Viva Hospitality’s trio of restaurants — Michael’s St. Augustine, La Nouvelle and Pesca Vilano — have been recognized by Wine Spectator in its annual awards naming the best wine restaurants in the world.
Michael’s and La Nouvelle received the Best of Award of Excellence, while Pesca Vilano received the Award of Excellence.
The awards acknowledge restaurants that invest in their wine program, providing superb lists and knowledgeable service.
“We’ve invested 18 years building a global wine list at Michael’s,” says Michael Lugo, owner and executive chef at Viva Hospitality. “When my team started working on the concept for La Nouvelle, we committed to developing a wine program that was unlike any in this area. Lyndsay Burnett, our wine director, and I wanted to showcase France’s vast and diverse wine-making regions with respect, integrity and thoughtful intent. The staffs’ buy-in from day one has meant the world to me. Magic happens when a team comes together with a shared vision.”
Launched in 1981, the Restaurant Awards represent the world’s only program focused exclusively on restaurant wine service. They are assigned on three levels: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Excellence and the Grand Award.
Michael’s and La Nouvelle were recognized with the Best of Award Excellence, given to only 1,531 restaurants worldwide that display excellent breadth across multiple winegrowing regions and/or significant vertical depth of top producers, along with superior presentation.
Pesca Vilano received the Award of Excellence, bestowed upon 2,150 restaurants, with a wine list featuring a well-chosen assortment of quality producers along with a thematic match to the menu in price and style.
Lugo’s culinary curiosity began in his grandmother’s kitchen, and those humble beginnings are evident in all his ventures. The bespoke wine programs, painstakingly sourced ingredients, deft dish preparation, and the commitment to impeccable hospitality are executed with the air of a beloved family member cooking for their brood. That deep investment has carried over into the selection of each property’s curated beverage program.
“I stepped into an absolute gem at Michael’s,” said Burnett. “With La Nouvelle, Michael had a really clear vision, and we had fun with it, stepping outside of the lines and taking chances. It normally takes years and a globally diverse wine list to earn this type of recognition, but because we invested in quality vintages, worked to showcase the depth of French wine production and learned from our past experiences, in less than a year, we’ve built a wine program we are proud of and are truly honored to receive these awards."
The Viva Hospitality restaurants are all in St. Augustine.
Michael’s, located at 25 Cuna St., features a seasonal menu focused on steaks and coastal Spanish-inspired cuisine; La Nouvelle, located at 102 Bridge St., features French Nouveau cuisine with an elevated edge; Pesca Vilano, located at 117 Vilano Road, is a tribute to Lugo’s Puerto Rican lineage, fusing global coastal cuisine with Latin flavors.
Learn more at vivahosp.com.
