CITYSCENE

Minneapolis
> Cue
The new Guthrie Theater opened to international applause this year, as architecture critics clapped for Jean Nouvel's bold navy blue castle. Diners, however, saved their standing ovation for the wine list at Cue, the Guthrie's restaurant, which showcases hundreds of great worldwide wines, smartly organized in categories such as "Loire Whites of the World."
- Dara Moskowitz

Cue at the Guthrie, 806 S. Second St., Minneapolis, 612-225-6499
> Ferdinand's
Ferdinand's raises the bar for wine in the Twin Cities, which has been low. "I'm sick and tired of wine bars that have barely 40 wines," says Alexander Dixon, chef at bistro Zander Café and owner of the new, attached Ferdinand's Wine Bar, home of the 1,000 bottle list. How's that? Add them up: a 15-bottle base list, another 30 global glass pours - plus every bottle at adjacent wine shop Solo Vino available for a $15 corkage fee. Pile on award-winning American bistro food like lavender-peppercorn duck served in a minimalist MoMA-meets-hammered-copper room, and the bar's raised high. Pole-vault, anyone?
- Dara Moskowitz

Ferdinand's, 525 Selby Ave., St. Paul, MN; 651-602-9515.
> Osteria I Nonni
Osteria I Nonni has a wine list that inspires profound feelings: "Actually, my father almost had a heart attack," says Marc Marchionda, recalling his father's reaction to the cases and cases of '95 Barolo that Marchionda bought for the family's new Roman restaurant, Osteria I Nonni. With more than 300 wines, including some 50 Barolos (notably '78s, '82s, '85s and '88s), the all-Italian list is both heart-joltingly rich and shockingly cheap - since it's attached to the family wine shop, all bottles are priced only $10 over retail.
- Dara Moskowitz

Osteria I Nonni and Buon Giorno Italia, 981 Sibley Memorial Hwy, Lilydale, MN; 651-905-1080