Madison and Brookfield, Wis. – Wine Spectator magazine has recognized both Wisconsin locations of Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar with an Award of Excellence in this year’s “2008 Restaurant Awards” program, announced in the August issue of the magazine. This awards program is considered to be the definitive guide to the best restaurants in the world for wine.
Fifty-two of Fleming’s restaurants across the country – including Brookfield and Madison – were selected to receive an Award of Excellence in this year’s program. The Awards of Excellence are given by the Wine Spectator’s judging panel of wine experts, connoisseurs, and editors to restaurants which display a dedication to wine, and are based on “a well-chosen selection of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style.”
“The Awards of Excellence reflect our continued commitment to wine and we’re honored to receive them once again,” says Fleming’s Director of Wine, Marian Jansen op de Haar. “We believe that wine is a beverage to be enjoyed with every meal, and we strive to make recommending or selecting a wine for dinner easy and fun. Our progressive lists are organized first by grape variety, then by flavor intensity within that type. This gives our guests a road map for making their selections.”
The innovative wine program features the Fleming’s 100TM wines-by-the-glass program. This year, 70 wines were selected to appear on Fleming’s wine lists throughout the country. The other 30 wines were selected in conjunction with the local wine managers to reflect regional tastes.
“The Fleming’s 100 is an honor roll of excellence from around the world. We look for balanced wines that complement our food, have a sense of place and are a good value,” says Jansen op de Haar.
“We are very honored to earn this recognition from Wine Spectator,” says Richard Chapman, wine manager for Fleming’s in Madison. “Our wine list includes a few local names and we try to keep it accessible to everyone by offering excellent wines in every price range. It’s nice to get recognition for our work.”
More than 70 percent of the new wines featured on this year’s Fleming’s 100 come from “green” wineries – wineries that practice sustainable farming, and/or organic and biodynamic farming. A sustainable farm is environmentally responsible, economically feasible and embraces social equity. The goal of sustainable, organic and biodynamic agriculture is to avoid depleting the long-term health of the land for short-term gain. These practices include avoiding herbicides and pesticides and embracing natural, biologically-based farm management strategies. Additionally, the restaurant offers a by-the-bottle list including over 80 wines from vineyards in the United States and around the world, that have limited availability.
For more information please contact: Sheri Rice Bentley, APR, at sheriricebentley@knupp-watson.com
Eat Wisconsin 