Sure, Asheville may be known as "Beer City," but our cup runneth over when it comes to incredible wine options. Don't believe us? Take it from Wine Spectator, the esteemed wine magazine, which named 11 Asheville establishments among its 2025 Restaurant Awards, celebrating the world’s best restaurants for wine.

Best of Award of Excellence winners

This distinction is for restaurants typically offering 350+ wines, showcasing a variety of growing regions, and serving as a destination for the "serious wine lover."

Posana and The Dining Room at the Inn on Biltmore Estate each brought home the honor this year, with the publication noting both of their specialties in Californian and French wines.

Award of Excellence winners

This award is given to restaurants boasting at least 90 selections that thematically match the food menu, meant "to satisfy discerning wine lovers."

New winners this year include:

Returning winners include:

Our picks

While this is certainly a scintillating list to start sipping from, let us offer some more of our favorite local restaurants for a glass of vino.

James Beard Award-nominated wine bar, Leo's House of Thirst, deserves all the praise for its crisp wine, delicious food, and welcoming patio. Pro tip: Go on Tuesdays for $25 tap wine bottles (and 1/2 bottles for $15).

We also love the out-of-the-ordinary offerings and mapped tasting notes at Potential New Boyfriend, and appreciate all the knowledge from the folks at MOTHER (because we always have questions).