Albany

The Hollywood Brown Derby won't blow any wine minds, but it prices fairly, stocks a few genuine bottles worth ordering, and doesn't embarrass itself. Send a friend here for a steakhouse dinner and tell them to skip the Pinot Grigio.

The Copper Crow has the bones of a genuinely good wine program — solid list, real specials, a few quality producers — but the everyday markups are hard to ignore when you know what these bottles cost at retail. Come on a Tuesday, drink Ridge, eat short ribs, and you'll leave happy.

MezzaNote's wine list is a footnote, not a feature — a handful of Italian sparklers priced for the house's benefit, not yours. If you're eating here, order the Rotari, skip the Zenato, and focus on the food.

Villa Di Como is the kind of neighborhood Italian spot that takes its wine seriously enough to stock Gaja and Brunello, even if the pricing and lack of a dedicated wine person keep it from true destination status. Send a friend here for dinner — just tell them to avoid the trophy bottles and dig into the list's mid-tier.

The Roosevelt isn't trying to be a wine bar, and it's better for knowing that. The list is short, fair, and stocked with names worth ordering — which is more than most cocktail spots in Albany can claim.

Grappa '72 punches above its corporate-park weight class with fair markups, a genuinely Italian-leaning list, and enough by-the-glass variety to reward the curious. It won't wow a wine obsessive, but it'll take good care of everyone else at the table.

Cella Bistro is a genuinely charming neighborhood spot that deserves a better wine list than it has — but Tuesday half-price bottles flip the value equation hard enough to make it worth your time. Show up on a Tuesday, order the Claret or the Riesling, and enjoy the fact that you're paying bistro prices for a proper bistro experience.

288 Lark is exactly what a neighborhood wine bar should be: approachable, comfortable, and worth returning to — especially on a Wednesday when half-price bottles make the markup math a lot easier to forgive. Just don't expect the list to blow your mind.

Marrone is the kind of neighborhood wine bar Albany is lucky to have — a knowledgeable staff, a real by-the-glass program, and a Wednesday half-price bottle night that genuinely changes the value math. The markups sting at full price, but if you play it smart (Wednesday, Riesling, Malbec), you walk out happy.

Sea Smoke is a genuinely lovely spot to eat next to the Hudson, but the wine list is content to coast on that view. Come for the scallops and the scenery — just don't expect the bottle list to add much to the evening.

677 Prime has the real thing: a deep, well-managed list with a sommelier who knows it, in a room that was built to drink good wine in. The markups will test your credit card, but if you're already spending serious money on prime steaks in Albany, this is where you do it right.

Skip the wine list on any night that isn't Wednesday — the half-price bottle deal is the only thing that makes the math work here. Come back when they decide their wine program deserves the same attention as their produce sourcing.

Barcelona is a reliable neighborhood anchor where the wine list does its job without embarrassing anyone. It's not a destination for wine geeks, but at these prices with this food, you're going home happy.

The Olde English Pub isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — and the fair pricing and recognizable pours make it a perfectly decent place to have a glass alongside a pint and some bar food. Send your friend here for the atmosphere and the beer; the wine is just a bonus that won't embarrass anyone.

The Hollow is a solid night out in downtown Albany — the food is the story, the wine list is a supporting character. If you're a California red drinker, you'll be comfortable here; if you're looking for something more adventurous, you're going to be scrolling the cocktail menu by the second course.

Normanside isn't a destination wine list, but it's honest, fair, and better than you'd expect from a suburban country club dining room. Send a friend here for dinner and tell them to order the Zinfandel with the Short Rib Dip — they'll have a good time.

Iron Gate Cafe earns its reputation on food, atmosphere, and that patio — not wine. If you're coming for a leisurely brunch or lunch, grab the rosé or Pinot Grigio and enjoy the setting, but don't expect the wine list to be part of the experience.

Cafe Capriccio is the kind of neighborhood Italian that Albany doesn't deserve to have this good — the wine list is thoughtful, Italy-first, and built for the food. The markups aren't doing anyone any favors, but if you pick smart, this is a genuinely rewarding room to drink in.

Delmonico's isn't trying to be a wine destination, and to its credit, it doesn't pretend to be — the list is safe, the markups are fair, and the Tommasi Amarone gives you one genuinely good reason to order a bottle. Send a friend here for dinner knowing the wine won't disappoint, just don't expect it to impress anyone either.

Boca Bistro isn't a wine destination, but it doesn't need to be — seven-dollar pours with markups this fair at a neighborhood Mediterranean spot is a deal worth showing up for. Lean Spanish, dodge the Dreaming Tree tunnel vision, and you'll drink well without thinking too hard about it.

BJ's is a brewhouse first, and the wine list is an afterthought that confirms it. Come for the craft beers, order a Riesling if you must, and don't let anyone talk you into that $35 Chloe.

Nové is a comfortable, well-executed Italian restaurant with a wine list that mirrors its menu: familiar, competent, and priced for the room rather than for your wallet. Send a friend here if they want a reliable night out — just steer them away from the grocery-store pours and toward the Tignanello if they're feeling flush.

Wheatfields isn't going to make a wine nerd's shortlist, but it does exactly what a neighborhood Italian restaurant should do with its wine program — picks a lane, prices it fairly, and doesn't embarrass itself. Send your parents here; they'll be happy.

La Perla is a reliable wine stop for a romantic dinner in the Albany area — nothing on the list will blow your mind, but the Amarone value and solid European range mean you won't be stuck drinking something forgettable. Send a friend here if they want candlelight and a decent bottle; just don't send a wine nerd expecting discovery.

The Aviator is a reliable neighborhood spot where the wine list does its job without embarrassing anyone — but the markups on recognizable labels sting, and there's zero adventure here. Send your friends if they're ordering Caymus anyway; steer them toward the Antinori if they'll listen.

Verdi's isn't a wine destination — but Wednesday half-price bottles genuinely change the calculus, and a $26 La Crema Pinot with Eggplant Rollatini in a cozy room is a perfectly good night out. Come mid-week, skip the Duckhorn, and don't expect to be surprised.

For a suburban Indian spot, Bombay Bistro's wine list punches above its weight — the aromatic whites alone make it worth skipping the Kingfisher. If you're willing to lean into the unexpected pairings, this list rewards you.

Jack's Oyster Bar isn't a destination wine list, but it's a thoughtful one that knows its lane. If you're eating seafood in Albany and want a bottle that won't embarrass the meal, you're in good hands here.

Wizned is doing something genuinely rare in upstate New York: a thoughtful, producer-driven wine list with staff who can actually walk you through it. No half-price nights, no gimmicks — just good wine in proper glasses, which is exactly what it should be.

The Wine Bar of Albany is a solid neighborhood spot that plays it safe and mostly gets away with it — the markups sting a bit, but Wednesday half-price bottles change the math entirely. Show up mid-week, order the charcuterie, and don't overthink it.