city's second favorite pastime seems to be the search for the perfect meal served with its perfect wine companion.
No doubt, Southern hospitality is at its best when a sommelier or knowledgeable waitperson helps diners find the perfect wine, chosen to match the restaurant's own cuisine and ambience. In the Holy City, where fine dining options are plentiful, perhaps the experts at Wine Spectator can help the weary traveler in search of the perfect pair narrow the field.
Wine Spectator has identified a number of Lowcountry restaurants that merit one of its prestigious awards. Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence recognizes a restaurant's commitment to a fine wine list, with a sufficient selection of better producers along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style. Award of Excellence lists typically offer at least 80 selections.
The Best of Award of Excellence was created to give special recognition to those restaurants that clearly exceed Wine Spectator's basic category. These lists display vintage depth, vertical offerings of several top wines, excellent breadth from major wine-growing regions and typically 400 or more selections.
The publication's highest award is the Grand Award, which is given to those restaurants that show an uncompromising, passionate devotion to quality. These lists show serious depth of mature vintages, outstanding breadth in their vertical offerings, excellent harmony with the menu, superior organization and presentation and 1,250 or more selections.
Charleston's list of award winners continues to grow each year. Here are a few of the Lowcountry's most recent (2010) award winners that will put wine lovers hot on the trail of the perfect pair.
Blossom Café holds an Award of Excellence. Located at 171 E. Bay St. in downtown Charleston, the restaurant serves seafood. Specializing in wines from California and Italy, it offers 150 selections, with an inventory of 2,400 bottles.
Charleston Grill — Award of Excellence
Circa 1886 holds an Award of Excellence. Located at 149 Wentworth St. in downtown Charleston, the restaurant serves contemporary cuisine. Specializing in wines from California, it offers 330 selections, with an inventory of 1,650 bottles.
Cypress Lowcountry Grille — Award of Excellence
High Cotton
Magnolias holds an Award of Excellence. Located at 185 E. Bay St. in downtown Charleston, the restaurant serves American cuisine. Specializing in wines from California and France, it offers 200 selections, with an inventory of 3,000 bottles.
McCrady's in an historic Georgian house, originally built in 1778, McCrady's serves up award-winning Southern cuisine with their extensive wine list.
Muse
Oak Steakhouse
Poogan's Porch
Slightly North Of Broad
Social Restaurant
Past winners of the Wine Spectator awards and legendary local Charleston restaurants, well worth mentioning:
82 Queen holds an Award of Excellence from previous years. Located at 82 Queen St. in downtown Charleston, the restaurant serves regional cuisine. Specializing in wines from California and France, it offers 125 selections, with an inventory of 1,200 bottles.
The Ocean Room holds an Award of Excellence. Located at The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island, the restaurant serves American cuisine. Specializing in wines from California and France, it offers 480 selections, with an inventory of 5,025 bottles.
Peninsula Grill holds an Award of Excellence. Located at 112 N. Market St. in downtown Charleston, the restaurant serves regional cuisine. Specializing in wines from California and France, it offers 275 selections, with an inventory of 5,760 bottles.
Water's Edge Restaurant received a previous Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence. The most comprehensive wine and champagne list in the Mt. Pleasant area. Over 450 selections of affordably priced wines from around the world. Enjoy the beauty of Shem Creek at sunset inside or outside creek-side. Arrive by boat!
Get a complete list of Charleston's restaurants.
Not just a gallery, but a Charleston destination since 1987. Located in the heart of the antique district The Audubon Gallery is the only local gallery to specialize in the finest Natural History and Sporting Art from the 17th - 20th centuries. A sportsmans paradise with a fantastic selection of paintings, etchings, limited edition fine art prints, antique wildfowl decoys and wood carvings by local artisans. Audubon's "Birds of America", Natural History Art by Besler, Redouté, Clark, Benson and many others. Contact Joel Oppenheimer Inc., The Natural History Art Gallery. |
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Inventive cuisine. Fresh from the farm. Named one of the Top Ten Restaurants in North America by Opinionated About Dining. McCrady's Restaurant, located in an historic 1778 Georgian public house, offers an award-winning dining experience with the best of new Southern cuisine. Chef Sean Brock was awarded the 2010 James Beard Best Chef Southeast for his talented mix of modern skills and classic antebellum recipes. Sensationally presented dishes one of Charleston's most extensive wine lists. Private dining available in the spectacular Long Room, Gallery, Chef's Room or Cypress Room.
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A native of rural North Carolina now living at the edge of the marsh, Bernie Horton paints fine art originals reflecting the beauty of his surroundings --- most recognized for his light-filled lowcountry landscapes, marshes, beaches and people. Bernie captures the moods and emotions of all the different seasons and times of day. Each painting is approached from an impressionistic standpoint, yet to the eye, they have a realistic quality because of his concentration on perspective, proportion and attention to detail. Visit or find Bernie Horton Gallery on Facebook.
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