The coveted Wine Spectator Award of Excellence is granted to wine lists which satisfy discerning wine lovers with at least 90 selections, comprising a well-chosen assortment of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in price and style.

The even more prestigious Wine Spectator Best Award of Excellence recognises destinations for serious wine lovers. Showing a deep commitment in terms of cellar selection, service offering and superior presentation, these wine lists feature 350 or more labels that display excellent breadth across multiple winegrowing regions from top producers.

Anantara’s expertise in the world of fine wines is held in high esteem by guests, and also by the industry, with 26 Wine Spectator 2016 Awards a testament to the diversity and sophistication. An industry benchmark of excellence, Wine Spectator's Restaurant Awards recognise restaurants whose wine lists offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers.

“The Wine Spectator awards are known worldwide as a guide to the world’s best wines and we are honoured to be part of the Wine Spectator awards which recognises restaurants that show passion and commitment when it comes to wine,” said Jirachai Sethisakko Chief Wine Guru for Anantara.

In Thailand, an impressive 11 restaurants at Anantara resorts have been presented with a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence including: Baan Dhalia at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort; The Service 1921 and The Restaurant at Anantara Chiang Mai Resort; Madison Restaurant at Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel; Sea.Fire.Salt. at Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas and Tree Tops Sky Dining at Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort.

In Vietnam, Riverside Café at Anantara Hoi An Resort provides a charming terrace to sample distinguished wines with gourmet western and Vietnamese favourites. In Bali, MoonLite Kitchen & Bar at Anantara Seminyak Bali Resort showcases contemporary Asian cuisine with a premium wine list of over 100 labels. At the newly opened Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort along Sri Lanka’s southern coast, Il Mare serves delectable Italian cuisine with exquisite wine pairings on a cliff edge with astonishing Indian Ocean views.

In the UAE, six Anantara restaurants have been honoured with a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort scooped three of these for its Australian grill restaurant Bushman’s, Mediterranean restaurant The Beach House, and specialty Asian dining venue Mekong. In the vast Liwa Desert, guests of Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara’s Suhail steakhouse and rooftop lounge. While at the Sir Bani Yas Island Resorts, seafood specialties at Amwaj are enjoyed with an Arabian Sea view, and sumptuous grill dishes at Savannah are served in the heart of the Arabian wildlife park, each with a generous global wine selection.

Fine wines elevate dining in paradise, with six restaurants at Anantara resorts in the Maldives given Wine Spectator Awards, including two boasting the Best Award of Excellence. Descending to the exclusive underwater restaurant and wine cellar Sea at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, wine aficionados are regaled with 360 labels, allowing diners to indulge in extraordinary gastronomy with a surreal panorama of tropical marine life.

"We research the latest trends and the most popular selections every year, and update our wine lists to ensure that we provide a wide variety of new and old world wines, offering guests quality and variety,” Mr. Sethisakko concluded.

For more information on any of Anantara’s award winning hotels and resorts please go to www.anantara.com