The Mather receives Wine Spectator award: signature restaurant recognized as a leading culinary destination. Tysons, Va., June 24, 2026 - The Mather received an Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator's 2026 Restaurant Awards, which celebrate the world's best restaurants for wine. The award recognizes The Mather's signature restaurant, Tashi, for its exceptional wine program, which features a rotating cellar of more than 100 bottles from diverse regions, varietals and formats - many of which can't be purchased from traditional retailers. Unique in the senior living space, The Mather's wine program is managed by a sommelier and curated to complement Tashi's fresh culinary themes each month, encouraging residents to continuously explore new flavors. "This rare honor is a testament to our team's dedication to create a world-class experience for all who dine at Tashi," Mather President and CEO Mary Leary said. "At Mather, its vision is to change the way society views older adults, which means Mather LifeWays push the boundaries within and beyond its industry. Every day, this vision inspires Mather LifeWays to create innovative and unforgettable food and beverage programs. "Our residents are discerning diners and cultured world travelers, and our team has always reflected this through the culinary arts. We've built similar dining experiences within all Mather communities over the years. To be recognized by Wine Spectator and other award programs, stands as proof that our approach matches the caliber of the finest restaurants." Wine Spectator is the world's leading authority on wine. Anchored by Wine Spectator magazine, a print publication that reaches around 3 million readers worldwide, the brand also encompasses the web's most comprehensive wine site. The Award of Excellence recognizes restaurants whose wine lists offer at least 75 selections and feature a well-chosen assortment of quality producers along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style. The Mather's wine program reflects patterns found in upscale restaurants nationwide. In 2026, wine accounted for 68% of total beverage sales at The Mather, with selection split between 64% bottles and 36% by-the-glass. This award represents The Mather's growing recognition for its food and beverage program. In May, The Mather was awarded the first-ever Platinum Plate of Distinction in North America by the International Council on Active Aging, the highest level of achievement for culinary excellence in senior living. Much like Michelin stars define culinary excellence, the ICAA Plate of Distinction establishes a rigorous, hospitality-focused standard for senior living. "Our team is incredibly proud to create moments beyond the ordinary and deliver exceptional culinary experiences to residents," said Assistant Vice President of Food & Beverage Thad Parton. "We draw inspiration from all over the globe, telling our story through fresh ingredients and great service, with each course building on the last. We constantly challenge ourselves to enhance the ever-changing menu at Tashi with unexpected wine offerings and creative cocktails. For Wine Spectator to believe in what we are doing is priceless." In addition to its wine offerings, The Mather's beverage service includes handcrafted cocktails and mocktails, luxury teas and locally roasted coffee from M.E. Swing Coffee Roasters in Alexandria, VA. At The Mather, small details matter, such as embossed ice cubes and evening tea service, as does sustainability with waste reduction technology and recycling practices. The Mather opened in 2024 and has transformed wellness living for adults age 62 and better in the Washington D.C. area. A life plan community, The Mather offers luxury apartment homes and amenities like spa services, including a salt room; curated experiences like Sensory Symphony Swim, which incorporates guided meditation, sound bathing and live music in its pool; and a full fitness studio with saltwater pool and outdoor terrace for yoga and tai chi. The Mather also offers assisted living and memory support through its on-site health center, Kokua, which currently has limited openings available for non-residents. About Mather Based in Evanston, Illinois, Mather is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1941 that is dedicated to a vision of changing the way society views older adults. Mather creates Ways to Age WellSM through programs, places and residences for today's older adults. These include developing and operating communities that support older adults in pursuing wellness and fulfillment; sparking creativity and connections for older adults in Chicagoland and beyond; and through Mather Institute, conducting research and incubating innovation to help all live and age well. Additional resources for journalists:

The Mather is awarded the ICAA Platinum Plate of Distinction. The Virginia senior living community is the first of its kind in North America to earn this prestigious award. May 20, 2026 "Receiving this recognition is truly an honor as it underscores Mather's unwavering commitment to transcend the ordinary, and our culinary offerings do exactly that," said Mary Leary, president and CEO of Mather. Since the idea of "active aging" took shape in the early 2000s, the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) has been an association focused on helping develop wellness environments and services for adults over 50 through well-defined standards and benchmarks. The ICAA defines the principle of active aging as "the conviction that people can significantly improve the quality of their later years by staying active and fully engaged in life," according to its website. That same conviction is evident at The Mather at Tysons Corner in Virginia, where last year FSD reported on its onsite beehive where Italian honeybees work throughout the summer to produce enough honey for the culinary team. And now, The Mather in Tysons Corner, Virginia, has earned a distinction that's noteworthy on several fronts. The Platinum Plate of Distinction recognizes the community's approach to dining, hospitality, resident experience and wellness. The Mather is the first senior living community in North America to receive this recognition, part of a larger shift in the perception of senior dining. Building on the success of its inaugural Plate of Distinction awards in 2025, ICAA keeps upping the ante with new benchmarks for this ever-changing market. The Mather hit all the high notes by exceeding expectations in five key areas: nutrition, taste/presentation, hospitality/mealtime experience, innovation and culture/leadership. Restaurant-quality experiences have been the inspiration from the start there, with those key points at the forefront. Looking at online photos of the community, you'd be forgiven for thinking it's a high-end, luxury hotel. Thad Parton, Assistant Vice President, Food & Beverage, The Mather, said the aim has indeed always been to create an experience that "feels far more like a destination restaurant collection than a traditional senior living offering. Today's residents - many Baby Boomers and even Gen Xers - arrive with decades of great dining experiences behind them. They don't want an approximation." The award is based on the ICAA Culinary and Hospitality Standards of Excellence, which are the first comprehensive dining standards developed specifically for senior living. Communities complete a detailed self-assessment, benchmark their performance against peers, and undergo third-party validation to determine if they qualify for Platinum, Gold or Bronze Plate of Excellence recognition. That third party, CrossCheck Quality Assurance's Al Frankey, said he was completely impressed. "Having evaluated many of the country's leading healthcare and hospitality dining environments, I can say with confidence that The Mather operates at an extraordinary level," Frankey said. "Their team has established a meaningful benchmark for what excellence in senior living dining can and should look like." "Mather at Tysons embodies what it truly means to defy expectations," said Colin Milner, CEO and founder of ICAA. "From the beginning, their vision was not to replicate traditional senior living dining, but to fundamentally reimagine it. The result is an experience that feels more aligned with a high-end hospitality destination than what people have historically associated with senior living." Milner praised The Mather for "not only exceptional execution, but the courage to challenge what the industry believed was possible." Having standards and benchmarks allows senior dining to continue to be redefined and getting better and better. "As an industry, we've operated for too long without clearly defined expectations for dining," said Matthew Thompson, Chief Culinary Officer at Restaura and co-author of the ICAA Culinary and Hospitality Standards of Excellence. "These standards create a framework to benchmark performance, elevate the experience for residents and their families, and ultimately recognize teams like The Mather who are taking pride in delivering something truly exceptional." Editor-in-Chief, FoodService Director Tara Fitzpatrick is editor-in-chief of FoodService Director. She previously served as senior editor for Food Management magazine. At the start of her career, Tara was a reporter for the daily newspaper in her hometown of Lorain, Ohio, where she still resides. She holds a journalism degree from Kent State University. She's also a mom, a pretty good home cook and a fan of ghost stories, folklore, architecture, retro recipes, cheese of all kinds and cats of all kinds. Get the foodservice industry news and insights you need for success, right in your inbox.