Great Tequila Bar, Forgettable Wine List
Downtown Hartford · Hartford · Modern Mexican, Southwestern and Latin · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 3, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Agave Grill is nine labels long — which tells you everything you need to know about where the priorities are here. This is a tequila bar first, a lively modern Mexican spot second, and a wine destination not at all. That's not a knock, just a heads-up before you flip past the margaritas.
Nine bottles, no real theme, no surprises: Josh Cellars Chardonnay and Cabernet anchoring the familiar end, Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc and Alamos Malbec filling in the crowd-pleaser slots, and a Relax Riesling from Mosel rounding things out. There's a Banfi San Angelo Pinot Grigio that at least gestures toward something above the grocery store tier, and a Segura Viudas Cava that quietly earns its spot. No regional coherence with the food, no small producers, no attempt to lean into Latin American wine country beyond a single Malbec and a Chilean Cab. The list exists because a restaurant needs a wine list.
Everything is available by the glass, which is a plus on a nine-bottle list — no awkward bottle-only situations here. Pours run $10–$13, which lands fair for a downtown Hartford spot. The house sangria at $11 a glass or $37 a pitcher is honestly the most interesting thing on the wine menu and probably what you should order.
Segura Viudas Brut Cava — $10/glass, $32/bottle
Segura Viudas is a reliable, food-friendly sparkling wine that punches above its price point. At $10 a glass with tacos in front of you, it's the most fun you'll have with wine at this table.
Relax Riesling, Mosel, Germany
Nobody orders Riesling at a Mexican restaurant, which is a shame — the off-dry fruit and bright acidity cut through spice and fat better than most reds on this list. It's an underrated move with anything spicy on the menu.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, California
Josh Cellars is everywhere, and for good reason — it's inoffensive and consistent. But at $13 a glass you're paying a premium for a bottle you can grab at any liquor store for $15. The tequila list is right there.
Segura Viudas Brut Cava + Tacos
Bubbles and tacos are genuinely great together — the effervescence scrubs the palate between bites, the brut dryness holds up to salsa and citrus, and at $10 a glass you can keep them coming through the whole $6 taco special without wincing at the bill.
❌ The Bottom Line
Come to Agave Grill for the tequila, the margaritas, and the tacos — the wine list is functional at best and doesn't deserve much of your attention. If you're set on wine, grab the Cava and move on.
West Hartford Center · Hartford · Upscale American Seafood and Raw Bar
Max's Oyster Bar is exactly the kind of reliable wine program a seafood-focused restaurant should have — thoughtfully built around what's on the plate, staffed by people who can guide you through it. The markup keeps it from being exceptional, but if you stick to the Old World whites, you'll drink very well.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
West Hartford · Hartford · American Tavern
Tavern in the Square West Hartford is a perfectly decent place to watch a game and eat a burger, but the wine list is purely functional — familiar brands, steep markups, and zero curation. Stick to draft beer or a cocktail unless a glass of Prosecco is all you need.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Hartford · Hartford · New American / Seafood
Max's Trumbull Kitchen is a reliable wine stop elevated by a genuinely smart focus on seafood-friendly whites — just don't pay full price when you can come back on Thursday and get the whole list at half off. That changes the math considerably.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
West Hartford Center · Hartford · American / Burgers / Gastropub
Max Burger isn't a wine destination — it's a burger destination that happens to take wine seriously enough to price it fairly and run half-off Thursdays. If you're eating here anyway, you're in better shape than you think.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Blue Back Square / West Hartford · Hartford · Spanish Tapas
Boqueria West Hartford won't surprise wine geeks, but it delivers a coherent, fairly priced Spanish list that genuinely serves the food. If you're eating tapas and drinking well, this is a solid neighborhood call.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Blue Back Square / West Hartford · Hartford · Steakhouse, American
Fleming's West Hartford is a reliable, polished steakhouse wine program that does exactly what it sets out to do — pour well-known California wines in a nice glass to people who are already spending $60 on a steak. Just don't expect to discover anything, and watch the markup on the big names.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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