A year defined by restaurants, relationships, and the art of the table, these were readers’ favourites in food and wine
The year 2025 marked a defining moment for VineRoutes’ food and wine coverage, led by the launch of our inaugural Restaurant Awards, which recognized 22 restaurants across Canada for delivering exceptional food and wine experiences. More than a list, the awards represented a new editorial commitment — one that places equal weight on thoughtful wine programs, hospitality, service, and how wine truly lives at the table.
Beyond the awards themselves, this year’s most-read and most-discussed food-and-wine features shared a common thread: people, places, and philosophies shaping how we dine and drink today. From landmark restaurant transformations and influential hospitality leaders to regional wine culture and elevated standards of service, these stories captured the evolving conversation around dining in Canada.
Read Also: Our top wine features of 2025
Counted down from six to one, click on each headline below for the full stories, and sign up for our Vine & Dine Newsletter for the latest wine and dining news in 2026!
A memorable night where VineRoutes’ top red wine from 2024 collaborated with one of VineRoutes’ Restaurant Award winners from 2025.
One Night Only: When Harbour Sixty became House of Oculus
This memorable feature recounted a special celebratory dinner where Toronto’s Harbour Sixty transformed — if only for one evening — into the House of Oculus in honour of a Canadian winemaking milestone. The occasion marked the unprecedented success of Mission Hill Family Estate’s 2020 Oculus — the first Canadian red wine to receive a perfect 100-point score and VineRoutes’ Most Outstanding Red Wine of the Year in 2024 — and paired successive vintages of the iconic Bordeaux-style blend with an elegant, multi-course menu curated by Harbour Sixty’s culinary team. Hosted among collectors, sommeliers, and invited guests, the evening became an evocative celebration of wine heritage, culinary craft, and how a singular bottle can elevate an entire night into a story worth telling.
Posted: May 29, 2025
With six VineRoutes Restaurant Awards, the duo’s Liberty Entertainment Group sets a new benchmark for excellence — blending heritage, innovation, and world-class wine programs. (Photo: Ethan Shaw Door24 Luxury Videography and Photography)
Nadia and Nick Di Donato: The power duo behind Toronto’s most ambitious restaurants
At the heart of hospitality are the people who shape it. This profile of Nadia and Nick Di Donato offered an intimate look at the leadership, vision, and values behind Liberty Group’s growing influence – not to mention their six fine dining restaurants that each earned VineRoutes Restaurant Awards in 2025. Their story stood out for its honest portrayal of modern restaurateurs navigating scale, culture, and consistency, all while keeping food and wine central to the guest experience.
Posted October 6, 2025
Québec City may be steeped in history, but its wine scene is anything but stuck in time.
9 (plus 1) cool places to drink wine in Quebec City
Quebec City continues to assert itself as one of Canada’s most exciting wine cities, and this feature tapped into that energy. Highlighting a mix of wine bars, restaurants, and intimate spaces, the article celebrated how wine culture thrives beyond traditional fine dining, driven by curiosity, regional flair, and a distinctly Québécois sense of style.
Posted July 14, 2025
Christian Perreault Hamel had a memorable year in 2025.
Sommelier Q&A: Christian Perreault Hamel is building a new standard in wine service
As the Best Ontario Sommelier Competition winner and wine director at VineRoutes Restaurant Award winner Harbour Sixty, Christian Perreault Hamel emerged as one of the most influential voices in Canadian wine service this year. This feature went beyond accolades, examining how thoughtful, guest-focused service is redefining what excellence looks like on the floor. It’s a touchstone story for sommeliers, restaurateurs, and readers passionate about wine service done right.
Posted November 20, 2025
Ottawa’s leading restaurateur has built a brand on care, humility and creating memorable food-and-wine experiences.
Stephen Beckta’s recipe for connection
More than a chef profile, this story explored Stephen Beckta’s philosophy of hospitality, where food, wine, and human connection intersect. Readers responded to its warmth and sincerity, making it one of the year’s most emotionally resonant features. In a time when dining can feel transactional, this piece reminded us why restaurants matter. Beckta Dining and Wine – located in Ottawa, Ontario – was also awarded with a VineRoutes Restaurant Award in 2025 for its focus on its wine program.
Posted April 10, 2025
VineRoutes recognized 22 dining destinations across Canada with its top honours for outstanding food and wine experiences.
First-ever VineRoutes Restaurant Award winners revealed
At the top of our list sits the feature that defined the year: the unveiling of VineRoutes’ inaugural Restaurant Awards. Recognizing 22 restaurants for their outstanding commitment to food and wine excellence, this article set a new benchmark for how we celebrate dining in Canada. From thoughtful wine programs and service standards to the overall harmony of the table, the awards captured what VineRoutes values most — and what readers care deeply about.
More than just our most-read food and wine story of 2025, it marked the beginning of a long-term editorial pillar, one that will continue to evolve alongside Canada’s dynamic restaurant scene. Have another look at the list of winners!
Posted October 2, 2025
VineRoutes will open its application window for its 2026 Restaurant Awards in February 2026. To gain more information on how the awards work, and to be put on a reminder list, click here.
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More Year in Review Coverage
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Year in Review: The bottles that moved us in 2025
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Ontario’s Top 20 Wineries of 2025
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Top Spirits of 2025
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50 standout Canadian wines of 2025
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