Collin Dreizen

Who's behind it: San Francisco's Bacchus Management Group runs several Bay Area restaurants, including Grand Award winners Spruce and the Village Pub, as well as Best of Award of Excellence winner Selby's. The group has expanded its portfolio with Augustine and the adjoining Cafe Augustine on San Jose's Santana Row, a lively luxury shopping and residential district where Bacchus has operated Pizza Antica for more than 20 years.

Who's behind it: Altamarea Group, the hospitality company founded by CEO Ahmass Fakahany, operates more than 20 restaurants worldwide, including Wine Spectator Grand Award Winner Ai Fiori in New York. Best of Award of Excellence winner, Marea, located on Central Park South, is the company's first restaurant and its flagship.

The U.S. wine landscape has shifted: On Feb. 26, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves approved a bill permitting wineries to ship wines directly to consumers in the Magnolia State. The law takes effect July 1, 2025. Arkansas, Delaware, Rhode Island and Utah are now the only states not to permit direct-to-consumer (DTC) winery shipping or to limit it to just in-person, on-site purchases. But some direct-shipping advocates worry the bill has too many limitations to truly open Mississippi's wine market. On Feb.