Since 1983, when Grill 23 & Bar opened in the former Salada Tea Co. headquarters, this independent steak house has been recognized as one of the highest quality restaurants in the Boston area. Many sommeliers later, Grill 23 & Bar’s dedication to creating a wine list as exceptional as its food has paid off. Wine Spectator gave its list an Award of Excellence in 1992, a Best of Award of Excellence in 2001, and, now the highly-coveted Grand Award. Only four other restaurants in the world received the award this year, and 88 restaurants total since the award make its debut in 1981.

“I found out we’d won the award from an editor of the Wine Spectator in an e-mail,’’ says Brahm Callahan, a master sommelier and beverage director for Himmel Hospitality Group, which owns Grill 23 & Bar. “I always thought we had a world-class wine list and this award was the rest of the world saying, ‘Yeah, you belong,’ ’’ To go after the award, Brahm and his team identified areas on the wine list they needed to grow, then actively acquired those specific wines and verticals (different vintages of the same wine type from the same winery).

“We put our flag in the ground with domestic reds,’’ says Brahm, specifically Cabernet and Cabernet blends from California. The list’s other strengths include red Bordeaux, Rhone, and Burgundy wines, along with nearly 200 types of sparkling wine. Currently, Grill 23 & Bar has 2,100 wines from which to choose and a cellar of 12,000-14,000 bottles. On Oct. 21 in New York City, as part of Wine Spectator’s New York Wine Experience, Grill 23 & Bar will be honored for its 2017 Grand Award at a celebratory banquet.

Victoria Abbott Riccardi

Victoria Abbott Riccardi can be reached at vabbottriccardi@gmail.com.