Big List, Bigger Markups, Little Mercy
Downtown · Saratoga Springs · Upscale New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 20, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed 15 Church’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Five hundred references sounds impressive until you start checking prices — then it reads less like a curated cellar and more like a wish list with a surcharge. The list covers serious ground across Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, the Loire, and domestic heavyweights, and the room itself is handsome enough to make you want to order a good bottle. Just know what you're walking into.
The geographic range is genuinely solid: Mosel Riesling, Sancerre, Chablis, Finger Lakes oddities like the Dr. Konstantin Frank Rkatsiteli, Tuscan reds, and a decent Sonoma Coast presence via Copain. That's a list someone thought about, not a wine distributor's default drop. The problem is the pricing layer sitting on top of it — popular bottles like Jordan Cab and The Prisoner are marked up north of 230%, turning interesting choices into expensive ones fast. The sweet spot, if there is one, is in the mid-tier Old World bottles where the markups are slightly less punishing than on the crowd-pleasing California names.
Fourteen options by the glass is a reasonable spread for an upscale New American, running $10–$25 a pour. The Copain 'Tous Ensemble' Pinot Noir and Domaine Bernard Defaix Chablis are the picks worth ordering — the rest of the glass list leans heavily on the same California brands that are already overpriced by the bottle. At $24 a glass for the Daou Cabernet, you're basically buying a cheap bottle at restaurant markup for a single pour.
Domaine Bernard Defaix Chablis — $36–$68 range
Classic, mineral-driven Chablis from a reliable Burgundy producer — at the lower end of the bottle range, it's the rare case on this list where the price doesn't feel like a punishment. Great with the scallops.
Dr. Konstantin Frank Rkatsiteli
Most tables will scroll right past a Finger Lakes Rkatsiteli without a second look, which is a mistake. Frank's version is one of the better American whites you can find on a restaurant list anywhere — textured, aromatic, and nothing like the Chardonnay the table next to you just ordered.
Orin Swift '8 Years in the Desert' Red Blend 2021
At $195 on the list against a $55 retail price, this is a 254% markup on a wine that's already trading on brand recognition more than what's in the bottle. There are better reds on this list for less money.
Domaine Raffaitin Planchon Sancerre + Pan-seared scallops
Loire Sauvignon Blanc with its citrus snap and saline edge is a classic match for sweet, caramelized scallops — the acidity cuts through the butter, the minerality echoes the sea. One of the easier calls on the menu.
The Bottom Line
15 Church has the bones of a genuinely good wine program — the range is there, the interesting picks exist — but the pricing is aggressive enough that you'll spend more time doing mental math than enjoying your glass. Stick to the Old World bottles and avoid anything with a recognizable California label.
Downtown · Saratoga Springs · Casual Italian
Wheatfields is a reliable neighborhood Italian stop, and the wine list does exactly what it needs to — it covers the room without taking any risks. The Dr. Konstantin Frank Riesling and the Louis Jadot Mâcon Village are the two picks worth seeking out; everything else is competent filler at markups that could be friendlier. If you want to drink well here, order by the glass and go off the beaten path.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Saratoga Springs · Winery Bistro
Thirsty Owl Saratoga is a single-producer concept that leans all the way in, and if you're curious about Finger Lakes wines in a comfortable dining setting, it's a genuinely good place to learn the range. The wild card badge fits: you won't find the usual suspects here, but that's exactly the point. Go in knowing what you're signing up for and you'll walk out pleasantly educated.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Saratoga Springs · Italian / Pizzeria
Village Pizzeria's wine list is a pleasant surprise for a Saratoga Springs Italian spot — fair prices, a serious BTG count, and enough Italian-regional picks to reward the curious. It's not a destination wine list, but if you order the Lugana or the Vermentino instead of the default Pinot Grigio, you'll drink well without overthinking it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Saratoga Springs · New American / Fine Dining
Morgan & Co. has built a wine list that respects its guests without overcharging them — fair pricing, a meaningful by-the-glass selection, and enough off-the-beaten-path picks to reward the curious. It's not a destination wine list, but if you're in Saratoga Springs and want a reliable bottle alongside a fine dining meal, you're in good hands. Go for the Sancerre, take a flyer on the Falanghina, and let someone else order the Rombauer.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Saratoga Springs · Italian
Noah's Italian made a bold structural call — every wine by the glass, no exceptions — and the Italian-focused selection backs it up with real producers like Ratti, Tornatorre, and Buglioni rather than the usual suspects. We don't know what's on the plate or who's pouring, but on the strength of the wine list alone, this is worth a visit if you're in Saratoga Springs and want to drink Italian wine without committing to a full bottle.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Saratoga Springs · Winery tasting room / light bites
Adirondack Winery isn't trying to be a destination wine list — it's a tasting room that wants you to leave with a bottle of something you didn't know was made in New York. The pricing is genuinely fair across all 36 labels, the Baco Noir and Cab Franc give curious drinkers something worth lingering on, and the Meritage 2019 at $44.99 tops out the range without gouging anyone. If you're passing through the Lake George area and curious about what northeastern New York actually grows, this is worth the stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Portsmouth · Upscale New American
Salt Kitchen & Bar has the bones of a resort wine list built to move recognizable bottles at comfortable margins — not to educate, excite, or reward the curious drinker. If you're staying at Wentworth by the Sea and want a glass of wine with dinner, you'll find something drinkable here, but we wouldn't plan a night around the list. Order the Red Newt Riesling, tip your server well, and save the wine exploration for somewhere that's actually trying.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Bozeman · Upscale New American
Squire House is a great place to eat and a frustrating place to drink wine — the list is underdeveloped, the markups are aggressive, and no one on staff is going to talk you through it. Order a cocktail or a beer, or bring your own if they allow it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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