ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar has received Wine Spectator’s 2025 Award of Excellence, recognizing its exceptional wine program. The honor places the Grove Arcade venue among just 11 Asheville restaurants awarded this distinction.

The Award of Excellence is part of Wine Spectator’s annual Restaurant Awards, which highlight top global restaurants for their wine offerings. This year, 3,811 restaurants worldwide earned awards across three levels, with Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar achieving the entry-level Award of Excellence.

“We are honored for our dedicated staff to be recognized by Wine Spectator,” Donna Wright, co-owner of Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar, said in a news release. “We are extremely proud to be in the company of the 11 outstanding Asheville restaurants named. All of us demonstrate that our ‘beer city’ can also boast about its significant wine scene.”

Wine Spectator editor and publisher Marvin R. Shanken praised the winners for their deep knowledge and passion for wine discovery. The awards program, launched in 1981, is the only one focused exclusively on restaurant wine service.

The Award of Excellence honors restaurants with well-chosen wine lists that complement their menus in style and price. Battery Park Book Exchange blends a unique literary atmosphere with an award-winning wine and champagne selection, making it a popular spot for locals and visitors in downtown Asheville.

Other local winners included:

  • The Blackbird — Award of Excellence
  • Chestnut — Award of Excellence
  • Posana — Best of Award of Excellence
  • Bargello — Award of Excellence
  • Red Stag Grill — Award of Excellence
  • The Corner Kitchen — Award of Excellence
  • Jargon — Award of Excellence
  • Vue 1913 — Award of Excellence
  • Sunset Terrace — Award of Excellence
  • The Dining Room — Best of Award of Excellence
  • Hell Or High Water — Award of Excellence
  • The Swag — Award of Excellence

Wine Spectator’s Restaurant Awards issue will be available July 15. For more information and a full list of winners, click here.