Great Pizza, Wine List Needs a Timeout
Near Notre Dame / South Bend · South Bend · Pizza / Italian / Sandwiches · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 9, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Barnaby's South Bend’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You open the menu at Barnaby's and the wine section is basically a grocery store shelf that wandered into a pizza joint. Seven options, all available by the glass, which sounds generous until you realize five of them are Barefoot or house pours. This is a wine list that exists because it has to, not because anyone cared.
The list leans almost entirely on California mass-market standards — Barefoot Moscato, Barefoot Pinot Grigio, Barefoot Merlot — with William Hill Chardonnay rounding out the California corner at a slight step up in quality. The lone surprise is a pair of Michigan wines from Tabor Hill: a Demi-Sec and a Demi-Red, which are at least regionally interesting and a nod to the state's wine scene. The house Cabernet rounds out the seven with a producer nobody is naming out loud. There are no reds worth getting excited about, no interesting regions, and zero depth beyond what you'd grab at a Walgreens checkout.
All seven wines are available by the glass, so you're not missing anything by skipping the bottle — there's nothing to skip to. The Tabor Hill options are the most interesting pours on the list simply because they're local and at least have a story. Rotation is nonexistent; this list looks like it hasn't changed since a regional sales rep dropped off a laminated sheet.
Tabor Hill Demi-Sec — null
Pricing wasn't confirmed, but this is the pick by default — it's the only wine on the list that comes from somewhere specific and interesting. Michigan's Tabor Hill has been making wine since the 1970s, and a slightly sweet white actually plays well with Barnaby's pizza. It's not a great wine, but it's the most honest choice on the menu.
Tabor Hill Demi-Red
Most people here are grabbing whatever red is cheapest, but the Tabor Hill Demi-Red is a soft, slightly sweet Michigan red that most guests overlook because they don't recognize the name. It's local, it's approachable, and it actually holds up to the pizza better than the Barefoot Merlot sitting next to it.
Barefoot Merlot
You can buy this for $6 at a gas station. There's no reason to pay restaurant pricing for a wine that has zero personality and exists purely to fill a red wine slot on the menu. Order a beer instead.
Tabor Hill Demi-Sec + Pizza
A lightly sweet white wine with some acidity is actually a decent foil for tomato sauce and melted cheese. The Demi-Sec won't fight the pie and the sweetness tamps down any bitterness from the sauce. It's low-stakes and it works.
❌ The Bottom Line
Barnaby's is a genuinely beloved local pizza spot and nobody goes there for the wine — nor should they. Come for the pizza, grab a beer, and let the wine list quietly do its worst in the corner.
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