Billings didn't know it needed this
· Billings · Wine Bar, Bottle Shop, New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 29, 2026
RagingWine reviewed City Vineyard’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
You're in Billings, Montana — not exactly a city that announces itself as a wine destination — and then City Vineyard hands you a list with a Borgogno Barolo, a Priorat from Black Slate, and Raisins Gaulois Gamay sitting next to a Brunello. It's a genuine surprise. This is a bottle shop that decided to take the wine bar concept seriously, and it shows.
Forty-one bottles, all available by the glass — which is either a bold commitment or a logistical nightmare, depending on how you look at it. The range spans Burgundy-leaning Pinot from Van Duzer and DuMol (Willamette and Russian River, respectively), Italian reds from Sangiovese to Brunello to Barolo, a Carménère from Inama that has no business being on a Montana wine list in the best way possible, and a Priorat from Black Slate that rounds out an Iberian flank most downtown wine bars in major cities would envy. Pacific Northwest representation is present via Saviah Cellars and Canvasback, which feels right for the region without pandering to it. The gaps are mostly on the white wine and sparkling side — we'd love to see that half of the list get the same attention the reds receive.
The entire list is by the glass, which is City Vineyard's biggest selling point and its defining identity. At $36 on the low end (Mary Taylor Douro) to $124 for the DuMol Pinot, there's real range here — you can stay curious without committing to a bottle. The rotating nature of a 41-glass program means some wines will be better stored and served than others, but the breadth is genuinely impressive for a market this size.
Mary Taylor Douro 2022 — $36
The Douro Valley is one of the most undervalued red wine regions on the planet right now, and Mary Taylor is a reliable importer who finds quality at the right price. At $36 a glass on a list that runs to $124, this is the entry point that doesn't feel like a consolation prize.
Borgogno No Name Barolo 2021
Borgogno is one of the oldest estates in Barolo — established in 1761 — and the 'No Name' is their no-frills, let-the-wine-speak approach to Nebbiolo. Most people scan past Barolo at $68 and assume it needs a decade in a cellar. This one doesn't, and at that price for a glass pour of actual Barolo, you'd be foolish to walk past it.
Duckhorn Merlot 2022
Duckhorn makes perfectly fine Merlot. It also costs $68 here, and it's the most predictable, ubiquitous label on an otherwise interesting list. When you're surrounded by a Priorat, a Carménère, and a Brunello, ordering the Duckhorn is a waste of what City Vineyard is actually trying to do.
Stolpman Vineyards Syrah Blend 2023 + Brunch charcuterie or cured meat board
Stolpman's Syrah is meaty, savory, and built for exactly this kind of casual-but-considered setting. The peppery backbone and dark fruit play directly off cured meats and aged cheeses — the kind of thing a bottle shop wine bar has no excuse not to be serving.
The Bottom Line
City Vineyard is doing something genuinely unusual for Billings — a thoughtful, eclectic list priced with some fairness and available entirely by the glass. We'd send a friend here without hesitation, with the caveat that the white wine half of the list needs the same curatorial love the reds are getting.
· Billings · New American / Italian / French
Bistro Enzo is the kind of special-occasion spot that makes you glad Billings has it — the wine list is thoughtful enough to match the kitchen, and the overall experience justifies the reservation. We'd send a friend here for a date night without hesitation, though we'd tell them to lead with questions for the staff rather than assume they'll be guided unprompted.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Billings · Wine bar, small plates
Cellar 8 is the wine bar you don't expect to find in a casino in Billings, and that's exactly why it earns its Wild Card badge — 37 glasses, fair prices, and genuine effort make this worth a stop. Send a friend here and tell them to skip the Caymus.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Billings · New American
Walkers Grill is doing something genuinely rare — building a thoughtful, eclectic wine list in a market that would forgive them for not trying. If you're passing through Billings or happen to live there, this is worth your dinner reservation and your second glass.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Billings · Billings · American Steakhouse and Grill
Jaker's is a perfectly fine place to drink wine with a steak in Billings — it's not trying to be anything more than that, and mostly it succeeds. If you're expecting discovery or value, temper your expectations; if you just want a solid Cab with your prime rib, you'll leave satisfied.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Unknown · Billings · Steakhouse / Australian-themed
Outback's wine list is corporate on purpose — it's designed to be inoffensive, not interesting. Order the Koonunga Hill with your steak, and save your real wine curiosity for a restaurant that returns the favor.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Billings · Billings · Seafood
The prices are shockingly low, and credit where it's due — but a steal on mediocre wine is still mediocre wine. Come for the Cheddar Bay Biscuits, skip the wine list, and save your real bottle for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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