Bistro 90

You're on Highway 90 in Longs, South Carolina — not exactly Napa Valley road-trip territory. Then you notice the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence plaque and realize this steakhouse is playing a different game than its zip code suggests. The California and Italy focus makes immediate sense the moment you think about a Tomahawk and a big Cab sharing a table.

Wine Spectator has recognized Bistro 90 since 2022, citing California and Italy as the twin pillars of the list — a smart, steak-forward pairing philosophy baked right into the curation. That means you're likely looking at Napa Cabernet Sauvignons and Bolgheri reds sitting alongside some Barolo and Brunello for the Italian faithful. The California side presumably earns its keep with producers who can go toe-to-toe with a Cowboy Cut Rib Eye. Specific bottle and producer details weren't available at press time, but a Best of Award of Excellence isn't handed out for shelf talkers and grocery-store labels.

By-the-glass specifics weren't available from the sources we reviewed, which is the one frustrating gap in what is otherwise a credibly serious program. Given the award level and the on-site expertise of sommelier Laura Mazzola, we'd expect the glass pours to reflect the list's California and Italian strengths rather than defaulting to generic house pours. Worth asking your server what's open — that conversation usually goes somewhere good here.