Subito, Jeff Ruby's among 11 Cincinnati restaurants to win global wine awards

Nearly a dozen Greater Cincinnati restaurants recently won prestigious international wine awards.

Wine Spectator, a wine-focused lifestyle magazine, announced the 2024 winners of its Best Restaurants for Wine Awards . Eleven Cincinnati area restaurants received recognition, including Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse, Subito, Alfio's Buon Cibo and Ripple Wine Bar.

According to its website , the annual awards recognize restaurants with wine lists that "offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine, and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers."

To qualify for an award, a restaurant must present a complete and accurate wine list, including vintages and appellations. Wine Spectator then places winning restaurants in three categories: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Excellence and the Grand Award.

The Award of Excellence category includes wine lists offering at least 90 selections and a "thematic match" to the menu in price and style. The Best of Award of Excellence category includes wine lists that offer at least 350 selections. Restaurants in this designation are considered "destinations for serious wine lovers."

The Grand Award, the publication's highest award, is given to restaurants with a wine list featuring over 1,000 selections. The 96 restaurants in this category also deliver a range of top producers, mature vintages, large-format bottles, a superior presentation and a wine list that pairs well with the menu.

The Precinct (311 Delta Ave., East End), Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse Cincinnati (505 Vine St., Downtown) and Carlo & Johnny (9769 Montgomery Road, Montgomery) were the only three local restaurants named as Best of Award of Excellence winners. Eight additional Greater Cincinnati restaurants earned Award of Excellence nods.

• Morton’s Steakhouse (411 Vine St., Downtown).
• Subito (311 Pike St., Downtown).
• Ripple Wine Bar (2000 Madison Road, Evanston).
• Al-Posto Ristorante (2710 Erie Ave., Hyde Park).
• Seasons 52 (3819 Edwards Road, Norwood).
• The Capital Grille (3821 Edwards Road, Norwood).
• Eddie Merlot’s (10808 Montgomery Road, Sycamore Township).
• Alfio’s Buon Cibo (2724 Erie Ave., Hyde Park).

No Cincinnati area restaurants won the Grand Award.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Subito, Jeff Ruby's among 11 Cincinnati restaurants to win global wine awards