World-Class Cellar at the Edge of Maine
Deer Isle · Portland · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 13, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Eight hundred and twenty selections sitting inside a converted retreat on Deer Isle — we had to double-check the address. This is not the wine list you expect to find an hour past the last traffic light in Maine, and that surprise alone earns Aragosta serious respect before you've pulled the cork on anything.
The list leans hard into France — Burgundy, Loire, and Champagne form the backbone — with a strong Italian wing anchored by Piedmont. Headliners like Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Opus One signal that the cellar is playing a different game than most coastal New England restaurants, while Kistler and Caymus Special Selection cater to the Napa crowd without letting California dominate. With 3,475 bottles in inventory, there's genuine depth here, not just a long list padded with filler — though at $$$$, you'll be paying for the privilege of accessing it.
Twelve to twenty pours by the glass is a solid range for a destination property of this size, and a sommelier on staff means the selection should rotate with intention rather than inertia. We'd expect the by-the-glass program to punch above its weight — that said, given the overall pricing tier, even the glass pours will require a committed budget.
Kistler Vineyards Chardonnay — null
In a cellar full of four-figure trophies, Kistler represents one of California's most serious Chardonnay producers at a price point that still feels grounded. If it's on the list, it's the move for anyone who wants world-class white without crossing into DRC territory.
Loire Valley selections
With France forming the backbone of this list, the Loire offerings are easy to overlook when Burgundy and Champagne are screaming for attention — but Loire whites alongside Maine lobster is one of the great unsung combinations in American fine dining. Don't sleep on it.
Caymus Vineyards Special Selection
Caymus Special Selection is a fine wine, but it's also one of the most aggressively marked-up bottles in American restaurants. At a $$$$-tier destination property, you're almost certainly paying a premium on top of an already inflated retail price. With 820 other options on this list, there are better ways to spend that money.
Kistler Vineyards Chardonnay + Maine lobster
Rich, textured California Chardonnay with enough acidity to cut through butter and enough body to stand up to lobster's sweetness — it's a classic combination that Aragosta's setting practically demands you order.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Aragosta is a genuine destination for wine — a world-class cellar dropped into the Maine coast that rewards the drive with serious selections and a sommelier who knows how to use them. Bring a group, spring for a bottle of Burgundy, and let the lobster handle the rest.
East End · Portland · Sushi / Japanese
Mr. Tuna isn't a wine destination — it's a great sushi spot that happens to have two sensible, well-chosen bottles and a local can that makes the experience feel intentional. Come for the hand rolls, drink the Vinho Verde, and don't overthink it.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Bayside · Portland · Seafood
A fast-casual raw bar with a wine list that punches well above its category — the French-only focus is a feature, not a limitation. If you're eating oysters in Portland, this is where you want to be drinking.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Deer Isle · Portland · Seafood Fine Dining
Aragosta is the rare case where the wine program matches the remoteness of the drive — you come all the way out here and find a 3,475-bottle cellar waiting for you. Yes, send your friends. Send everyone.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Old Port · Portland · Seafood, American
Scales is playing a different game than the tourist-trap seafood spots on either side of it — the wine list is genuinely Old World-focused and well-matched to the food, which is rare and worth noting. If you're eating clams and mussels on the Portland waterfront, this is where you want to be doing it with a glass in hand.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Arts District · Portland · Seafood, Californian, Contemporary Mexican
Regards isn't trying to be a wine bar, but whoever built this list understands exactly what the food needs and went hunting for it. If you're in Portland and want a bottle that actually earns its place on the table, this is the move.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West End · Portland · French and Spanish
Chaval is punching above its weight class for a neighborhood brasserie in Portland — the list is small but curated by someone who actually cares, with pricing that doesn't punish curiosity. If you're open to going off the beaten path (xarel-lo, South African grenache blanc), this is a genuinely rewarding room to drink in.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Broadway corridor · Fort Wayne · New American
Rune is doing something genuinely rare for its zip code: building a wine list with a real identity. Come on a Wednesday, order the Ovum, and feel good about finding a place like this.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
West Plano · Plano · New American
CraftWay Kitchen isn't trying to be a wine destination and doesn't pretend to be — but the markups are fair, the glass program is wide, and there's enough on the list to drink well with a solid meal. Send your friends here for dinner; just don't send them here for a wine education.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Clemmons · Winston Salem · New American
Sixty Vines is a solid, reliable wine stop in Winston-Salem — the by-the-glass breadth is real and the staff knows their stuff, but the list reads like a greatest hits album rather than anything adventurous. Come for the volume, stay for the pizza, but don't expect to have your mind changed about wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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