Spain's Greatest Hits on the Boardwalk
Atlantic City Boardwalk · Atlantic City · Spanish, Tapas
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 18, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Amada’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're in Atlantic City, surrounded by slot machines and cheesesteaks, and somehow you're holding a wine list anchored by Vega Sicilia Unico and Pingus. Amada's list stops you cold — this is not what you expect from the Boardwalk. The dim lighting and exposed brick set a mood that actually matches the ambition on the page.
This is a Spain-only deep dive, and it commits hard. Rioja is the backbone — CVNE Imperial Gran Reserva, Muga Prado Enea, Remírez de Ganuza — with serious representation across Reserva and Gran Reserva tiers. Ribera del Duero punches above its weight with Emilio Moro as the accessible entry and Pingus sitting at the top as a trophy pour. Priorat shows up via Alvaro Palacios with both Les Terrasses and the legendary L'Ermita for anyone feeling spendy. Telmo Rodriguez wines and Raventos i Blanc round out the list with a breadth of regional context that earns the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence — held since 2022 — without question. The Lustau Sherries are a thoughtful addition that most tables will ignore and absolutely should not.
Twenty to thirty-five options by the glass is genuinely generous, and the $12–$20 range keeps it from feeling punishing. The glass program leans into the same Spanish focus as the bottle list, which means you can actually explore Cava, Rioja, and Albariño-style whites without committing to a full bottle. Rotation appears limited — this feels more like a steady, curated set than a constantly evolving program.
Artadi Viñas de Gain 2020 — $55
Artadi is one of Rioja's most respected modern producers, and Viñas de Gain is their flagship Rioja Alavesa expression — precise, structured, and age-worthy. At $55 in an Atlantic City restaurant, this is genuinely fair pricing for the quality in the glass.
Lustau Sherries
Every table walks past these and orders more Rioja. Don't. Lustau makes some of the most complex, food-friendly wines in Spain, and alongside Jamón Ibérico or the Tortilla Española, a glass of Fino or Amontillado is one of the best $12–$15 moves on this entire menu.
Bodegas Muga Prado Enea Gran Reserva 2014
Muga Prado Enea is a genuinely great wine — no argument there. But at $150 a bottle, you're paying a steep premium for something you can find at retail for considerably less. Save the splurge for the Emilio Moro or Artadi and put the difference toward more tapas.
Gramona Cava + Jamón Ibérico
Gramona's Cava has real texture and a dry, bready depth that cuts through the fat of Ibérico ham without shouting over it. It's the classic Spanish combination for a reason, and starting a meal this way at Amada is exactly what the list is built for.
Wednesday — Half-price wine night on Wednesdays — the single best reason to plan your Atlantic City trip around a midweek dinner.
The Bottom Line
Amada is the best wine surprise Atlantic City has to offer — a focused, credible Spanish list with fair prices tucked inside a casino-adjacent tapas bar. Yes, send a friend here for wine, especially on a Wednesday.
· Atlantic City · Cocktail Lounge
Nola's is a genuinely fun place to spend a late night on the Atlantic City Boardwalk — the atmosphere earns its stripes. But if wine is why you're sitting down, you're in the wrong seat. Order a cocktail, enjoy the music, and save your serious wine budget for somewhere that's thought harder about the list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlantic City · New American / Wine Bar
The Iron Room is the kind of wine-forward bar Atlantic City doesn't know it needs — cozy, staffed by people who care, and refreshingly serious about what's in the glass. If you're in AC and want something other than $14 Pinot Grigio at a casino bar, this is your move.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Acceptable
Golden Nugget Casino · Atlantic City · Steakhouse
Vic & Anthony's is a competent casino steakhouse wine list — it won't embarrass you and it won't thrill you. If you're already there for the steak, grab the Siduri by the glass and don't look too hard at the markups.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Margate City · Atlantic City · Seafood / New American
Steve & Cookie's isn't a wine destination, but it's a solid spot to drink reasonably well alongside excellent seafood and a live jazz soundtrack. If you're going Monday through Thursday, get there early and hit the bar before your table.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Atlantic City · Atlantic City · Mediterranean / Italian
Sofia isn't a wine destination, but it's a better-than-expected list for the Shore — especially if you lean into the Greek selections that nobody else around here is bothering with. The markups on the California staples will sting, so go Greek and drink smarter.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlantic City · Italian
Café 2825 is a celebration restaurant with a wine list to match — trophy Champagnes, premium California whites, and a few smart Italian picks that reward anyone who looks past the obvious. Prices likely reflect the occasion more than the liquid, but if you're in Atlantic City for a big night, there are worse places to pop a bottle.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Beacon Hill · Boston · Spanish, Tapas
A Spanish wine list that fits a pintxo bar: txakoli, Rioja, a skin-contact white and sherry, all within reach by the glass. Order the $14 Hirutza Getariako Txakolina with the $5.50 Gildas, and try the $13 Parra Jimenez orange if you want something different. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks page, not service, storage or markups, and the drinks PDF differs from the page, so confirm what is pouring.
McMinnville · McMinnville · Spanish, Tapas
La Rambla is the rare restaurant that earns its Wine Spectator credential without feeling like it's chasing one — a genuinely dual-focused list in a town that could have gotten away with Pinot Noir and nothing else. If you're eating tapas in Oregon wine country and you don't stop here, you're doing it wrong.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hudson Yards · New York · Spanish, Tapas
La Barra is a wine list that has absolutely no business being this good inside a food hall, and that's the whole point. If you're eating Spanish food in New York and not drinking Spanish wine here on a Wednesday, you're leaving money on the table.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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