Winston Salem

Graylyn Estate is a genuinely beautiful place to have dinner, but the wine list is an afterthought in a room that deserves intention. Order the sea bass, grab the La Crema, and try not to think too hard about what this list could have been.

Sixty Vines is a solid, reliable wine stop in Winston-Salem — the by-the-glass breadth is real and the staff knows their stuff, but the list reads like a greatest hits album rather than anything adventurous. Come for the volume, stay for the pizza, but don't expect to have your mind changed about wine.

Oh' Calcutta's wine list is unremarkable on its own — but Tuesday nights flip the script entirely, and a $19 Pinot Noir with lamb vindaloo is a genuinely good time. Come for the food, plan around Tuesday, and don't overthink it.

Cin Cin isn't a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — but Wednesday half-price wine all day on bottles and glasses turns a generic list into a genuinely good deal with a burger in hand. Show up any other night of the week and order a beer.

Quanto Basta punches above its weight for a mid-size Southern city Italian spot — the Italian-focused list is thoughtful, the prices are fair, and Thursday half-price bottles make it one of the best weekly wine deals in Winston-Salem. Come hungry, come on a Thursday, and order the Falanghina.

Umi is a fun hibachi night out, and the wine pricing is honestly fairer than it has any right to be — but the list itself is an afterthought, and no amount of fair markup fixes a selection that's two bottles deep in personality. Order sake, or a cocktail, and come back to us when they add a Grüner Veltliner.

Village Tavern Reynolda isn't a destination wine list, but it earns its keep with real range, at least one smart Italian pick, and a Wednesday half-price program that makes it genuinely worth planning around. Send a friend here on a Wednesday — tell them to order the Arneis.

Firebirds isn't trying to reinvent anything, and the wine list reflects that — it's a dependable, California-forward selection that does its job without embarrassing itself. If you want adventure, look elsewhere; if you want a solid bottle with a good steak in a comfortable room, this gets you there.

The Katharine is a genuinely good wine destination by Winston-Salem standards, with a Champagne list that punches above its weight class for a mid-sized Southern city. Just go in knowing you're paying hotel-rate markups — budget accordingly and lean toward the grower Champagnes and local bottles for the best return.

Bleu is a reliable wine destination for Winston-Salem — not a destination list, but a thoughtful one with genuine highlights buried among the familiar. The markups sting a little, but the presence of Puligny-Montrachet and Tavel rosé on a neighborhood restaurant list tells you someone here actually gives a damn.

The Downtown Grille is a reliable upscale night out in Winston-Salem with a wine list that matches the room — safe, polished, and built for people who already know what they like. Watch the rosé markup, lean into the Zuccardi, and you'll leave happy.

Sir Winston is the rare hotel restaurant that makes a real effort on wine, and for Winston-Salem, that counts for a lot. Pricing runs steep enough that you'll feel it by the second bottle, but the selection earns at least one visit from anyone who takes wine seriously.

Jeffrey Adams on Fourth isn't a wine destination, but it's a decent place to drink familiar wines with a great steak — and on Tuesday, that half-price deal makes the whole thing a lot easier to love. Come for the ribeye, drink the Stags Leap, and don't overthink it.

Cibo Trattoria isn't going to blow a wine geek's mind, but it's doing more than most Italian spots in Winston-Salem bother to do — and if you order smart, you'll drink well. Stick to the Italian side of the list and you'll leave happy.

Ryan's isn't trying to surprise you, and it doesn't — but two decades of Wine Spectator recognition don't happen by accident, and a well-maintained California list in a proper steakhouse setting earns its keep. Send a friend who wants a great Napa Cab with a great cut of beef; don't send one who's hunting for discovery.

Katharine Brasserie is the real deal for the Triad — a deep, well-curated list in a setting that actually honors it. The markup can sting and there's no dedicated sommelier to guide you through, but if you know what you're looking for, this list rewards the effort.

Sage & Salt is the real deal — a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence recipient that actually earns it rather than just hanging the plaque. If you're within driving distance of Winston-Salem and you care about what's in your glass, this one belongs on your list.