Neighborhood Fine Dining That Knows Its Wine
Historic Hilton Village · Newport News · New American / Fine Dining · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 30, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Circa 1918 Kitchen & Bar’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Circa 1918, the wine list feels like it was curated by someone who actually drinks wine rather than someone who just needed a list. It's not massive, but there's clear intention here — a few European bottles that don't show up on every restaurant list in the 757. The $6–$7 glass pours are practically a rounding error in today's market, which earns immediate goodwill.
The list leans Old World with a quiet confidence — Loire and Languedoc on the French side, a Spanish sparkling from Penedès tucking in alongside. The Simonet Brut Blanc from Loire is the kind of bottle that signals someone upstream made a thoughtful call; that's not a default Champagne-substitute pick, that's a deliberate choice. The Prochaine Chardonnay from Languedoc is similarly under-the-radar, steering clear of the tired California Chard reflex. Gaps exist — the list is lean enough that variety-seekers may feel constrained — but what's here is chosen, not just populated.
Glass pour pricing at $6–$7 is genuinely rare for a fine dining room in 2024, and if that reflects the full BTG program, it's one of the stronger value propositions in Newport News. We don't have a full by-the-glass count, but the sparkling presence of the Castillo Perelada Brut Cave as a pourable option suggests the program extends beyond token reds and whites. Rotation data is thin, so don't count on much seasonal movement.
Pedroncelli 'Four Grapes' Port NV — $11
Retails around $17, so the markup is modest — a rare thing for a dessert pour. It's an honest, food-friendly fortified wine at a price that makes saying yes easy.
Simonet Brut Blanc
A Loire sparkling that most diners will walk right past in favor of something they recognize. Don't. This is the kind of bottle that makes you feel like you found something, because you did.
Justin 'Obtuse' Cabernet Sauvignon Dessert Wine NV
Retails around $25 and pours for $10 — that's a 150% markup on a dessert wine that isn't even particularly hard to find. The Pedroncelli or the Standing Stone are better plays for your after-dinner dollar.
Prochaine Chardonnay + Chef's featured fish or seafood entrée
A Languedoc Chardonnay brings enough structure and restraint to lift a white fish or shellfish dish without steamrolling it — and at this price point, you're not overthinking the order.
The Bottom Line
Circa 1918 isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it's doing more than most neighborhood fine-dining spots bother to do. Fair prices, a few genuinely interesting European picks, and a room that takes hospitality seriously — send a friend here without hesitation.
· Newport News · American Bistro
This isn't a wine list in the traditional sense — it's a producer showcase, and Second Street leans into it with a multi-course dinner format. If you're into Napa and trust the Spoto brand, it's a worthwhile evening; if you wanted options, you're out of luck.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Newport News · Italian
Carrabba's wine list does exactly what a chain wine list does: it keeps people comfortable and keeps margins high. If you're here for a business dinner or a family birthday, order the TerraMare house pour and move on — but don't come here expecting wine to be part of the experience.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · American
Cheddar's is a casual comfort-food chain, and the wine list reflects exactly that level of ambition — none. Order a beer or a cocktail and save the wine conversation for somewhere that wants to have it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · Steakhouse / Cocktail Bar
Steak & Tonic is a genuinely surprising find for Newport News — the wine ambitions outpace most steakhouses in its weight class, even if the execution can wobble and the pricing likely skews steep. It earns the Wild Card badge because it's the kind of place you walk into expecting a cocktail and walk out talking about the wine list.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · Wine Bar
Vino Noir Social isn't trying to be a Burgundy deep-dive — it's trying to be a good time in Newport News, and at these prices with a fully by-the-glass list, it mostly delivers. Send a friend who's still exploring wine and wants a low-stakes, affordable night out.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · Japanese / Sushi
Hayashi's wine list is exactly what it needs to be for a neighborhood sushi spot — fair prices, nothing weird, nothing special. Grab the Kung Fu Girl Riesling and call it a night.
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
· Medford · New American / Fine Dining
Gogi's is the best wine list in southern Oregon that most people outside of Medford have never heard of. If you're passing through on your way to Ashland or the valley wineries, stop here first — the list earns the detour.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown South Bend · South Bend · New American / Fine Dining
Roselily clearly invests in the kitchen — the wine list just didn't get the same memo. The markups are aggressive, the selection is safe to the point of boredom, and nothing here suggests anyone is losing sleep over what's in the cellar. Order something off the cocktail menu and save the bottle of wine for somewhere that cares.
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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