Sedona’s Dahl Restaurant Group sweeps wine awards

All three of Chef Lisa Dahl’s fine dining restaurants in Sedona, including Dahl & Di LucaRistorante Italiano, Cucina Rustica and Mariposa – Latin Inspired Grill, received the 2016 “Award of Excellence” by Wine Spectator, the world’s leading authority on wine.

Chef Dahl’s restaurants are among just seven restaurants in Sedona that received this year’s coveted “Award of Excellence.” Her newest restaurant, Mariposa Latin-Inspired Grill, was recognized for the first time for its expansive collection of 600 wines hand-selected largely from Chile and Argentina, including several rare wines from Uruguay. Housed in two dramatic glass-enclosed wine vaults, Mariposa’s wine collection was curated from Dahl’s travels across South America.

Receiving the “Award of Excellence” for the 11th consecutive year, Dahl & Di Luca and Cucina Rustica were also recognized for their extensive wine collections. Dahl & Di Luca features more than 1,000 bottles of wine focused on European varietals from France, Spain and Italy designed to enhance the flavors of Chef Dahl’s delicate and flavorful pastas and hard-to-find Italian classics. At Cucina Rustica, varieties of wines reflect an eclectic mix of Chef Dahl’s personal favorites for large and small producers with a focus on affordable Italian wines.

“I have always been passionate about pairing wonderful food with amazing wine, it truly makes a meal complete,” said Dahl. “Creating and maintaining the wine programs at each of my restaurants has been a labor of love and is something I am incredibly proud of.”

Wine Spectator’s “Award of Excellence” recognizes restaurants whose wine lists feature a well-chosen assortment of quality producers along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style. Cucina Rustica, Dahl & Di Luca and Mariposa have been recognized among other winners from all over the globe as a top destination for wine lovers.

The complete list of award winners is available in print in Wine Spectator’s August issue, on newsstands July 19, and online at the newly minted Restaurants.WineSpectator.com.