The results of Wine & Spirits magazine’s 23rd annual Restaurant Poll are in, revealing who’s drinking what and how much they’re spending when they dine out.
2011 was a year of improving wine sales as the economy began to put the Great Recession behind it. So even as diners exhibited an ongoing willingness to order the lowest-priced bottles on restaurant wine lists, they also started to once again spend big money on Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne bottlings.
And for those seeking a middle ground—a good bottle of wine that didn’t bust the budget—more and more diners turned to Italian selections in 2011.
Yet with all the emphasis on imported wines, California bottlings continued to be the most popular wines ordered in restaurants, according to the Wine & Spirits poll, claiming nine of the top 10 spots.
Here’s a look at the top 10 brands for 2011:
- Cakebread Cellars
- Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards
- Jordan Vineyard & Winery
- Duckhorn Vineyards
- Orin Swift
- Rombauer Vineyards
- Stag’s Leap Winery
- Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars
- Ferrari-Carano Winery
- Santa Margherita
You can read more about the Wine & Spirits Restaurant Poll on the magazine’s website.
