Neighborhood French bistro that earns its keep
Cherrydale · Arlington · Regional French-inspired / French Bistro · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 27, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Cafe Colline’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Cafe Colline doesn't try to be something it's not — 45 labels, France and Italy as the backbone, and a sommelier on staff to help you navigate it. It fits the room: relaxed, confident, not showing off.
Forty-five bottles sounds modest, but the focus on France and Italy keeps it coherent rather than scattered. You're not going to find a sprawling new-world section, and that's fine — this list is curated to match the bistro cooking, not pad a page count. The presence of the Ciro Biondi Outis Etna Rosso signals that whoever built this list has a real point of view; that's a Sicilian wine that most neighborhood bistros wouldn't bother stocking. Gaps exist — if you want deep Burgundy or an Alsatian white, you may be left wanting — but what's here is well-chosen.
Ten by-the-glass options in the $10–$18 range is a respectable program for a neighborhood spot. The glass range covers enough ground to get through a full meal without feeling trapped, and the pricing is honest for the Arlington market.
By-the-glass selections at $10–$12 — $10–$12
At the lower end of the glass range, Cafe Colline is offering solid French and Italian pours at prices that won't make you wince on a weeknight — genuinely fair for the neighborhood.
Ciro Biondi Outis Etna Rosso 2017
Most people at a French bistro are reaching for Burgundy or a Côtes du Rhône. The Ciro Biondi Etna Rosso is the list's sleeper — a volcanic Sicilian Nerello Mascalese with more finesse and complexity than its neighbors on the list would suggest. Don't walk past it.
French Martini
Not a wine, but worth flagging — ordering the French martini at a table with a legit sommelier and a considered wine list is a missed opportunity. The cocktail program seems to compete for attention here; stay in the wine column.
Ciro Biondi Outis Etna Rosso 2017 + Gnocchi Parisienne
The Etna Rosso's high acidity and earthy, savory character cut through the richness of the butter-sauced Gnocchi Parisienne without bullying it. It's the kind of pairing that makes the dish taste better and the wine taste more interesting.
The Bottom Line
Cafe Colline is a genuinely good neighborhood wine program — a sommelier-guided, focused list that punches above its size. Send your friends here for dinner and tell them to ask about the Etna Rosso.
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Crystal City Wine Shop is the kind of low-key, staff-driven wine spot that most neighborhoods desperately want and rarely get — especially one with the nerve to stock Ukrainian bottles in the shadow of the Pentagon. We'd send a curious friend here without hesitation; just don't come in expecting a full restaurant experience.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Clarendon · Arlington · New American
CIRCA Clarendon isn't trying to be a wine destination and doesn't pretend otherwise — but the all-BTG format, fair prices, and a few genuinely interesting whites make it a solid call when you want wine that works without overthinking it. Send a friend here, just steer them away from the Unshackled.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Arlington · Wine Bar / Bottle Shop
Flight Wine Shop is doing something genuinely rare in the DC suburbs: a tightly curated, fairly priced bottle shop that treats obscure regions and natural producers as the main event, not a novelty section. If you're tired of the same ten wines and want a shop that will actually teach you something, this is your spot.
Deep & Eclectic
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Arlington · Wine Bar / Café
Oby Lee is not a destination for serious wine drinkers, but it is a genuinely fun, low-pressure spot where the prices are fair and the vibe is unapologetically playful. Send your friends who think they don't like wine — they'll order a mango slushy and have a great time.
Plays It Safe
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ballston · Arlington · Neapolitan Pizza
Pupatella isn't trying to be a destination wine program, and it doesn't need to be — it's a pizza place with a focused, fairly priced, Italian-centric list that actually makes sense with the food. Send a friend here for the pizza and tell them to order the Lambrusco.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Arlington · Arlington · Wine Bar
Screwtop is doing something genuinely unusual in the DC suburbs: a deep, eclectic by-the-glass list priced fairly and organized with actual personality. If you want to drink something you've never tried before in a low-pressure setting, this is exactly the place to send a friend.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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