Lake Views, Decent Pours, No Surprises
Delavan (Greater Geneva Area) · Lake Geneva · Fine Dining / New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 24, 2026
RagingWine reviewed 1878 on the Lake’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Walking into 1878 on the Lake, the setting does a lot of the heavy lifting — water views, a freshly renovated dining room, and the kind of resort energy that makes people feel like they're somewhere special. The wine list arrives and it's... fine. It's a list that knows its audience: Midwestern vacationers who want something recognizable and won't push back on a $65 bottle of Pinot Noir.
The list leans hard on the Pacific Northwest — Oregon and Washington dominate, with California filling in the gaps and little room for anything European or adventurous. Erath shows up multiple times across different SKUs, which tells you the program is built around reliable, well-distributed names rather than any real curation. There's no Burgundy, no Rhône, no Barolo — if you're hoping for Old World depth to match the fine dining price point, you'll be disappointed. That said, for a resort restaurant in Delavan, Wisconsin, the Pacific Northwest focus at least gives it a regional identity to hang its hat on.
The by-the-glass program runs 12–18 options, which is a respectable count for this zip code. You'll find the Erath Pinot Gris and Rosé represented, and the range covers enough white-to-red ground that a table with mixed preferences won't be stuck. Rotation appears limited — this feels like a set-and-forget list rather than one where the glass pours change with the seasons.
Erath 2019 Oregon Pinot Gris — null
Price unknown from available data, but Erath's Pinot Gris consistently punches above its retail weight — it's bright, food-friendly, and the kind of white that works across most of the menu without drama. If it's on the lower end of the glass pour pricing, it's the move.
Erath 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir
Rosé gets ignored at resort restaurants because people assume it's a summer-only, poolside pour. Wrong. Erath's Rosé of Pinot Noir has enough structure and dry fruit character to hold its own against the fish and seafood specials — and most people at the table will order something heavier and miss it entirely.
Erath 2019 Reserve Collection Pinot Noir
Reserve anything at a resort restaurant is where markups go to party. Erath's Reserve Pinot Noir retails in the $25–35 range, and you can safely assume it's hitting the list at a significant multiple of that. It's a good wine — just not at the price you're likely being charged for it here.
Erath 2021 Resplendent Pinot Noir + Grilled Fish or Seafood Special
Resplendent sits in a lighter, more elegant lane for Pinot Noir — lower tannin, red fruit forward — which makes it a rare red that actually works with the lake fish and seafood the kitchen features. Most people will default to a Cab with their steak, which leaves this bottle underordered and, frankly, better suited to half the menu.
✔️ The Bottom Line
1878 on the Lake is a solid resort restaurant doing exactly what resort restaurants do — safe selections, reliable producers, and a markup that subsidizes those lakefront views. We'd send a friend here for a nice night out on the water, but we'd tell them to skip the Reserve and order the Rosé.
Lake Como / The Ridge Hotel · Lake Geneva · American
Crafted Americana's wine program is resort-standard in the fullest sense: recognizable, priced for convenience, and unlikely to generate any complaints or any real excitement. If you're at The Ridge for the weekend and want a solid glass of Cab with your prime rib, you'll be fine — just don't come expecting a discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Highway 50 corridor (east of downtown Lake Geneva) · Lake Geneva · Steakhouse / Seafood / Supper Club
Anthony's isn't a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — but for a Wisconsin supper club on a Friday night, the list is honest, the prices are fair, and the Washington State focus gives it just enough personality to keep things interesting. Send your parents here and order the Syrah.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Williams Bay / Highway 67 corridor · Lake Geneva · Fine Dining French
Opus is the rare fine dining wine program in the Midwest that earns the label without hedging — 346 bottles deep, French-focused, and staffed by someone who clearly knows what they're doing. The markups will sting, but for a special occasion in lake country, this is exactly where you want to be drinking.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Delavan (Greater Geneva Area) · Lake Geneva · American / Resort
If you're here for the lake views and a burger, order a cocktail and don't stress the wine list — it's not why you came. But if wine actually matters to you, the Lookout's list is the kind of set-it-and-forget-it program that makes you wish you'd packed a bottle to leave at the front desk.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lake Como · Lake Geneva · American / Supper Club
Mars Resort is a great place to drink a cold glass of something while live music plays and the lake does all the heavy lifting — but don't come here expecting a wine program that cares as much as you do. Order the Bisol, enjoy the view, and save the serious bottle for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Lake Shore Drive · Lake Geneva · Lounge
The Geneva Inn Lounge isn't a wine destination, and it doesn't need to be — it's a waterfront spot with honest pours, fair prices, and a list that gets the job done without embarrassing anyone. Send your friends here for sunset drinks, not for a deep-dive tasting.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Lancaster · Lancaster · Fine Dining / New American
Amorette is doing something genuinely rare in a city Lancaster's size — running a wine program with real depth, real staff, and a cellar worth caring about. The markups will sting on the high end, but the breadth of the list means there are smart plays available if you know where to look.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Suntree · Melbourne · Fine Dining / New American
The Chef's Table is a reliable wine stop for a Suntree dinner — the list is competent, the selections are familiar, and you won't go wrong sticking to Oregon whites or the rosé. Just know you're paying steakhouse markup, so pick strategically and skip the trophy bottles.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Side · Bloomington · Fine Dining / New American
Truffles is doing more with wine than anywhere else in Bloomington, and the pricing is honest enough that you won't need to steel yourself before opening the list. It's not a destination wine program, but for a night out in Indiana, it's the right call.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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