July 2025, Verona – A recognition that stands the test of time: for the twenty-second consecutive year, Antica Bottega del Vino (link) in Verona has been included in the prestigious circle of venues awarded the Grand Award by Wine Spectator (link), an honor bestowed since 1981 by the renowned US magazine to the world’s most outstanding and carefully curated wine lists – those that feature an extensive selection of top producers, exceptional vintage depth, a collection of signature bottles, outstanding harmony with the menu and high-quality presentation.
A milestone that continues to represent the pinnacle of excellence for the historic establishment, which for over a century has masterfully embodied the inseparable bond between wine and food. With a wine list boasting over 4.000 labels and a cellar housing approximately 22.000 bottles, Antica Bottega del Vino confirms its status as an essential destination for wine lovers and culinary travelers alike.
„The Bottega is becoming an institution in the world of wine, and it’s perceived as such not only by our guests, but also by the producers themselves. Italy’s top winemakers—and not only them—entrust us with rare bottles, often vintages that are no longer available on the market“ comments Simone Isoli, Head Sommelier of Antica Bottega del Vino. „Our team is made up of passionate professionals, each with different areas of expertise and specialized training. We are constantly studying, staying up to date, and above all, traveling to experience wine regions firsthand. We ‚walk the vineyards,‘ as Veronelli used to say, to immerse ourselves in the culture of a place and convey to our guests not just technical facts, but also the lived nuances behind each wine.“
“We are immensely proud that Wine Spectator, the ‚bible of wine‘, has once again honored us with the prestigious Grand Award: it’s a recognition that is especially meaningful to us, as we are the second restaurant in Italy – by historical continuity – to have received it uninterruptedly since 2004” says Luca Nicolis, Director of Antica Bottega del Vino. “The selection criteria become more demanding every year, as shown by the fact that in 2025 only six Italian restaurants were awarded. Being an international benchmark for wine is a tremendous privilege, especially in the northeast of our country, a region where many professionals invest in outstanding wine lists and where Michelin-starred restaurants abound.”
Owned by ten members of Famiglie Storiche (link), the guardians of Amarone’s winemaking tradition – Allegrini, Begali, Brigaldara, Masi, Musella, Speri, Tedeschi, Tenuta Sant’Antonio, Tommasi and Zenato –, Antica Bottega del Vino stands as a stronghold of wine culture and tradition in the city. But the future is just around the corner, and it carries the scent of high altitudes. “We’re now looking ahead to the opening of a second location in Cortina, scheduled for the winter of 2025/2026, and we’re preparing to present a second wine list to Wine Spectator,” Nicolis concludes. “It will be the sister to our Verona list: more streamlined, but with the same spirit”.
The iconic Veronese establishment is in effect ready to cross the borders of the city and double its presence with a new opening in the heart of Dolomites, scheduled for the winter of 2025–2026, just as the Winter Olympic Games draw near. The new venue will be a natural extension of the Verona model, offering the same meticulous selection, the same passion for storytelling through wine and the same warmth in hospitality.
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Antica Bottega del Vino
Born in 1500 during the Republic of Venice, the Antica Bottega del Vino was given its current name in 1890 by the Sterzi brothers, who also gave the venue its charming warm and characteristic style of the 1800s which is still visible today. The restaurant became a landmark for the cultural scene of the late 1800s as well as for wine lovers. It welcomed to its tables poets, musicians, literary figures, and artists including Boccioni, as well as journalists who sought refuge in its atmosphere after a day of editing. In 1957 the venue was purchased by the Rizzo-Grigolo family, who ran it primarily as a restaurant until the end of 1987 when Severino Barzan arrived on the scene and who together with his partner Giovanni Pascucci brought the Bottega concept to New York. In 2010 the restaurant passed into the hands of the then eleven Famiglie Storiche, who purchased the Bottega del Vino, safeguarding the enological tradition of this symbolic location in Verona.
Famiglie Storiche
The Famiglie Storiche is an Association that came into being in June 2009 through the union of ten historical wineries of Valpolicella. Today, after the departure of Venturini and the arrival of Bertani, there are 13 members: Allegrini, Begali, Bertani, Brigaldara, Guerrieri Rizzardi, Masi, Musella, Speri, Tedeschi, Tenuta Sant’Antonio, Tommasi, Torre D’Orti, and Zenato. All members are prestigious wineries that for generations have borne witness to “the world of Amarone” and share a singular vision based on history, craftsmanship, a bond with the territory, and a desire to increase national and international awareness of wines produced in Valpolicella. Ten members of the Famiglie Storiche currently share joint ownership of the Antica Bottega del Vino in Verona.
