Big List, Bigger Markups, Little Mercy
Downtown · Saratoga Springs · Upscale New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 20, 2026
RagingWine reviewed 15 Church’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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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 · Tuscan Italian
Forno Bistro isn't a destination wine list, but it's a fair and functional one that respects your wallet — especially on Mondays when half-price bottles make a $30 Chianti feel like a genuine gift. Send your friends here for a fun dinner; just don't send the ones who want to talk about terroir.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
West Side / Route 50 Area · Saratoga Springs · Wine Bar and Bistro
If you're in Saratoga and want an honest, unpretentious look at what the Finger Lakes can do, Thirsty Owl earns the stop — especially on the patio in the warmer months. Just go in knowing this is a winery showcase, not a global wine bar, and you'll leave happy.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Side / Route 29 · Saratoga Springs · Winery with American Fare / Wood-Fired Pizza
The Saratoga Winery is a legitimate Wild Card: a single-producer list of cold-hardy New York grapes served in an Adirondack tasting room with live music and wood-fired pizza. It's not a destination for serious wine exploration, but it's a genuinely fun, low-stakes way to drink something you've never tried before.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Proper
Race Course / Union Avenue · Saratoga Springs · American, trackside dining
Come for the races, stay for the atmosphere, but don't come here for the wine. If you need something in a glass to toast a winner, grab the Champagne and leave it at that.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Maple Avenue · Saratoga Springs · Jazz Bar / Cocktail Bar
Come to Nine Maple Avenue for the live jazz, the whiskey program, and the atmosphere — the wine list is a placeholder, not a reason to visit. If you're committed to ordering wine, grab the Château D'Esclans Rosé and enjoy the music.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Caroline Street · Saratoga Springs · Bar Food / American Pub Fare
Come for the rooftop, stay for the beer — because the wine list is an afterthought and everyone involved seems fine with that. If wine is on your agenda tonight, this is not your stop.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.