Locally Focused Avocado Grill Takes New Wine List Global

Chef Julien Gremaud opened Avocado Grill back in the fall of 2014. As his first solo venture, Gremaud, taking notes from past work at Pistache French Bistro and PB Catch, made it easy for himself and developed a menu of coastal, farm-to-table cuisine that highlights the many culinary wonders of the Sunshine State while keeping an eye on global trends.

Although the Florida wine industry is not poised to redefine oenology anytime soon, wine purveyors have been quick to strike at the ever-increasing popularity of good wines and lesser-known regions. So how does that fit into a locavore flavor profile? 

“We wanted to broaden the selection of wines available to our guests,” says General Manager Hope Shurick. “We recently made seasonal changes to our lunch and dinner menus, so it was fitting to revisit the wine list as well. We brought in wines that paired with our new culinary offerings and added in varietals and regions, at a variety of price points, to our bottle and glass selections. We wanted there to be an even greater number of wine offerings for our seasoned diners.”

Shurick’s background in restaurant management comes with an extensive tour of the tricounty area and has served her well in understanding local palates and trends. One of Avocado Grill’s biggest assets is the affordable menu pricing given its address. The revamped wine list, with its eyes on established regions but offering bottles from New Zealand and Germany, mirrors the pricing attitude, and while Shurick might note the fluctuating price points, Avocado Grill scores big with an appropriately priced list, with most bottles living in the $40 to $55 range.

The list shows some focus too, as Shurick explains: “With much of our food being so fresh and inspired by international cuisines, we looked for wines to complement those qualities. There are several wines on the list that pair well with almost everything on our menu.”

To combat South Florida’s tropical climate, Avocado Grill boasts temperature-controlled storage and a “very precise” ordering schedule for its wines. And what’s most important for any wine list is how it is curated throughout the year.

“Our wine list is reevaluated seasonally,” says Shurick. “We are constantly tasting new wines and often feature them as specials nightly. It is a great opportunity for our team to pair these wines while our more adventurous guests get the experience of trying new options.”

Gremaud and his team continue to source as many ingredients locally as possible, and this new wine list allows for a synergy between the local and the global, an extraordinary fusion that can be appreciated from the most demanding of gourmands to the most casual of diners. 

Avocado Grill is located at 125 Datura St., West Palm Beach. Call 561-623-0822, or visit avocadogrillwpb.com.

• Food News