The Rees Hotel Queenstown’s True South Dining Room, one of New Zealand’s top multi-award-winning, fine-dining restaurants, has been awarded a 2018 Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence. This is the seventh consecutive year the hotel’s restaurant has won a Wine Spectator award for its wine program from the US bestselling wine and hospitality magazine, Wine Spectator. Formerly achieving the Award of Excellence each year, this is the first time True South has earned this next level, even more prestigious award and it is the only restaurant in Queenstown to achieve a Wine Spectator award in 2018.
The Wine Spectator awards recognises outstanding wine lists, with recipients hailing from 70 countries. The awards are designed to elevate wine selection and service around the globe and encourage programs that complement a variety of cuisines, settings and prices. The Best of Award of Excellence seeks wine lists which display “excellent breadth across multiple winegrowing regions and/or significant vertical depth of top producers, along with superior presentation. Typically offering 350 or more selections, these restaurants are destinations for serious wine lovers, showing a deep commitment to wine, both in the cellar and through their service team.”
True South Dining Room has a comprehensive collection of Bordeaux and Burgundy wines with vintages selected from many of the great houses. Wines from world-renown chateaux such as Romanee Conti, Chateau d’Yquem, Latour, Margaux, Mouton Rothschild and Lynch Bages along with some of the best offerings from Central Otago, New Zealand, Australia and Italy in the professionally-managed, temperature-controlled wine cellar servicing the hotel and restaurant’s Bordeau Wine Lounge.
The Rees Hotel Queenstown’s General Manager, Mark Rose, says it’s the restaurant’s ability to match superb wine with fresh, locally sourced dishes in addition to a holistic wine programme – which includes tastings, wine pairings and the True South Culinary Winemaker’s Culinary Series Dinner – that distinguishes the restaurant internationally for it to achieve this award. True South Dining Room gives ongoing support to local vineyards through their Winemaker’s Culinary Series dinners throughout the year. The award is important as it gives recognition to the effort put into building and maintaining a first-class cellar while confirming True South Dining Room as one of New Zealand’s best dining experiences.
“To receive the higher Best of Award of Excellence this year and to be recognised again for the 7th year in a row, by one of the most prestigious and well known international reviewers for our wine selection is a remarkable achievement and yet another excellent outcome for The Rees in 2018,” says Mr Rose.
True South Dining Room’s other awards include a prestigious 2 Stars – World’s Best Wine Lists for 2017 from the World of Fine Wine for the 3rd consecutive year, The Beef and Lamb Excellence Award in 2018 for the 4th consecutive year and Best Hotel Chef won by Executive Chef Ben Batterbury at the prestigious 2017 HM Awards for Accommodation and Hotel Excellence.
Along with The Rees Hotel’s regular exclusive Winemaker’s Culinary Series Dinners, it also offers Heli Wine Tasting Experiences hosted by Mark Rose. Guests can enjoy 180-degree panoramic views of Queenstown from a six-seater helicopter, a gourmet lunch and sample a variety of award-winning wines from local regions.
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