Photo by Matt de Simone
Tizzone UnWined has been recognized for its wine program with a 2026 Wine Spectator Restaurant Award.
The Daleville restaurant received the Award of Excellence, one of three levels of recognition presented through Wine Spectator’s annual Restaurant Awards. The awards recognize restaurants around the world for outstanding wine programs.
According to Wine Spectator, 4,012 restaurants received a Restaurant Award this year, including 2,083 Award of Excellence recipients.
The Award of Excellence recognizes restaurants whose wine lists feature at least 75 selections and offer a well-chosen assortment of quality producers.
For Tizzone UnWined, the honor marks the restaurant’s second Wine Spectator Award.
“We are honored to receive our second Wine Spectator Award, which is such a reflection of the incredible atmosphere we have created here, rather than just the list itself,” said Brandon Linthicum, sommelier and food and manager. “Our selections reflect our staff, our guests, our incredible Cartel Wine Club, our hands-on experience through Dobbin’s Creek Vineyards, and the willingness of all parties to be so adventurous through our food and wine pairings.”
Linthicum said the restaurant’s wine program has continued to grow alongside the surrounding area.
“We are in a rapidly developing area of Virginia, and it has been wonderful to match the growth of the area with the further development of our wine list,” he said.
Wine Spectator Chairman and CEO Marvin R. Shanken congratulated the restaurants recognized this year, noting that diners are becoming increasingly selective about when, how and what they drink.
The annual Restaurant Awards, launched in 1981, recognize excellence in restaurant wine service at three levels: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence and Grand Award.
Tizzone UnWined’s recognition will be included in Wine Spectator’s annual Restaurant Awards coverage, with the special issue that was scheduled to be available July 21.
The restaurant is located at 90 Town Center Street, Suite 104, in Daleville. Its current menu includes wood-fired pizzas, pasta dishes, seafood, steaks and other entrees, along with the extensive wine program.
~ Fincastle Herald staff report
