For the second year in a row, the wine list at Ristorante Verdicchio in Sudbury has gotten the nod from Wine Spectator and its Award of Excellence.
The restaurant is operated by Mark Gregorini on Kelly Lake Road, a little cuisine oasis tucked away in an industrial section of the city. The restaurant posted the news on its website and shared it via Twitter on July 6.
"We are bubbling over with Prosecco and excitement here!" the post reads. "For the second consecutive year, our wine program is being recognized by Wine Spectator."
The ranking means Ristorante Verdicchio | Enoteca will be among the restaurants listed in the Aug. 31 Restaurant Awards issue of Wine Spectator.
"One of very few restaurants in Northern Ontario to receive the award," Verdicchio said, adding the publication presents nearly 3,600 restaurants from 75 countries around the globe deserving distinction for their wine-list excellence.
"When we opened a 20-seat Italian restaurant in 1994, we served the classics like Chianti Ruffino and Amarone Valpolicella," Verdicchio posted. "Then, we started introducing hard-to-find varietals, wine not available at your local LCBO, some real hidden gems.
"By meeting face-to-face with Italian winemakers, working with wine agents, tasting, tasting and more tasting, we were able to expand our wine list to feature one that now boasts 400 varietals."
Wine Spectator noted Verdicchio's strengths as being wines from Tuscany and Piedmont. The restaurant offers 400 selections from an inventory 2,170 bottles strong.
