Safe Choices in a Sunlit Dining Room
Palm Beach · Palm Beach · Contemporary American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed February 23, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Avocado Grill reads like a greatest hits compilation designed not to scare anyone off. It's the kind of safe, approachable selection you'd expect at a well-appointed Palm Beach spot where wine is a pleasant accompaniment, not the main event. Nothing here will blow your mind, but nothing will offend either.
The list leans heavily on California favorites and recognizable French appellations—think Napa Cabs, Sonoma Chards, and entry-level Bordeaux. There's a smattering of Italian standards (Chianti, Pinot Grigio) and maybe a token New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc for the white wine crowd. You won't find deep regional cuts or obscure producers, but you will find the wines your parents drink at country clubs. It's functional rather than inspired, covering the bases without taking risks or showing much personality.
The glass pour selection appears to mirror the list's overall philosophy: crowd-friendly and conservative. Expect six to eight options spanning the usual suspects—a California Chardonnay, a Pinot Grigio, maybe a Malbec and a Cabernet. Pours are likely standard restaurant size without much rotation or seasonal adjustments. It gets the job done for a casual lunch but won't convert anyone to wine enthusiasm.
Hess Select Chardonnay — $42
Reliable Monterey fruit without the Napa markup—clean, buttery, pairs with seafood
La Crema Pinot Noir
Often overlooked as basic, but the Sonoma Coast version has legitimate cool-climate character and surprising depth
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Palm Beach pricing pushes this north of $120 when it's a $75 bottle everywhere else—pure name recognition markup
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc + Grilled Branzino
The bright citrus and herbaceous notes cut through lemon butter sauce and complement delicate white fish perfectly
✔️ The Bottom Line
Avocado Grill won't challenge you or surprise you, but it won't let you down either. Come for the food and the Palm Beach scene—the wine is just fine backup.
Palm Beach · Palm Beach · French
La Goulue is a reliable, well-curated French wine list with real sommelier care behind it — just go in knowing the prices reflect the zip code. If you're here for classic Bordeaux and Burgundy with your duck confit, you're in exactly the right place.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Palm Beach · Palm Beach · Mediterranean
Florie's is a reliable, well-run wine program with a knowledgeable sommelier and a list that knows its strengths — just don't expect adventure or aggressive pricing. If you're in Palm Beach and want a glass of something good with excellent food, Sam Scales has your back.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Palm Beach · Palm Beach · Italian
Sant Ambroeus Palm Beach is the real deal — a focused, deeply stocked Italian and French list with producers serious enough to justify the Best of Award of Excellence on the wall. The pricing is steep, as you'd expect in Palm Beach, but the quality of what's in the cellar earns it.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Palm Beach · Palm Beach · Italian
Renato's is the kind of Italian wine list that reminds you why Italy is the greatest wine country on earth — Biondi-Santi, Gaja, Sassicaia, and Ornellaia in one room is not an accident, it's a program. Bring an expense account or a very good reason to celebrate.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Palm Beach · Palm Beach · Steak House
Flagler Steakhouse is exactly what it promises — a serious, well-stocked wine program built for the Palm Beach crowd, with a sommelier who can guide you through it and enough bottle depth to reward the curious. The markups run steep, but the credentials are real and the execution is tight.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Palm Beach · Palm Beach · French, European
Café l'Europe is one of the most serious wine programs in South Florida, full stop — the cellar depth alone justifies the trip, even if the pricing reflects its zip code. Send your friends here if they want to drink well in Palm Beach; just tell them to skip the Caymus.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Atlanta · Contemporary American
By George is a fine place to drink wine if you know what you're walking into — a curated-but-safe list built for a stylish crowd that wants rosé and bubbles without friction. Come for the Crémant and the Tavel; don't expect to find anything that'll make you rethink your relationship with wine.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Jolla · Chula Vista · Contemporary American
Nine-Ten is a genuinely good restaurant with a competent wine program — the sommelier is present, the list is legitimate, and the setting earns the price of admission. But the markups are aggressive enough that you'll want to be selective, because this list can eat your wallet if you reach for the obvious names.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Winston Salem · Contemporary American
Sir Winston is the rare hotel restaurant that makes a real effort on wine, and for Winston-Salem, that counts for a lot. Pricing runs steep enough that you'll feel it by the second bottle, but the selection earns at least one visit from anyone who takes wine seriously.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.