Minneapolis

Maison Margaux is the real deal — a room with theatrical ambition backed by a wine list that actually delivers on the promise, anchored by a sommelier who clearly built this thing with intention. If you're in Minneapolis and serious about Bordeaux or California Cab, you come here.

Manny's is exactly what it is — a California Cab cathedral with a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence to prove it's serious. If you're coming for adventurous wine discovery, look elsewhere; if you're coming to eat a great steak and drink great Napa Cabernet in a room that feels like 1998 never ended, this is your place.

801 Fish is the rare downtown Minneapolis restaurant where wine is clearly not an afterthought — the California list is deep and well-kept, Alex White knows what's on it, and the glassware does the wines justice. Markups are real, but the overall experience earns that Wine Spectator badge.

Mara is doing something genuinely rare: running a hotel restaurant wine program that a serious wine person would actually seek out, not just tolerate. The Burgundy depth, the fair pours by the glass, and the Mediterranean variety make this one of the better lists in Minneapolis, full stop.

St. Paul Grill isn't trying to be a wine destination and it doesn't pretend to be — it's a reliable hotel steakhouse pour that serves its clientele exactly what they came for. Bring a Cab drinker, order the filet, and don't expect the list to challenge you.

Fhima's has one of the most serious wine lists in Minneapolis — full stop. The markup runs steep as you'd expect at this level, but the depth, the sommelier presence, and the sheer ambition of the program make it worth the visit for anyone who takes the bottle as seriously as the plate.

The Lowbrow earns its Wild Card badge by being a no-frills neighborhood spot with pricing so honest it borders on suspicious — especially on Sundays when the bottles go half-price. If you live within ten blocks of Nicollet and 43rd, you should already know about this.

Parlour is a reliable, well-priced wine stop in a city where hotel bar wine lists can get lazy fast. It's not a destination for wine geeks, but if you're already there for the Parlour Burger and want a solid glass without getting gouged, you're in good hands.

Murray's wine list is exactly what a 1946 Minneapolis steakhouse should have: safe, serviceable, and a little overpriced — but with enough solid bottles that you're not stuck suffering through dinner. Go for the steak, pick the Chappellet or the Barbera, and let the room do the rest.

Barcelona Wine Bar is doing something genuinely ambitious for the North Loop — 500 bottles, 40 by the glass, and a geographic focus that actually matches the food. Send your wine-curious friends here without hesitation; just don't expect the staff to geek out alongside you.

Milly's is the kind of wine bar Minneapolis doesn't advertise loudly enough — fair pricing, a list with genuine reach beyond the usual suspects, and 18-plus glasses to explore on any given night. Send a friend here and tell them to skip the Cab.

Terzo is the kind of wine bar that makes you annoyed you didn't find it sooner — 450 Italian-focused bottles, a sommelier who gives a damn, and a room that makes the whole thing feel like a secret. If you live within ten miles of 50th Street and you care about wine, you should already have a reservation.

Ngon Bistro isn't a wine destination, but it's doing more than its genre requires — fair prices, a Gruner that earns its spot, and a list that at least tried to match the kitchen. Come for the pho burger, grab the Gruner, and be pleasantly surprised.

Red Cow is the rare burger spot where ordering wine is genuinely the right call — the list is thoughtful, the pricing is reasonable, and the Pinot selection alone would make some proper wine bars jealous. Send your friends here and tell them to skip the beer for once.

Christos is doing something genuinely rare in Minneapolis: building a wine list that matches the food's geography and actually teaches you something. If you've never explored Greek wine, this is the most approachable on-ramp in the city.

Manny's is a reliable, well-run steakhouse wine list — deep enough to impress, properly stored, and staffed by someone who actually knows the cellar. Just go in knowing the pricing reflects the room, not just the bottle.

801 Chophouse is an unabashedly expensive wine experience built for people who want Napa's greatest hits alongside USDA Prime beef, and it largely delivers on that promise. The markups will sting and there's no half-price reprieve in sight, but the depth, the staff, and the quality of the list make it a legitimate Rager for the right occasion.

Tavola is doing something genuinely unusual: running a deep, producer-focused wine list through a casual neighborhood Italian frame, and doing it at prices that don't punish you for exploring. Tuesday half-price bottles alone make this worth putting in your rotation.