cress restaurant deland wines
PHOTO COURTESY CRESS RESTAURANT WHAT’S ON THE MENU? — Whatever the season, though, the wine supply is well-stocked at the restaurant, and it’s no surprise Wine Spectator magazine recognized that.

Cress Restaurant has been honored for its outstanding wine program in Wine Spectator’s 2022 Restaurant Awards, which celebrate the world’s best restaurants for wine.

“I want to congratulate all 3,169 restaurants that earned one of Wine Spectator’s three awards for their devotion to all things wine,” said Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher of Wine Spectator. “These awards not only guide our readers to dining establishments with impressive wine lists and outstanding service, but also serve to honor restaurants for their achievements and commitment to maintaining pristine cellars. We are thrilled to reveal our 2022 Dining Guide, which points to places where wine drinkers are warmly welcomed.”

“We continually strive to offer unique, quality wines to complement our guests’ dining experience,” says Tom Brandt, owner of Cress Restaurant. “We are so honored to be recognized by Wine Spectator for doing that.”

Brandt took over as owner of Cress Restaurant in 2021 when he and his wife, Suran Brandt, bought out the restaurant’s founders, Hari and Jenneffer Pulapaka. Since then, the Brandts have continued to provide a world-class dining experience to guests from DeLand and beyond.

Wine Spectator began its program to recognize the world’s best wine lists in 1981. There are three levels: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Excellence, and the Grand Award — with 1,782, 1,290 and 97 winners this year, respectively.

Cress Restaurant has won the Award of Excellence, recognizing 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.

To celebrate the win, Cress Restaurant a 20-percent discount off of any bottle of wine on Tuesday, July 26, and Thursday through Saturday, July 28-30.

Cress Restaurant was also voted the best overall restaurant in the Orlando Sentinel’s 2020 annual Foodie Awards.

— Beacon reporter Noah Hertz contributed to this story.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Thank you for reporting on the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence we received for our wine program. However, I believe the restaurant named as the Orlando Sentinel 2022 Best Restaurant Overall was The Strand in Orlando.
    Cress Restaurant was named in 2020 as the Reader’s Choice for Best Restaunt overall.

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