Set in some of the world’s top skiing regions, these Wine Spectator Restaurant Award winners lift the romance of winter getaways to new heights. Experience modern luxuries amid historic surroundings, from family-owned resorts in St.-Moritz to a wine-centric Italian restaurant at the site of several venues for the 2006 Winter Olympics. Plus, each of these destinations has a summer season, so you can experience them in an entirely new way during the warmer months.
To check out more wine-and-food destinations around the world, see Wine Spectator’s more than 3,500 Restaurant Award–winning picks, including the 91 Grand Award recipients worldwide that hold our highest honor.
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ALBERT PREMIER
Showcasing local ingredients and French wines
Hameau Albert Premier, 38 Route du Bouchet, Chamonix, France
(33) 4-50-53-05-09
www.hameaualbert.fr
Open for lunch and dinner, Thursday to Tuesday
Best of Award of Excellence
Wine list selections 1,000
Inventory 20,000
Cuisine For $116, guests can experience a six-course menu of regional French dishes that changes daily. Chef Damien Leveau incorporates prized ingredients from the French and Italian Alps like char from Lake Geneva, snails from the Mont Blanc region, local meats and Alpine cheeses. There’s also an abbreviated menu available on weekdays for $83 and a 10-course menu with an Italian theme for $177.
Wine strengths French selections make up the bulk of the list, with exceptional picks from Burgundy and the Rhône. You’ll find dozens of grands crus from top Burgundy producers such as Domaine Leflaive, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Bonneau du Martray. A wine pairing is available with the 10-course menu for an additional $108 per person.
From modest guesthouse to modern hotel Located in the winter-sports destination of France’s Mont Blanc region, Hameau Albert Premier is still owned by its founders, the Carrier family. Though it opened in 1903, the hotel offers all the comforts of contemporary lodging across various guest rooms and private cabins, plus a spa with extensive treatment options.
EL PARADISO
Sky-high Swiss cuisine
Via Engadina, Suvretta, St.-Moritz, Switzerland
(41) 81-833-4002
www.elparadiso.ch
Open for lunch and dinner, daily, Dec. 8, 2018, to March 31, 2019; call ahead for hours, June 29, 2019, to Sept. 15, 2019
Best of Award of Excellence
Wine list selections 750
Inventory 9,950
Standout Swiss wines Drink local with more than 10 pages of diverse Swiss selections, from traditional varieties like Riesling and Pinot Noir to Chardonnay and a handful of rosés.
Wine strengths Wine director Anja Zingg’s wine list also excels in German bottlings, with Rieslings going back to the 1980s and big-name producers such as Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt and Franz Künstler. Similarly strong selections abound in Burgundy, Bordeaux, Italy and Champagne.
Cuisine Chef Frank Schuster’s Swiss menu is moderately priced but offers decadent additions like shaved truffles and caviar service. The wide-ranging menu presents soups, seafood, meats, pastas and more. Create a customized fondue course with three different types of cheese to choose from and add-ons like cherry brandy and dried beef.
Sweeping snowy views El Paradiso is perched on the Suvretta slope in St.-Moritz. The restaurant’s name hints at a heavenly experience because of several sprawling, open-air terraces boasting outstanding views of the skies and surrounding mountains.
GRIGGELER STUBA
An Austrian wine authority since 1997
Burg Vital Resort, Oberlech 568, Lech am Arlberg, Austria
(43) 5583-3140
www.burgvitalresort.com
Open for dinner, Sunday to Friday, Dec. 6, 2018, to April 22, 2019; Wednesday to Monday, June 28, 2019, to Sept. 22, 2019
Best of Award of Excellence
Wine list selections 3,000
Inventory 70,000
Wine strengths Of all Restaurant Award winners in Austria, Griggeler Stuba has the largest wine inventory and the second-highest number of wine selections on the list (behind Grand Award winner Palais Coburg, which has 5,400 selections). Wine director Thomas Lucian’s extensive program shows strengths across the board, most notably in Austria, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Italy, Spain, Germany and Champagne.
Outstanding Austrian labels Griggeler Stuba has championed local wines since it opened in 1997. Highlights of the Austrian collection include more than 150 large-format options, seven vintages of Franz Hirtzberger Riesling Smaragd Trocken Wachau Spitzer Singerriedel and a vertical of a Johanneshof Reinisch Pinot Noir going back to the 1990s.
Cuisine Starting at $132, the nine-course tasting menu changes daily based on chef Dominic Baumann’s current inspiration. The regional dishes spotlight produce and herbs locally grown in Oberlech.
Collection of cabins Burg Vital Resort has various rooms, suites and apartments throughout seven chalets connected by underground passageways. The property sits at the base of the Arlberg mountains, with easy access to the slopes.
LA BAGATELLE
Fine dining in a peaceful Swiss town
Le Grand Chalet, Neueretstrasse 43, Gstaad, Switzerland
(41) 337-48-76-76
www.grandchalet.ch
Open for lunch and dinner, daily
Best of Award of Excellence
Wine list selections 1,000
Inventory 20,000
Cuisine Enjoy a panoramic view of the village of Gstaad from Le Grand Chalet’s restaurant, where chef Stève Williè serves French-influenced regional fare. Several entrées are made for two, like whole sea bass wrapped in pastry and roasted duck breast with wild pepper and Chinese noodles.
Wine strengths Wine director Pedro Ferreira built the well-rounded wine list that’s strongest in Bordeaux, with a growing collection of Burgundy. Producers in the substantial Swiss section include Bovard and Domaine Henri Cruchon. Selections from Italy, the Rhône and Portugal also stand out.
Premium without the price tag Despite its upscale setting, La Bagatelle provides plenty of value on its moderately-priced wine list. There are hundreds of bottles under $100 and an array of half-bottles from around the world.
High-altitude accommodations At 3,600 feet, Le Grand Chalet offers a winter-cabin aesthetic with 21 guest rooms overlooking Gstaad, a tranquil Swiss village that’s been car-free since 1996. The property is surrounded by more than 135 miles of ski slopes and nearly 200 miles of trails for winter hikes.
LA VINERIA DEL COLLE
A winter destination for Italian wine lovers
Grand Hotel Sestriere, Via Assietta 1, Sestriere, Italy
(39) 0122-76-476
www.lavineriadelcolle.it
Open for lunch and dinner, Wednesday to Monday
Best of Award of Excellence
Wine list selections 3,000
Inventory 28,000
Wine strengths Italy shines on wine director Luca Novara’s list, particularly Piedmont and Tuscany. Other international regions—such as Chile, California, Israel and South Africa—are also represented.
Aged Italian bottles The program features standout verticals like seven vintages of Gaja and nearly two dozen vintages of Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia going back to the 1960s.
Cuisine Chef Gnanasegaram Jelaseelan complements the Italian-leaning wine list with regional plates such as grilled lamb chop with rosemary oil and paccheri pasta with pancetta and vegetables.
Historic surroundings Grand Hotel Sestriere is named for the surrounding village, one of the top destinations for skiing in Italy and the site of several venues for the 2006 Winter Olympics. All the rooms and suites boast views of the snow-blanketed mountains.
LE 1947
Culinary sophistication in the French Alps
Cheval Blanc Courchevel, 190 Rue Du Jardin Alpin, Courchevel, France
(33) 0-47-90-05-050
www.chevalblanc.com/courchevel/fr/art-culinaire/le-1947.html
Open for dinner, Tuesday through Sunday, Dec 14, 2018, to April 7, 2019
Best of Award of Excellence
Wine list selections 1,150
Inventory 15,000
Wine strengths Sommelier Sébastien Labe oversees the wine list at Le 1947, which is mostly French except for a handful of selections from places like Italy, Lebanon, Israel and Germany. Burgundy and Bordeaux are the strongest sections of the list, while there are numerous impressive verticals from top Champagne houses.
Cuisine Each night, only about 20 diners get to experience chef Yannick Alléno’s signature cuisine. The ultramodern yet intimate space sets the stage for the contemporary French plates, which are heavily influenced by seasonality.
Bordeaux bond The hotel is named after the Château Cheval-Blanc domaine in Bordeaux’s St.-Emilion region, while the restaurant is named for Cheval-Blanc’s most legendary vintage. To honor this connection, Le 1947 features a separate list to showcase Château Cheval-Blanc selections, including the rare ’47.
Stress-free skiing The ski service team at Cheval Blanc Courchevel goes above and beyond, setting up your equipment directly on the slopes and preheating ski boots before you arrive. For non-skiing snow lovers, the hotel hosts activities like hot-air balloon rides over the Alpines, sled dog–driven rides to an igloo for Champagne and outdoor workouts with the on-site trainer.
LE RESTAURANT
A classic restaurant near world-class slopes
The Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, Via Serlas 27, St.-Moritz, Switzerland
(41) 818-37-26-38
www.badruttspalace.com/en/restaurants-bars-club/restaurants/le-restaurant
Open for lunch and dinner, daily, Dec. 1, 2018, to March 31, 2019, and June 28, 2019, to Sept. 1, 2019
Best of Award of Excellence
Wine list selections 1,200
Inventory 30,000
Global destination Skiers around the world flock to St.-Moritz for its renowned slopes. Badrutt’s Palace has a prime spot among the Engadin mountains, surrounded by more than 200 miles of slopes with an on-site ski shop and skiing school.
Cuisine The hotel’s Le Restaurant represents classic gourmet dining, complete with caviar service and various tableside preparations. The French-leaning European menu features dishes like sea bass baked in a salt crust and beef stroganoff.
Wine strengths Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne are the heart of the wine program. The Italian section is similarly strong, and there are also several Swiss picks for those who prefer to drink local.
Majestic and modern Badrutt’s Palace was built in 1856, but multiple renovations have kept it on the cutting edge of luxury travel. The sprawling property has high-end retail stores, a comprehensive wellness center and eight other dining concepts, including a new location of Best of Award of Excellence winner Restaurant Igniv by Andreas Caminada.
LUCE D’ORO
Modern cuisine in a historic resort
Schloss Elmau, In Elmau 2, Elmau, Germany
(49) 8823-18-0
www.schloss-elmau.de
Open for dinner, Wednesday to Saturday
Best of Award of Excellence
Wine list selections 1,500
Inventory 19,000
Wine strengths Except for a small California section, the wine list at Luce d’Oro is entirely European, excelling in Germany, Austria, Italy and France. Wine director Marie-Helen Krebs has significantly grown the program in the past two years, adding 200 labels to the wine list and 2,000 bottles to the cellar.
Vintage variety Luce d’Oro offers an average of two vintages per wine selection. The wine list is filled with strong verticals; for example, eight vintages of Méo-Camuzet, nine vintages of Bassermann-Jordan Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese Pfalz Deidesheimer Hohenmorgen and 11 vintages of Ornellaia.
Cuisine Japanese influences add a modern, creative twist to chef Christoph Rainer’s menu, which features dishes like scallop with miso and venison with red shiso and sesame.
Cultural hotspot For more than a century, Schloss Elmau has been hosting a wide range of events such as concerts, readings and talks by visiting speakers. Concert tickets are included with your stay, and some musical performances at the hotel’s Al Camino Bar are exclusively for Schloss Elmau guests.
POST STUBEN
Family hospitality at its best
Hotel Gasthof Post, Dorf 11, Lech Am Arlberg, Austria
(43) 5583-2206-0
www.postlech.com
Open for lunch and dinner, daily, Nov. 30, 2018, to April 22, 2019
Best of Award of Excellence
Wine list selections 610
Inventory 12,485
Cuisine Hotel Gasthof Post’s Post Stuben creates comforting cuisine to bring travelers a sense of home. Chef David Wagger executes the menu of regional specialties such as Tafelspitz, a dish made with beef boiled in broth, and Kaiserschmarren, a dessert likened to a shredded pancake.
Homey luxury Owned by the Moosbrugger family since 1937, the hotel is located in the heart of Lech, a famed winter sports region. The rooms maintain a country-charm feel with cozy accents like wood paneling, antique pieces and intricate carvings.
Wine-producing proprietors Two members of the Moosbrugger family, Michael and Eva, own the winery Schloss Gobelsburg. Labels from the historic estate are showcased on the first two pages of Post Stuben’s wine list, highlighting its most important varieties, Grüner Veltliner and Riesling.
Wine strengths In addition to showcasing the Moosbruggers’ label, the wine program champions a range of Austrian producers like Karl Fritsch and Johanneshof Reinisch. The list is also strong in France, especially Burgundy, as well as Italy and Spain.
THE RESTAURANT AT THE CHEDI ANDERMATT
Alpine dining with an Asian twist
The Chedi Andermatt, Gotthardstrasse 4, Andermatt, Switzerland
(41) 041-88-874-88
www.thechediandermatt.com/en/Restaurants/The-Restaurant
Open for lunch and dinner, daily
Best of Award of Excellence
Wine list selections 1,205
Inventory 10,000
Cuisine Four open kitchens throughout the restaurant churn out chef Dietmar Sawyere’s eclectic menu. The dishes draw inspiration from southeast Asian cuisines—think Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese and Thai—while incorporating local specialties. A walk-in cellar holds more than 40 varieties of Swiss cheese for guests to peruse.
Wine strengths To complement the diverse menu, wine director Simon Gustafsson’s selections span the globe, with an emphasis on Switzerland and additional strengths in France, especially Burgundy, as well as Germany. A rotating selection of high-end wines are available by Coravin.
Bordeaux-boasting cellar One of the restaurant’s numerous wine-storage rooms, the Wine Cave, is decorated with barrels and a private collection of 64 vintages of Château Mouton-Rothschild. The space is available for booking private dinners.
Combining cultures Like its restaurant, the Chedi Andermatt hotel shows substantial Asian influence. Design details include natural stone floors and dark wood panels, and in the spa, guests can indulge in customizable Eastern treatments and kick back at the Tibetan Relaxation Lounge.
RESTAURANT IGNIV BY ANDREAS CAMINADA
Local specialties from a Swiss chef
Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, Bernhard-Simonstrasse, Bad Ragaz, Switzerland
(41) 081-303-30-30
www.igniv.com
Open for lunch and dinner, Wednesday to Sunday
Best of Award of Excellence
Wine list selections 600
Inventory 40,000
Cuisine Chef Silvio Germann executes the culinary vision of Swiss chef Andreas Caminada. The regional dishes are available à la carte, but the restaurant is known for its “Sharing Experiences.” The core prix-fixe menu consists of three courses for $150, and guests can opt for three or five additional surprise components for $40 or $60, respectively.
Wine strengths Wine director Francesco Benvenuto highlights Swiss selections and rounds out the list with strengths in classic regions of Burgundy, Italy and Bordeaux. Among the many exciting verticals are more than 10 vintages each of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée St.-Vivant.
Choose your adventure The encompassing Grand Resort Bad Ragaz is in close proximity to the skiing areas of Grisons, Glarus and St. Gallen. Activities range from thrilling ice-wall climbing and high-altitude ski tours to more laid-back options like snowshoe hikes and natural ice rinks.
Culinary packages Restaurant Igniv offers several packages through the resort, with perks such as limousine service to a six-course lunch in a historic nearby castle and wine tastings with Benvenuto.
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