Central Europe's best kept Cincinnati secret
Downtown · Cincinnati · German and Central European farm-to-table · Visit Website ↗
Updated October 2026
Reviewed June 5, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Bauer Farm Kitchen’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Bauer Farm Kitchen stops you cold — in the best way. In a city where most restaurant lists default to California Cab and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, this one opens with Mosel Riesling and Grüner Veltliner from Kamptal. Someone here actually thought about this.
Thirty to forty labels, almost entirely Germany and Austria, with a few Central European wildcards thrown in for good measure. The Riesling bench is legit: Dr. Loosen anchors the approachable end, Clemens Busch Trocken handles the serious drinking at $58, and Weingut Wittmann rounds out the dry-style argument from Rheinhessen. On the red side, Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt from Bründlmayer give you something to actually think about, and the occasional Spätburgunder from Baden or Pfalz covers anyone still warming up to Central European reds. The list does have gaps — if you want Burgundy, Barolo, or anything from the Southern Hemisphere, you're out of luck — but that's clearly by design, not neglect.
Eight to ten pours rotating through the German and Austrian hits, priced between $9 and $15 a glass. You can drink house Sekt to start, pivot to a Grüner Veltliner mid-meal, and finish on a Zweigelt without ever leaving Central Europe — which, honestly, is exactly the right move at a place serving Jägerschnitzel. The BTG list is tight enough to stay focused without feeling stingy.
Clemens Busch Riesling Trocken (Mosel) — $58
A village-level dry Riesling from one of the Mosel's most serious producers at just over double retail. Clemens Busch doesn't show up on many restaurant lists at any price — finding it here at $58 is a genuine score, especially alongside a plate of house sausages and spaetzle.
Weingut Franz Hirtzberger Grüner Veltliner (Wachau, Smaragd)
At $98 it's the priciest bottle on the list, but Hirtzberger Smaragd is Wachau royalty — the kind of Grüner that makes Austrian wine skeptics rethink everything. The markup is actually the lightest on the whole list at 78% over retail. Most tables will walk right past it. Don't.
Dr. Loosen 'Dr. L' Riesling (Mosel)
It's a perfectly fine Riesling and the $11 glass price is fair, but Dr. L is a $12 retail bottle you can grab at any wine shop in Cincinnati. With Clemens Busch and Wittmann on the same list, there's no reason to settle for the entry-level pour.
Weingut Bründlmayer Blaufränkisch (Burgenland) + Jägerschnitzel
Blaufränkisch has enough dark fruit and peppery edge to stand up to the mushroom cream sauce without steamrolling the pork. It's the grape that was basically built for this dish — just never had a great American restaurant list to prove it on. This one does.
The Bottom Line
Bauer Farm Kitchen is doing something genuinely unusual for Cincinnati: building a wine list that actually matches the food, the region, and a clear point of view. If you have even a passing interest in German or Austrian wine, this list will reward you — and the pricing won't punish you for exploring.
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Eddie Merlot's is a reliable performer in a genre that doesn't reward risk-taking — you'll eat well, drink acceptably, and pay steakhouse prices for both. If you're after a wine list that surprises or challenges you, this isn't your room. But if you need somewhere that delivers a respectable bottle alongside a serious filet, this gets the job done without embarrassing you at the table.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Montgomery · Cincinnati · American
A winery-restaurant list where nearly every wine is posted with a glass and a bottle price, from $9.50 to $25.00 a glass. Start with the Cooper's Hawk Lux Cabernet Sauvignon, which the menu lists beside the red wine braised short ribs, or the Cooper's Hawk Red at $10.75 a glass, and try the CHMX from Baja, Mexico on a weekday at the $8 Wine O'Clock price. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups, so confirm availability.
Covington · Cincinnati · Farm-to-Table Bistro
A bistro wine list with a compact glass tab and a regional bottle tab that runs from 42 to 310. Start with the Conquilla cava or the Voliero sangiovese by the glass, or the Thymiopoulos xinomavro at $50 if you want a bottle, and confirm prices because the menu is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Cincinnati · Wood-Fired American
A French-led bottle list with a glass page that starts at $17 and a Coravin page for smaller pours. Order the Domaine Brun-Avril Côtes-du-Rhône at $20 a glass, or try the Château de Plaisance Anjou Blanc by the pour, and confirm vintages since the book says they are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks selection, not service, storage or markups.
Newport · Cincinnati · Farm-to-table (Italian, French, American)
A tasting-menu room with a wine book that runs from Burgundy to Tuscany and a short, specific beverage sheet. Start with the $15 Delalle sparkling Chenin Blanc, or look at the $48 Rocca del Principe Fiano if you want a bottle, and confirm what is available since neither list is dated. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks lists, not service, storage or markups.
Lytle Park · Cincinnati · Italian
A broad Italian-and-Napa list, with every glass pour labeled by size. Start with the Santa Cristina Cabernet Sauvignon (6oz 12) or the Ohio-made Carlotta red blend (43), and confirm what is pouring, since the list carries no date. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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