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Restaurants have been pairing wine with food forever, but Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant takes it to a higher level by pairing an upscale-casual restaurant with an on-site winery. The chain with four locations in the Chicago suburbs and one to open soon in Indianapolis plans to open one to three new stores next year through a growth facility from private-equity firm KarpReilly LLC. Officials are bullish about Cooper’s Hawk’s potential to capitalize on consumers’ interest in wine, as its 48 proprietary varietals allow the chain to price bottles, glasses and flights competitively and to build up its roster of loyal followers in its Wine Club.

Check out the Aug. 9 issue of Nation's Restaurant News for the full story Cooper's Hawk and other Hot Concepts! Award winners. In the meantime, visit our Special Reports page for exclusive online features on the winners, including videos and photos.