Capital Grille's wine list is a relatively staid, cab-centric collection of big names. Possibly in an effort to liven it up a bit, Capital Grille has retained George Miliotes, currently the corporate sommelier for Seasons 52 (another Darden-owned concept). We'll see if the new guy (who has a background in winemaking) can make some waves at this corporate steakhouse. Maybe he can do something about the overinflated prices too.
Ecstatic about the hire, Capital Grille in Tampa issued this release to the staff:
"We are pleased to announce that George Miliotes, Seasons 52 Director of Beverage and Hospitality, will assume additional responsibilities for The Capital Grille, supporting the brand's wine and beverage programs, in addition to continuing to support the Seasons 52 wine program. In this expanded role, George will enhance The Capital Grille's wine and beverage lists, create new wine and beverage training programs and source new innovative products.
As Seasons 52's Director of Beverage and Hospitality, George has helped define the brand and created an award-winning wine list. He's also one of only 142 people in the world to earn a Master Sommelier diploma, considered the ultimate professional designation in the wine and spirits service industry, and he is widely regarded as one of the restaurant industry’s foremost wine experts.
Before joining Seasons 52 in 2003, George was general manager of Walt Disney World's California Grill, where he created another award-winning wine list that was one of the first in the country to offer 100 wines by the glass. He got his start in the restaurant business at his family's Orlando landmark steakhouse, Chris' House of Beef. The wine list George helped create there earned Wine Spectator magazine's "Best of Award of Excellence" four consecutive years, from 1988 through 1991."
This article appears in Jan 14-20, 2009.