Finger Lakes First, and Rightfully So
Downtown / Aurora Street · Ithaca · Farm-to-Table / New American
Reviewed July 22, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Coltivare’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Coltivare feels like it was built by someone who actually eats the food here — local Finger Lakes producers up front, some Italian and French depth behind them, and no obvious filler. It's not a long list, but it's an honest one. You can tell this place cares more about what's in the glass than how many labels it can cram onto a laminated page.
The Finger Lakes representation is the clear strength — Riesling from producers like Ravines and Red Newt anchors the list, which makes total sense given Coltivare is sitting in the middle of one of the best Riesling regions in North America. Beyond that, there's a workable Italian presence that echoes the farm-to-table ethos of the kitchen, plus some French and California options for the guests who won't venture off the beaten path. The list tops out around 80 labels, which is enough to have a real conversation without becoming overwhelming. The gaps show up in the red wine depth — there's range, but don't come looking for serious Burgundy or aged Barolo.
The by-the-glass program runs 8 to 16 options depending on the season, with prices landing between $10 and $16 — reasonable for the market and the quality level. We'd expect at least one Finger Lakes Riesling on pour at any given time, which should be non-negotiable for a restaurant of this pedigree and location. Rotation isn't aggressive, but the picks feel deliberate rather than default.
Ravines Wine Cellars Dry Riesling — $42
Ravines is one of the Finger Lakes' most consistent producers, and landing their Dry Riesling at this price point — steps from where it's grown — is the kind of value you can't manufacture. This is why you come to Ithaca.
Red Newt Cellars Riesling
Red Newt doesn't get the same name recognition as some Finger Lakes peers, but their Riesling is serious wine at a non-serious price. Most tables walk past it for something they already know — their loss.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
Any generic California Cab on a list like this is there for the guest who won't try anything new. The markup on these crowd-pleaser bottles rarely reflects the quality, and you're in Finger Lakes country — there's no reason to default to the predictable pick.
Ravines Wine Cellars Dry Riesling + House-made pasta with roasted local vegetables
The Riesling's bright acidity and restrained fruit cut through the richness of house pasta while matching the earthy, seasonal character of whatever vegetables just came off the farm. It's a local story told in two courses.
The Bottom Line
Coltivare isn't trying to be a wine destination, but its Finger Lakes focus and fair pricing make it a genuinely good place to drink local. Send your out-of-town friends here — they'll leave with a new appreciation for New York Riesling.
· Ithaca · Southwestern / New American
Agava's wine program is essentially a placeholder — no producers named, no prices published, no apparent effort to connect the Southwestern-leaning menu to anything interesting in the glass. Ithaca sits in the heart of Finger Lakes wine country, making this omission especially puzzling. Order a cocktail, or bring your own bottle if corkage is an option.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Ithaca · Hotel bar / seasonal restaurant
For a hotel bar in wine country, this list punches above its category — the Finger Lakes producers are legitimate, the Saperavi alone is worth a detour, and the overall curation signals actual effort. Pricing at a lakeside inn will likely sting, and without confirmed by-the-glass options or staff expertise, you may need to advocate for yourself. Come ready to order by the bottle, pick something local, and enjoy the view.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Ithaca · New American
The Rook is swinging for something more interesting than its size suggests, and the range of regions and styles — Txakoline, Verdicchio, Barolo rosé, orange Garnacha — earns genuine respect for a 12-bottle list. Pricing skews steep at the top end, and the lack of any documented reds from classic regions is a real hole. If you're an adventurous drinker who's tired of the same wine list at every New American spot, this is worth exploring — just go in knowing you'll probably land in the $45–$56 range to find the value.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Ithaca · Brasserie / New American
Simeon's wine list does its job without breaking a sweat — it's approachable, reasonably priced, and quietly proud of the Finger Lakes producers it stocks. The by-the-glass selection is the real strength here; if you're in Ithaca and want to explore local wine without committing to a bottle, this is a perfectly decent place to do it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Ithaca · Northern Italian
Mercato is a well-regarded local staple with the right regional instincts — Italian roots, Finger Lakes ambition, and a warm room that earns its reservations. We'd feel comfortable sending a friend here for a solid bottle of wine with dinner, but we'd tell them to ask questions at the table, because we can't yet confirm the specifics behind the list. Worth a visit; worth a deeper look once a full wine list is in hand.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Hill / Elmira Road corridor · Ithaca · Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse Ithaca is not a wine destination, and it's not trying to be — the list is short, the producers are supermarket-tier, and the markups on house pours are quietly aggressive. Come for the bread and the steak; if you need wine, order one glass and make peace with it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
· Princeton · Farm-to-Table / New American
Brick Farm Tavern has no business having a wine list this interesting, and that's exactly the point. The markups are real — this isn't a value destination — but the curation earns genuine respect, especially with the local Unionville pours and the Slovenian Rebula Brut as curveballs. If you're driving out to Princeton for the farm-to-table experience anyway, the wine list is a legitimate reason not to skip it.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Center Street / Downtown · Healdsburg · Farm-to-Table / New American
Barndiva is doing the right things: a sommelier on staff, proper storage, and a list that genuinely reflects where it lives. The markups keep it from being a steal, but if you're in Healdsburg for a special dinner and want to drink local without thinking too hard, this is your room.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Heavenly Village / Base Area · South Lake Tahoe · Farm-to-Table / New American
Maggie's isn't going to make a wine person drive up from the Bay Area, but for a ski-base hotel restaurant it punches well above its weight — fair markups, considered pours, and a list that treats guests like adults. If you're already at Heavenly Village, you're in good hands.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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