Minneapolis's Most French Wine List You Didn't Expect
Uptown · Minneapolis · French Bistro · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 8, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Barbette’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
You're sitting in a cozy Uptown bistro, candles flickering, and the wine list reads like someone actually gave a damn — French naturals, Beaujolais crus, Loire whites. It's not a massive list, but it's focused in a way that most restaurants three times the size never manage. For Minneapolis, this is punching well above its weight class.
Barbette keeps it tight and French, which is exactly the right call for a bistro that's leaning into its identity. Beaujolais crus like Morgon and Fleurie anchor the reds — these are the kind of bottles that make wine drinkers quietly excited and everyone else pleasantly surprised. The Loire Valley holds it down on the white side with Muscadet and Sancerre, and there's Alsace and Côtes du Rhône rounding things out. The biodynamic and natural wine thread running through the list gives it a personality that most neighborhood spots would never bother with.
Somewhere between 12 and 20 options by the glass, which is generous for a restaurant this size. The glass program skews French and leans into the natural wine ethos of the bottle list, so you're not just getting generic Pinot Grigio filler. Rotation feels relatively static — don't expect a chalkboard changing every week, but what's there is worth drinking.
Morgon (Beaujolais Cru) — $12–$15/glass
Beaujolais cru by the glass at a fair pour price is the kind of thing you'd drive across town for in most cities. Morgon drinks like a lighter Burgundy and costs a fraction of one — order it and feel smug about it.
Muscadet (Loire Valley)
Everyone orders the Sancerre, but Muscadet is the sleeper hit of the Loire whites — bone dry, saline, with enough texture to stand up to the moules frites. Most people walk right past it, which just means more for the rest of us.
Sancerre
It's on every French bistro list and always marked up because the name sells itself. Perfectly fine wine, but you're paying the Sancerre tax here when the Muscadet or an Alsatian white will do the same job for less.
Fleurie (Beaujolais Cru) + Steak Frites
Fleurie is silky and fruit-forward with just enough structure to handle a proper steak frites — it's lighter than a Cab, won't fight the fries, and at bistro prices it makes the whole plate feel like a deal.
The Bottom Line
Barbette is a wine list built by someone who actually drinks wine and wants you to as well — it's small, French, and surprisingly legit for a neighborhood bistro in Uptown. If you're a natural wine fan or just someone who wants good Beaujolais with steak frites, send your friends here.
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
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Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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Broders' Pasta Bar isn't a wine destination, but it's exactly the kind of neighborhood spot that gets the wine list right by staying in its lane. Fair prices, Italian focus, solid glass pours — bring a friend who orders by the bottle and you're in good shape.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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Petit Trois Aspen is a Wild Card because it has no business being this interesting inside a ski hotel — but here we are. The list has a real point of view, the staff backs it up, and a few bottles are genuinely worth seeking out. Just keep one eye on the markup and let the California picks carry you.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
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Small but Thoughtful
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.
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