Skyline Views, Serious French and Cali Bottles
Magnificent Mile · Chicago · American · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 16, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Adorn Bar & Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
You open the list at Adorn and it feels exactly like where you are — polished, confident, and a little expensive. France and California anchor everything, which makes sense for a hotel-adjacent dining room on the Magnificent Mile. It's not trying to be a wine bar, but it's clearly not phoning it in either.
The 150-250 bottle list leans predictably into Burgundy and Bordeaux on the French side — Domaine Drouhin and Louis Jadot represent, with classified Bordeaux estates rounding out the old-world anchor. California fills the other half with Napa Cab heavyweights like Stag's Leap and Jordan, plus Sonoma Chardonnay from Kistler and Ramey. Rhône Valley gets a solid nod through Guigal and Chapoutier, which keeps things from feeling too one-dimensional. The list won't shock anyone, but it's well-curated and backed by a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence — earned since 2024 — with two named sommeliers, Justin Meselsohn and Adam Chase, keeping things sharp.
Twelve to twenty options by the glass is a respectable pour program for a venue like this, and the $12–$20 range reflects the address more than the juice. We'd expect the glass list to mirror the bottle program's France-California focus, which means there should be something worth drinking without committing to a full bottle.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley — $45–$60 (bottle estimate)
Jordan punches above its price point consistently — it's approachable, food-friendly, and one of the better-value Cabs on a list that skews toward trophy bottles. If the markup is more restrained here than on the prestige names, this is your move.
Chapoutier Crozes-Hermitage, Rhône Valley
Everyone at the table is going to order Burgundy or Napa Cab, and that's exactly why you should be looking at the Rhône. Chapoutier's Crozes-Hermitage is earthy, smoky, and genuinely interesting — and it's almost certainly the most underordered bottle on the list.
Louis Jadot Burgundy (entry-level tier)
Jadot is a fine producer but their entry-level Burgundies are widely distributed and widely marked up at hotel-adjacent restaurants. You can get the same bottle at a wine shop for a fraction of what Adorn is charging. Save the Burgundy budget for Drouhin.
Kistler Chardonnay, Sonoma + Seafood or white meat entrée
Kistler is rich and textured with enough acidity to cut through anything buttery or cream-finished on the menu — the kind of California Chardonnay that actually earns its price tag instead of just having one.
The Bottom Line
Adorn is a reliable, well-staffed wine program in a high-overhead setting — you're paying for the view and the address, but the list itself is legitimate. Send a friend here who wants solid French and California bottles without doing homework first.
Lincoln Park · Chicago · American Casual
Summer House is not a wine destination, but it's a reliable place to drink well enough without getting gouged on the low end — just steer clear of the big-name bottles where the markup climbs. Send your friend here if they want something easy and good; don't send them here if they're chasing something serious.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chicago · Italian
il Carciofo is doing something genuinely rare: building a wine list that treats Italian regional variety as the main event, not the footnote. If you're tired of the same Pinot Grigio and Chianti Classico circuit, this is exactly where you should be eating dinner.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Chicago · Chicago · Steakhouse
STK Chicago is here to sell you a night out, and the wine list is just part of the set dressing. If you care about what's in your glass, eat here for the steak and order water.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chicago · French Brasserie
La Grande Boucherie Chicago is a reliable wine destination for anyone who wants a French-focused list executed with genuine effort and the occasional smart value. The markups aren't shy, but the BTG program and specials take some of the sting out — go in with a plan and you'll drink well.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
· Chicago · Steakhouse
This is not the wine list you expect to find at The Palm, and that's exactly why it earns attention. Six bottles, zero filler, genuinely fair pricing — if someone's tending this list, they deserve a raise.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Loop · Chicago · Californian
The Oakville Grill earns its Wine Spectator credential and the sommelier duo makes this list accessible, not intimidating. Wednesday half-price wine night alone is reason enough to get a reservation — just let go of the idea that anything other than California is on the agenda.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Union Square · San Francisco · American
The Rotunda is a lunch experience first and a wine destination a distant second — the list is safe, the markup is real, and you're largely paying for the address and the atmosphere. Come for the crab salad and the occasion, order something bubbly, and don't go in expecting a serious wine program.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Eagle Ranch · Vail · American
The Wild Sage is your dependable neighborhood spot in Eagle Ranch — the wine list won't blow your mind, but it won't embarrass you at dinner either. Watch the markups on the top-shelf Napa bottles and stick to the mid-range, and you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront · Traverse City · American
Warehouse Kitchen + Cork won't win any awards for depth or ambition, but it plays its hand honestly — fair prices, solid local representation, and a full by-the-glass program that respects your wallet. If you're in Traverse City and want a glass of something local with a water view, this works.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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