Korean Fusion Meets Napa on the Second Floor
Midtown Β· Reno Β· Korean Fusion Β· Visit Website β
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Arario Midtown, a Korean fusion spot above the Reno streets, the wine list feels like it was built for the crowd that orders Napa Cab everywhere they go β and that crowd is clearly welcome here. The list skews heavily California, with a few recognizable trophy bottles anchoring the top end. It's not a wine destination, but it's not an afterthought either.
The list runs 60-100 bottles deep, but don't expect much adventure outside California β Napa Valley is the star, the supporting cast, and the closing act. You'll find marquee names like Caymus, Silver Oak, and Quintessa doing the heavy lifting, which will satisfy the steak-and-Cab crowd but leave anyone looking for a Burgundy or a Riesling to stand next to the Korean flavors feeling a bit stranded. The sparkling section is surprisingly stocked β Marc Herbrart, Taittinger, and Zonin Prosecco show up β though it feels more accidental than intentional. There are no meaningful Old World or natural wine detours here.
The by-the-glass program runs 10-20 options, which is a decent spread for a Midtown Reno fusion spot. The sparkling pours β including Taittinger Brut by the glass at $12 β are the sleeper hits of the program. Rotation appears minimal; this list looks like it settles in and stays put.
Quintessa 2018 Rutherford Napa Valley Red Wine β $180
At roughly 44% over retail, this is the most defensible markup on the premium end of the list. For a wine that retails around $125, you're paying a fair restaurant premium on something genuinely worth drinking β especially if you're celebrating.
Marc Herbrart RosΓ© Brut France
Wait β $14 for a Champagne-region rosΓ© that retails around $40? The markup data here is almost certainly a by-the-glass pour price, which makes it a ridiculous steal. Order this before the kitchen figures out their pricing.
Silver Oak 2016 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Silver Oak retails around $100, and at $200 you're paying a full 100% markup for a bottle that's widely available. It's a fine wine, but this is the most overpriced pour on the list β the brand recognition is doing a lot of work here.
Taittinger Brut France + Sweet & Spicy K Sauce Chicken Wings
The residual sweetness and acid in a Brut Champagne cuts right through the heat and sticky glaze on those wings. It's the kind of pairing that sounds weird until you try it β then you can't imagine ordering them any other way.
π² The Bottom Line
Arario Midtown is a genuinely fun spot with a wine list that mostly plays it safe and marks up the hits too hard β but the sparkling section hides some absurd value, and the Quintessa is priced fairly if you're in a splurge mood. Go for the Korean food, order the Taittinger, skip the Silver Oak.
Downtown / Casino Row Β· Reno Β· Upscale American Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Reno is a reliable, well-run steakhouse wine program inside a casino resort β competent glassware, proper storage, and a sommelier who knows the list cold. Just don't come here looking for discovery; come here knowing exactly what you want and prepared to pay full freight for it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Β· Reno Β· American small plates, tapas-style, steakhouse-influenced
Sierra St. Kitchen punches above its weight for downtown Reno β the list has real producers, genuine range, and a sommelier keeping it honest. Just know the markups are real, and steer toward the Old World and Pacific Northwest bottles where the value hides.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown Β· Reno Β· Italian β Tuscan & Coastal
Calafuria isn't trying to be a destination wine list β it's trying to be the right wine list for this restaurant, and it mostly succeeds. Send your friends here if they want something Italian that doesn't feel phoned in; just don't expect fireworks beyond the bottle.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Northwest Reno Β· Reno Β· Health-focused American cafΓ© with organic, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and paleo options
Great Full Gardens isn't a wine destination and it doesn't pretend to be β but for a health-focused cafΓ© in Northwest Reno, the glass prices are honest and the pours are solid enough to enjoy alongside the food. Send a friend here for lunch, just don't tell them to order the Chardonnay.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown Β· Reno Β· New American / Fine Dining
LuLou's wine list won't win any awards, but it won't ruin your dinner either β and in a city where restaurant wine programs often feel like an afterthought, that counts for something. Send a friend here for a solid meal with a bottle of Jordan; just don't expect to discover anything new.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Eldorado Resort Casino Β· Reno Β· Californian / Steakhouse
Roxy isn't a destination wine program β it's a competent casino steakhouse list with the right bottles for the room. Show up on a Wednesday, order the Jordan at half price, and you'll leave happy.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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