Winter Park

Ômo by Jônt is a Wild Card in the best sense — a serene Japanese tasting counter in Winter Park that punches well above its zip code on wine. The list is focused rather than exhaustive, Juan Valencia keeps things grounded, and the California-France axis is a genuinely smart match for the food. Markups are steep, but that's the price of admission at this level; go in knowing the wine is part of the experience, not a footnote.

Chayote Barrio Kitchen is a Wild Card in the best sense — a New Latin kitchen in suburban Orlando that earned a Wine Spectator nod with a focused, well-curated Old World list. It's not going to blow a wine obsessive's mind, but it's absolutely worth ordering a bottle here, which is more than we can say for most places serving yuca fries.

Deno's earns its Wine Spectator nod by doing the basics right — fair prices, reliable producers, and a list that respects its guests' intelligence without demanding they be wine obsessives. If you're in Winter Park and want a decent bottle with your rack of lamb without getting gouged, this is your spot.

The Wine Room on Park Avenue is the rare Florida destination where the wine list is genuinely the reason to go, not just an afterthought to the food. Send your friends here, tell them to trust Kevin, and tell them to skip the Caymus.