Solid Sips for Taco Night Downtown
Downtown / Broadway · Saratoga Springs · Mexican / Southwestern · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 20, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Cantina’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Cantina is short — 13 labels short — but it's priced and positioned for the margarita crowd that probably isn't here for a deep Burgundy dive anyway. At $12 a glass across the board, there's a flat-rate simplicity that's either refreshing or lazy depending on your mood. It reads like someone checked a box rather than built a program.
The list leans California and Italy with a few interesting detours: a Keuka Springs Riesling from New York's Finger Lakes adds some local pride, and the Hornillos Ballesteros Mibal Tempranillo from Spain is a name you don't see on many taco menus. The Altos Las Hormigas Malbec is a reliable Argentine workhorse that actually fits the cuisine. That said, there's no depth here — no aged options, no grower producers, no surprises from Mexico itself, which feels like a missed opportunity for a restaurant flying a Mexican flag.
Eleven of the thirteen labels are available by the glass, which is genuinely impressive for a list this size — essentially the whole thing is pourable. Quality is entry-level across the board, but the Raimat Albariño and the Keuka Springs Riesling give you something slightly more interesting than the Primary Wines defaults. Rotation doesn't appear to be a thing here; this list looks like it's been sitting still for a while.
Keuka Springs Riesling 2024, New York — $12/glass
Finger Lakes Riesling at the same flat $12 price as the commodity California stuff is a quiet win. It's got the acid and a touch of fruit that cuts through spicy food better than most things on this list.
Hornillos Ballesteros Mibal Tempranillo 2024, Spain
Nobody ordering tacos is reaching for a Spanish Tempranillo, but they should be. It's earthy and food-friendly in a way the California Cabernet simply isn't, and it's flying under the radar on a list where Malbec usually gets all the red wine attention.
Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve, France
At $75 a bottle, you're paying a hefty premium for a supermarket Champagne that retails around $25. If you want bubbles, grab a cocktail instead — this is the one bottle on the list where the markup is genuinely hard to justify.
Raimat Albariño 2024, Spain + Guacamole
Albariño's bright citrus and saline edge are made for anything with lime and avocado. It cuts the fat, echoes the citrus in the guac, and keeps the palate fresh between chips. Easy call.
The Bottom Line
Cantina's wine list won't win any awards, but it won't ruin your dinner either — and with almost everything available by the glass, you can explore without committing. Stick to the Albariño or the Finger Lakes Riesling, skip the Champagne, and save your serious wine night for somewhere else.
Downtown · Saratoga Springs · Casual Italian
Wheatfields is a reliable neighborhood Italian stop, and the wine list does exactly what it needs to — it covers the room without taking any risks. The Dr. Konstantin Frank Riesling and the Louis Jadot Mâcon Village are the two picks worth seeking out; everything else is competent filler at markups that could be friendlier. If you want to drink well here, order by the glass and go off the beaten path.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Saratoga Springs · Winery Bistro
Thirsty Owl Saratoga is a single-producer concept that leans all the way in, and if you're curious about Finger Lakes wines in a comfortable dining setting, it's a genuinely good place to learn the range. The wild card badge fits: you won't find the usual suspects here, but that's exactly the point. Go in knowing what you're signing up for and you'll walk out pleasantly educated.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Saratoga Springs · Italian / Pizzeria
Village Pizzeria's wine list is a pleasant surprise for a Saratoga Springs Italian spot — fair prices, a serious BTG count, and enough Italian-regional picks to reward the curious. It's not a destination wine list, but if you order the Lugana or the Vermentino instead of the default Pinot Grigio, you'll drink well without overthinking it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Saratoga Springs · New American / Fine Dining
Morgan & Co. has built a wine list that respects its guests without overcharging them — fair pricing, a meaningful by-the-glass selection, and enough off-the-beaten-path picks to reward the curious. It's not a destination wine list, but if you're in Saratoga Springs and want a reliable bottle alongside a fine dining meal, you're in good hands. Go for the Sancerre, take a flyer on the Falanghina, and let someone else order the Rombauer.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Saratoga Springs · Italian
Noah's Italian made a bold structural call — every wine by the glass, no exceptions — and the Italian-focused selection backs it up with real producers like Ratti, Tornatorre, and Buglioni rather than the usual suspects. We don't know what's on the plate or who's pouring, but on the strength of the wine list alone, this is worth a visit if you're in Saratoga Springs and want to drink Italian wine without committing to a full bottle.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Saratoga Springs · Winery tasting room / light bites
Adirondack Winery isn't trying to be a destination wine list — it's a tasting room that wants you to leave with a bottle of something you didn't know was made in New York. The pricing is genuinely fair across all 36 labels, the Baco Noir and Cab Franc give curious drinkers something worth lingering on, and the Meritage 2019 at $44.99 tops out the range without gouging anyone. If you're passing through the Lake George area and curious about what northeastern New York actually grows, this is worth the stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
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.
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