Burgers, Beer, and a Surprisingly Decent Wine List
Downtown Durham · Durham · American, Brew Pub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 10, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You walk into a brewpub famous for pasture-raised burgers and a kids' play area, and the last thing you expect is a wine list that's actually put together with some intention. Ten labels, all available by the glass, priced between $7 and $12 — this is not a list that was thrown together by a beer guy who had to check a box.
For a ten-bottle list, the geographic spread here is genuinely respectable: you've got Piemonte, Willamette Valley, South Australia, Mendoza, and northeastern Italy all represented. The Santa Julia Innovación Tempranillo/Malbec blend and the Sant'Evasio Barbera d'Asti show someone was actually paying attention when they built this out — these aren't the usual Meiomi and Ruffino placeholders. The Yamhill Valley Pinot Noir from Oregon is a real wine from a real region, which is more than most burger joints can claim. The list does play it safe on whites — a Pinot Grigio, a Chardonnay, a Sauvignon Blanc — but at these prices, it's hard to complain.
Every single bottle on the list is available by the glass, which at $7–$12 a pour is genuinely good news. The Las Lilas Rosé at $7 a glass ($20 a bottle) is the no-brainer casual order, and the fact that you can try the Barbera or the Oregon Pinot without committing to a full bottle makes this list more approachable than it has any right to be. No rotation or half-price night program that we could find, which is a missed opportunity in a place this fun.
Las Lilas Rosé — $7/glass, $20/bottle
Seven bucks a glass for a rosé at a brewpub with a patio is a genuinely good deal. Grab a bottle, sit outside, and don't overthink it.
Sant'Evasio Barbera d'Asti
Most people at a burger joint are reaching for the beer or the obvious red blend. The Barbera d'Asti from Piemonte is the dark horse here — high acid, food-friendly, and a real Italian wine that costs more to find at retail than the menu price suggests.
Bidoli Pinot Grigio
There's nothing wrong with it, but a brewpub with burgers on the menu is not the time or place for a neutral northern Italian white. You came here to eat something with your hands — drink accordingly.
Yamhill Valley Pinot Noir + Pasture-raised beef burger
Oregon Pinot and a quality beef burger is a legitimately good combination — the wine's earthy cherry fruit and bright acidity cut through the fat without fighting it. It's a better call than the obvious reach for a bigger red.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Bull City Burger and Brewery has no business having a wine list this considered, and that's exactly why it earns the Wild Card. Beer is still the main event here, but if your crew splits between hops and grapes, nobody's drinking badly.
Fearrington Village / Pittsboro · Durham · Contemporary American / Modern Tasting Menu
Fearrington House is the rare Wine Spectator Award list that actually earns it — a deep, expertly managed cellar in a setting that has no business being this good. Yes, pricing at the top end is steep, but for a full tasting menu experience, this is as serious as it gets in the Carolinas.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Downtown · Durham · Japanese sushi restaurant with omakase and nigiri focus
M Sushi is a Wild Card in the best possible sense — a sushi counter in downtown Durham with an Old World wine list that actually respects the food it's serving. If you're willing to let go of the familiar and trust the list, this is one of the more satisfying wine experiences you'll find in the Triangle.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Rockwood / Chapel Hill Road · Durham · Cafe & Market
Foster's Market is a genuinely lovely café, and the wine program seems to know it's playing second fiddle — six house-label bottles at flat $15 pricing isn't a wine program so much as a courtesy. Order the coffee, eat the baked goods, and save your wine night for somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Southpoint / Fayetteville Road · Durham · Seasonal Farm-to-Fork American
Harvest 18 is a reliable neighborhood spot where the kitchen clearly outpaces the wine list. Come for the food, come on a Wednesday for the half-price bottles, and calibrate your expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Durham · Seasonal American, Southern-influenced hotel restaurant
For a hotel restaurant, The Restaurant at The Durham is punching well above its weight class — Jura producers and Matthiasson on a downtown Durham wine list is genuinely surprising. The markups keep it from being a destination for wine alone, but if you're eating here anyway, you're in better hands than most hotel guests ever get.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Duke West Campus · Durham · Fine Dining
Fairview is a reliable, well-run hotel wine program that does its job — it won't embarrass you on a date night or a client dinner, but it's not the reason to make the drive. Come for the occasion, drink the Jordan, and leave the exploration for another night.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.