From neighbourhood favourites to big-city destinations, VineRoutes invites restaurants across Canada to apply for our Restaurant Awards program
Following the successful launch of the VineRoutes Restaurant Awards in 2025 — and the recognition of 22 standout winners across the country — applications are now open for the 2026 awards.
To apply for a 2026 Restaurant Award, click here!
Designed to celebrate excellence in wine service, curation and hospitality, the VineRoutes Restaurant Awards spotlight Canadian establishments whose wine programs elevate the dining experience. From emerging neighbourhood gems to established culinary destinations, the program recognizes achievement across three distinct award tiers.
Award categories
The VineRoutes Restaurant Awards recognize excellence at three levels, each reflecting a different degree of depth, range and commitment to wine service.
Regional Excellence Award (one winner in 2025):
This award recognizes restaurants that place a primary focus on Canadian wine, requiring a minimum of 50 percent of the wine list to be local/Canadian. Lists must be carefully curated to complement the menu in both style and price, demonstrating thoughtful alignment between kitchen and cellar.
Award of Distinction (16 winners in 2025):
This tier celebrates restaurants with expansive, carefully constructed wine programs that demonstrate depth, diversity and range. Lists typically feature 100 or more selections spanning multiple global regions and grape varieties, and are overseen by an in-house sommelier or wine director during dinner service. Smaller lists may be considered if they demonstrate particular strength in Canadian producers.
The Vine Award – for Best in Distinction (five winners in 2025):
The Vine Award represents the highest level of recognition within the program. Reserved for benchmark-level wine programs, this distinction honours restaurants that combine breadth, depth and exemplary service. These establishments demonstrate leadership in both international and Canadian wine representation (a minimum of five percent of the overall wine selection must be Canadian VQA), along with thoughtful cellar development and a strong culture of wine education and hospitality.
Recipients of the Vine Award set a national standard for wine-focused dining in Canada.
Key dates for 2026
The online application portal will be open from February 15 to May 31, 2026.
- Early Bird Deadline: March 31, 2026
- Final Submission Deadline: May 31, 2026
Award recipients will be notified by email during the summer, with winners announced on VineRoutes.com in early fall. Official certificates are mailed in October.
How to apply
All applications must be submitted through the VineRoutes online platform. New applicants, renewing winners and restaurants seeking an award upgrade are required to complete the full application.
Applicants must provide:
- A digital copy of their current wine list
- A digital copy of their dinner menu
- Digital photos of the restaurant (interior and exterior, if available)
- A headshot of the wine director or lead sommelier
- A headshot of the head chef
Submitted materials may be used to enhance a restaurant’s listing within the VineRoutes Restaurant Awards Index.
Application fees
- Early Bird Rate: $350
(Applications submitted and paid between February 15 and March 31, 2026) - Standard Rate: $425
(Applications submitted between April 1 and May 31, 2026; payment must be received by June 1, 2026)
Applicants will receive a confirmation email upon submission, followed by an invoice. Payment must be received within 30 days to qualify.
Eligibility
The VineRoutes Restaurant Awards are currently open to restaurants located in Canada.
Private clubs are not eligible. Winery restaurants that serve exclusively their own wines are also not eligible.
Award validity and upgrades
Restaurants earning the Regional Excellence Award or Award of Distinction are exempt from reapplying for two years, provided they remain open and in good standing.
Recipients of the Vine Award (Best in Distinction) hold their status for three years before reapplying.
Restaurants wishing to be considered for an upgrade must reapply during the application window. Upgrades are evaluated based on meeting qualifying criteria — for example, increased total wine selections, expanded Canadian representation, or the addition of a full-time sommelier. However, meeting minimum standards does not guarantee advancement to the Vine Award tier.
Why apply?
Winning a VineRoutes Restaurant Award offers:
- National visibility: Winners are featured on VineRoutes.com and across VineRoutes’ dining-focused newsletter and social media platforms.
- Editorial recognition: Award-winning restaurants are regularly highlighted in VineRoutes’ restaurant, food and lifestyle coverage.
- Professional distinction: Winners receive an official certificate and digital assets to promote their achievement.
Restaurants interested in applying can visit the Restaurant Awards information page, which includes a link to the FAQ, to begin their submission.
For questions, contact restaurants@vineroutes.com. And don’t forget to subscribe to our Vine & Dine Newsletter in order to receive all our latest updates and features on Food & Wine.
