Montana's Quiet Overachiever Pours Decently
Livingston · Bozeman · New American / Bistro · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 18, 2026
RagingWine reviewed 2nd Street Bistro’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 2nd Street Bistro in Livingston, you half-expect a wine list that was last updated when Sideways came out. Surprise: it's not that. The list is modest but put together with some actual thought, leaning into California and the Pacific Northwest without totally abandoning the Old World.
The 60-ish bottle list covers familiar ground — California Cab and Pinot, Oregon whites, a nod to France — and hits all the crowd-pleasing checkboxes without taking many risks. You'll find Decoy Cabernet doing the heavy lifting on the red side, which is fine but not exciting. The Pacific Northwest representation is more interesting, with Willamette Valley Vineyards showing up and giving the list some regional credibility. There's no deep cellar here, no esoteric sidebar for the adventurous drinker, but for a farm-to-table bistro in a town of 8,000 people, this is a wine program that's doing its job.
The by-the-glass program runs 8-14 options in the $10-$18 range, which is reasonable for the market. Rotation appears minimal — this reads more like a set-it list than one with a weekly chalkboard moment. That said, having La Marca Prosecco available by the glass is a smart call for a bistro crowd that wants something celebratory without committing to a bottle.
Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Gris — $40
WVV is a reliable, well-made Oregon producer and Pinot Gris at this price point in a Montana bistro is the right call. It's versatile enough to work across the seasonal menu and won't break the bank on a weeknight out.
Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Gris
Most tables in a place like this go straight for the Meiomi or the Decoy without looking twice at the whites. This Oregon Pinot Gris is the sleeper — textured, food-friendly, and genuinely interesting next to the house pasta or a fish preparation.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
Meiomi is a grocery store bottle dressed up in a bistro setting. You're paying restaurant markup on something you can grab at Costco for $12. It's sweet, it's safe, and you can do better on this list for the same money.
Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon + Seasonal steak entree
Decoy Cab is exactly what it says on the tin — a polished, fruit-forward California red that has enough structure to stand up to a properly cooked steak without demanding your full attention. It's not a revelation, but it's the right call for the right moment.
✔️ The Bottom Line
2nd Street Bistro isn't a destination wine list, but it's an honest one — fair prices, familiar names, and enough range to find something worth drinking with your dinner. For Livingston, Montana, that's a genuine win.
Unknown · Bozeman · Wine Bar
Blackbird Barside is doing something genuinely rare in Montana — a focused, knowledgeable wine program that respects Old World producers and doesn't gouge you for it. The daily 4:30–5:30 PM half-price window on select bottles is reason enough to rearrange your afternoon.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Oak Street · Bozeman · American steakhouse with emphasis on bison and classic comfort food
Ted's Montana Grill isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be. The list is fair, the prices are reasonable, and the picks line up sensibly with what's coming out of the kitchen. Send a friend here for the bison — and tell them to order the Riesling.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Main · Bozeman · American Bar & Grill
Bay Bar & Grille isn't a wine destination — it's a neighborhood spot where the wine list quietly does its job better than expected. If you're in Bozeman and need a reliably solid glass with your burger or steak, you won't leave disappointed.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Bozeman · Bozeman · American steakhouse with bison specialties
Ted's Montana Grill is a reliable place to eat well and drink adequately — the wine list won't inspire you, but it won't embarrass you either. If you're here for the bison and want a bottle of Jordan to go with it, you're in good hands; if you're here for the wine program, you're in the wrong building.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Bozeman · Upscale French-influenced American, farm-to-table
Brigade is the kind of wine program that makes you reconsider your assumptions about what a Montana restaurant can pull off — a sommelier-driven list with real range and a few genuinely weird bottles worth seeking out. Prices run high, and there's no wine night to soften the blow, but if you're eating upstairs on Main Street, drink something interesting and expense the Napa Cab to someone else.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Billings · Bozeman · Upscale American and European-inspired fine dining
TEN has the bones of a destination wine program — a historic room, fine dining ambition, and a genuinely interesting sweet wine selection — but the gaps in data around their dry table wine and glass pour program hold it back from a full endorsement. Come for the steaks, ask questions about the wine list, and consider letting dessert be your vinous highlight of the evening.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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