Johan Bjorklund
Johan Björklund’s Le Bistro de l’Hôtel in Beaune has won the Grand Award from Wine Spectator magazine for 2024. Bruce Sanderson reports in Wine Spectator:
When chef Johan Björklund opened the doors to Le Bistro de l’Hôtel in spring 2007, it was a welcome addition to the dining scene in Burgundy’s wine capital and an ideal spot to enjoy the region’s wines. Nearly 20 years later, it remains one of the best addresses for enjoying Burgundy’s bounty.
Le Bistro is a classic restaurant in Beaune, a thriving city that anchors one of the most popular wine tourism destinations in France; each year, thousands of Burgundy lovers, importers, buyers and sommeliers visit nearby vineyards and cellars. In 2015, Burgundy’s vineyards were granted World Heritage status by UNESCO.
Le Bistro de l’Hôtel began as a restaurant for the adjoining Hôtel de Beaune, which was founded by Björklund in 2002 and comprises a mix of historical buildings that embody the cultural heritage and architectural history of Beaune.
The hotel quickly became a mecca for collectors and industry insiders for its contemporary elegance, luxury and central location at the ancient center of the city. In addition to serving the hotel guests, the new restaurant also became a destination for local winemakers and their clients.
Le Bistro entered Wine Spectator’s Restaurant Awards program in 2008, earning a Best of Award of Excellence. Little by little, Björklund and his team added more wines to the list, increasing the number of selections. It currently boasts 2,000 different choices, with an inventory that is 10,000 bottles deep and worth about $1.1 million. The team is working with more and more winemakers each year to improve both the list’s breadth and depth.
The current sommeliers are Frédéric Gille and Colin Laurencery. “I leave a lot up to my sommeliers, but I want to have a say in the selections,” says Björklund. “Not everyone can [afford to] drink Raveneau and Rousseau.”
Read more here.
