Old World Heart With A Sommelier On Guard
Downtown · Cincinnati · Contemporary European · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed March 28, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into the old Maisonette space, you expect the wine list to have some gravitas — and Boca mostly delivers. The list leans hard into France, with enough Burgundy, Loire, and Champagne to signal that someone actually thought this through. It's not flashy, but it feels considered.
Burgundy is clearly the anchor here, with producers like Pierre-Vincent Girardin showing up on both the white and red side. The Loire gets a nod via Isabelle et Pierre Clément's Menetou-Salon, and there's a smart Laherte Frères Champagne pick that goes beyond the usual Moët reflex. California makes a respectable cameo with Failla and Presqu'ile — two producers who actually belong on a serious list — and the OTT Grüner Veltliner from Wagram adds a quietly nerdy Austrian touch. The Bordeaux representation is thin and leans toward the more approachable end with the 2018 Haut Médoc, but that's not the worst editorial call.
Eighteen by-the-glass options is genuinely strong for a Cincinnati restaurant of this caliber. The range runs $17–$29, which feels right for the room even if it's not cheap. We'd like to see more rotation signaling — right now the program feels like it was set and left to run — but the options themselves are better than most of what's on offer downtown.
2022 Menetou-Salon, Isabelle et Pierre Clément, Loire Valley — $17
Loire Sauvignon Blanc from a solid appellation at the low end of the by-the-glass range — this is the smart order if you want something fresh and food-friendly without paying Sancerre prices for essentially the same idea.
MV Laherte Frères, Ultradition Extra Brut, Chavot, Champagne
Most people walk past grower Champagne when a restaurant lists it alongside the usual suspects, but Laherte is one of the best small producers in the Marne. This is serious fizz that most tables will overlook entirely.
2018 Haut Médoc, Château Prieuré de Beyzac, Bordeaux
Haut Médoc at this price tier in a restaurant context is a tough sell. You're paying a significant markup for a wine that, at retail, is firmly budget Bordeaux. There are far more interesting bottles on this list for the same money.
2022 Chianti Classico, Tenuta Carleone, Tuscany + Beef Wellington for Two
Sangiovese's natural acidity and earthy backbone cut right through the richness of the pastry and duxelles without bullying the beef. Carleone farms organically and makes a Chianti Classico with real structure — it can handle a show-off dish like Wellington without getting lost.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Boca is the best wine program in downtown Cincinnati that most people aren't fully taking advantage of — a sommelier on staff, grower Champagne, and Failla on the list is not something you stumble into at most restaurants in this city. The markup keeps it from being a true Rager, but if you know what to order, you'll drink well here.
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Ruth's Chris Cincinnati is a reliable, well-stocked steakhouse list that delivers exactly what it promises — big California reds, proper storage, and a bottle for every budget above $50. Just don't come expecting discovery; come expecting execution.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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Abigail Street is a Wild Card because nobody walks into a tapas spot in OTR expecting Lebanese orange wines and Champagne from Bollinger — but here we are. The markup math on the tap program stings, but the top half of this list is doing real work and earns a recommendation.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North / Kenwood area · Cincinnati · New American / Grill & Wine Bar
Seasons 52 Cincinnati is a chain wine program that punches above its weight class on volume and actually tries — Monday half-price bottles are a legitimate reason to show up on a specific night. Just go in knowing this is a crowd-pleaser list, not a discovery list, and you'll leave satisfied.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
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Maplewood Mason isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — the list is fair, accessible, and has just enough personality (Stolpman, Jezebel Blanc) to keep it from being totally forgettable. If you're here for brunch, grab a glass and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hyde Park · Cincinnati · Italian (housemade pasta, wood-fired pizza)
Forno Hyde Park is a reliable neighborhood wine program that doesn't embarrass itself — solid Italian range, reasonable glass pours, and a Wood-Down Wednesday deal that genuinely changes the math on the better bottles. The markups on everyday bottles are hard to ignore, but if you time it right and order smart, there's a real dinner here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Newport (Greater Cincinnati Riverfront) · Cincinnati · Seafood
Chart House delivers exactly what it promises: a reliable, unadventurous wine list in a spectacular waterfront setting. Come for the view and the lobster bisque — just don't expect the wine list to match the scenery.
Crowd Pleasers
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.