Mosaic is first restaurant in Africa to win Wine Spectator Grand Award

Moses Magwaza, Eric_Botha, Chantel Dartnall

The award-winning Gauteng based restaurant has been celebrated for its cellar which boasts more than 75,000 bottles and nearly 6,000 different labels.

In a letter to Mosaic, Marvin Shanken, editor and publisher of Wine Spectator said: "(Your) wine list is one of the best in the world and our inspection determined that Restaurant Mosaic also excels in food, service and ambience."

In reaction, Restaurant Mosaic's Cobus du Plessis said: "To be awarded this accolade by such a well respected and distinguished publication as Wine Spectator is truly the highest mark of distinction. We understand that this will be the first time that a restaurant from the African continent will be awarded this celebrated prize and it means everything to the sommelier team and all the staff who worked tirelessly for the past 10 years in establishing and upholding the standards of the restaurant."

38 years of wine excellence recognition

Wine Spectator's Restaurant Awards programme, currently celebrating its 38th year of identifying the world’s best wine programmes, recognises restaurants whose wine lists offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers.

Taryn Nortje, Eric Botha, Chantel Dartnall, Moses Magwaza, Mari Dartnall

Wine Spectator's highest award, the Grand Award, is given to restaurants that show an uncompromising, passionate devotion to the quality of their wine programmes. These wine lists typically feature 1,000 or more selections and deliver a serious breadth of top producers, outstanding depth in mature vintages, a selection of large-format bottles, excellent harmony with the menu, and superior presentation.

Du Plessis, along with Mosaic’s multi award-winning chef, Chantel Dartnall and winner of last year’s Wine Service Award from Eat Out, sommelier Moses Magwaza, have been invited to attend the New York Wine Experience Grand Awards Banquet, which will be held in New York City on Saturday, 20 October 2018, to receive their award.

Click here to view the full list winners for the 2018 Wine Spectator Grand Awards.