News Relase - August 31, 2011

Montage selected for wine excellence award 10 years in a row

CEDAR FALLS, IOWA -- Locally-owned restaurant Montage has been awarded the 2011 Award of Excellence by the national Wine Spectator magazine. This marks the 10th year in a row that Montage has received this award from Wine Spectator.

The publication prides itself on evaluating restaurants around the country whose wine lists offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers. Approximately 3,700 restaurants participate in the program. Montage is one of only 15 restaurants in the state of Iowa to be selected.

Montage has also been previously noted by the Wine Enthusiast magazine. They selected Montage for the Award of Distinction each year from 2005 to 2010, when the awards program ended.

Locals have raved about Montage’s wine program since it opened in downtown Cedar Falls in 1999. Jim and Jodi Landau, restaurant proprietors, had a vision of something different for the Cedar Valley.

“We wanted to create a restaurant that you might find on the coast or in the cities, but with the warm ambiance of Iowa,” Jodi said. Using mahogany, silk, brushed steel accents and original art, they created a welcoming atmosphere and a showcase for the food.

“Montage gave us the opportunity to explore different flavors and create new tastes,” said Jim. “We’ve got traditional prime cut sirloin, but also a spicy fireworks pasta, or blackberry pork loin – all paired with some great unique wines.”

In addition to his hosting duties, Jim can often be found in the hardwood, walk-in wine cellar, offering samples and deep in discussion with patrons on the best wine match for their dinner. “The wine industry is fascinating,” he said. “No one will ever know all there is to know about wine, because it’s constantly changing. My favorite part of my job is helping my patrons discover exciting new wines as their palates change.”

With 120 selections to choose from, and more than 1,000 bottles in the wine cellar, Montage offers plenty to discover. Patrons can choose from Orin Swift, Mollydooker, Frog’s Leap, Decoy by Duckhorn and many more.

“We specialize in hand-crafted wines from smaller, family-owned vineyards that share our passion and attention to detail,” Jim said.

The wine list is refreshed twice a year. On Monday nights, they offer half-price bottles of wine to encourage exploration. Montage is committed to offering outstanding quality in their popular wines by the glass as well as by the bottle.

The plethora of wine awards is a nice bonus, but the true pleasure lies in their patrons. “I’ve had people bring me bottles of wine they’ve found that they can’t wait to share with us,” Jim said with a smile. “It’s very rewarding to learn and discover together.”