Organic-focused gem hiding in coastal New Hampshire
Waterfront · Portsmouth · French-inspired bistro / wine bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 24, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Black Trumpet’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Black Trumpet, you get the sense that someone actually thought about this list — it's not the usual steakhouse greatest hits. The organic and biodynamic focus signals intention, not trend-chasing, and for Portsmouth that's genuinely rare.
The list runs around 30-50 labels and leans hard into sustainable producers across international regions, which is a smart editorial choice even if it means sacrificing depth in any single area. You'll find bottles that require a little curiosity from the diner, which we respect. That said, with the Caparzo Brunello at $120 and Honig Napa Cab at $130, the bottle pricing tilts toward the steeper end — especially without retail anchors to confirm the value. Sea Smoke Chardonnay at $160 is the kind of pick that signals ambition, but also the kind of price that stings when you're already dropping $40 on an entrée.
Twelve by-the-glass options is a solid number for a bistro of this size, and the Maison Aguila Crémant de Limoux NV at $14 a glass gives you a real entry point into something interesting. We'd love to see more rotation through the BTG list, but what's here skews toward thoughtful producers rather than bulk pours.
Maison Aguila Crémant de Limoux NV — $14/glass · $55/bottle
A bottle of proper French bubbly from a sustainable producer for $14 a glass is a genuinely fair pour. Order it as your aperitif, consider ordering a second.
Maison Aguila Crémant de Limoux NV
Most people at a bistro skip straight to the reds or reach for Champagne. The Crémant de Limoux sits in that underappreciated middle ground — same method, fraction of the ego, and here it's priced to actually drink.
Sea Smoke Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills 2021
At $160, you're paying a significant premium for a wine you can find at retail for considerably less. Sea Smoke is great, but not great enough at that markup to justify it when there are more interesting bottles on this list.
Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino 2018 + Duck or braised meat entrée
A Brunello of this caliber needs something with weight and depth — a well-executed braise or duck preparation at a French-leaning bistro gives the Sangiovese's acidity and structure something to push against. Worth the splurge if you're going all-in on a special occasion dinner.
The Bottom Line
Black Trumpet is doing something genuinely worth supporting — a curated, sustainability-minded list in a city that mostly doesn't bother. The markups on the bigger bottles keep it from being a destination wine experience, but the Crémant alone might be worth the trip to Ceres Street.
· Portsmouth · Upscale New American
Salt Kitchen & Bar has the bones of a resort wine list built to move recognizable bottles at comfortable margins — not to educate, excite, or reward the curious drinker. If you're staying at Wentworth by the Sea and want a glass of wine with dinner, you'll find something drinkable here, but we wouldn't plan a night around the list. Order the Red Newt Riesling, tip your server well, and save the wine exploration for somewhere that's actually trying.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Portsmouth · Seafood & American
The Oar House wine list is a workmanlike effort — short, safe, and priced fairly for what it is. If you're coming for the seafood and want a glass of Albariño or a crisp Sauvignon Blanc to go with it, you'll be well served. Just don't come here expecting to be wowed by the wine program.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Portsmouth · New American / Tapas-Style
Moxy earns its Wild Card badge not because we can confirm every pour, but because the bones of the wine program — an intentional regional focus, a menu built for wine-friendly snacking, and a room that draws people back — suggest genuine effort. If you're in Portsmouth and want something more interesting than a safe Napa Cab next to your tapas, this is worth the reservation. Come in curious, ask the staff what they're excited about, and let the list surprise you.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Portsmouth · Japanese / Sushi
Nichinan's wine list is short but earns its keep — the presence of Pieropan, Grüner Veltliner, and Henri Bourgeois Sancerre tells you someone on staff understands that sushi and Chardonnay is not the only answer. Markups are fair across the board, and the by-the-glass selection is wide enough to keep the table happy without forcing a bottle. If you're in Portsmouth and want something better than the default wine-at-a-sushi-restaurant experience, this delivers.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Portsmouth · Italian-American
The Rosa isn't trying to reinvent the wine list — it's trying to serve its room well, and largely succeeds. Twenty-five by-the-glass options with Italian producers mixed alongside California staples makes this one of the more thoughtful pours in Portsmouth. If you're after wine-bar ambition, look elsewhere; if you want a reliable glass with your gnocchi without any drama, The Rosa delivers.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Portsmouth · Steakhouse
The Library Restaurant is a Wine Spectator award holder that plays it very, very safe — heavy California Chardonnay, a prestige Champagne tower, and markups that favor the house. If you're here for a special occasion and want to pop a Pol Roger at $125 or a Veuve at $155, it's a fine room for that. But if you're hoping to find something unexpected or feel like the wine program is working hard for you, this list isn't going to surprise you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
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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