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.
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
Lincoln Park · Chicago · American
John's is a neighborhood spot that punches well above its casual format — two sommeliers, a thoughtful France-and-California list, fair prices, and half-price bottles every Monday. Send your friends here, especially on a Monday.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
River North · Chicago · American, Seafood
Terrace 16 earns its Wine Spectator badge and delivers a respectable, California-and-France-focused list in one of Chicago's most dramatic dining rooms. Just don't expect to be surprised — the wine is as reliable as the skyline view, and nearly as expensive.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
River North · Chicago · French, Indian
Indienne is the Wild Card in the truest sense — a fusion kitchen with a genuinely considered wine program that earns its Wine Spectator nod. Yes, send a friend here for wine, but make sure they skip the Napa Cab and lead with Riesling.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
West Loop · Chicago · Steak house
BLVD Steakhouse doesn't reinvent the steakhouse wine list, but it executes the formula competently — solid producers, proper storage, and enough range to keep a table of Cab loyalists happy all night. Just go in with your eyes open on the markups and skip the trophy-bottle trap.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
West Loop · Chicago · Italian
Mart Anthony's punches above its weight class for a neighborhood Italian — the Terre Nere on the list alone earns goodwill, and half-price bottles on Wednesday makes it a legitimate weekly move. Send a friend, order the agnolotti, and ask about what's open.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Boardwalk (Resorts) · Atlantic City · American
Margaritaville's wine list is a placeholder, not a program — grab a frozen drink and call it a day. If you're dead set on wine, the Alamos Malbec won't embarrass you.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Boalsburg · State College · American
The Butter Churn is doing something genuinely surprising for central Pennsylvania — a thoughtful, well-sourced wine list that goes beyond the expected and rewards the curious drinker. If you're anywhere near State College and care about what's in your glass, this deserves a visit.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · State College · American
The Field is a tap bar first, wine program distant second — and that's fine, as long as you know what you're walking into. Order the Malbec, enjoy your burger, and save the serious wine drinking for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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