Fayetteville

Mezzaluna is doing honest, considered work on its wine list in a market that doesn't always demand it — fair prices, smart Italian-California focus, and bottles that actually match the food. Not a destination wine experience, but absolutely worth ordering a bottle instead of just water.

The Hive is the kind of wine list you don't expect to exist in Northwest Arkansas, and that surprise is the whole point — this is a Wild Card in the best sense. The markups on the entry-level stuff are frustrating, but trade up to the interesting bottles and you'll drink better here than at most restaurants in cities that think they're doing wine.

Atlas is the kind of wine program that makes you question why you live where you live — in the best possible way. Yes, the markup is steep and there's no weekly deal to soften the blow, but when the list includes a Madeira from 1890 and 90+ wines by the glass, you're not here for a bargain; you're here for an experience.