Great Views, Wine List Needs a Lifeguard
Cheat Lake · Morgantown · Seafood / Caribbean · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 23, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Crab Shack Caribba Cheat Lake’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
You're sitting on a lake in West Virginia with crab legs in front of you — the setting does the heavy lifting here. Then the wine list arrives: nine labels, most of which you've seen at every Applebee's and TGI Fridays between here and the Ohio border. The list isn't offensive, but it's not trying very hard either.
Nine bottles total, and the roster reads like a grocery store end-cap: Kendall Jackson Chardonnay, Josh Cabernet, Decoy Merlot. To be fair, Sonoma Cutrer Russian River Chardonnay earns its spot as an actual wine program pick, and the Raimund Prum Essence Riesling is a quietly smart call for a seafood menu. But the two Cabs — Josh and Quilt — feel like they wandered in from a steakhouse and got lost. There are no regional surprises, no rosé despite this being a waterfront spot where rosé belongs as much as sunscreen, and zero exploration beyond the California/Italy safe zone.
Seven of the nine bottles are pourable by the glass, which is genuinely the best thing about this program — you have options without committing to a bottle. Pours run $8–$10, which is fine for the market, but the selections don't rotate and there's no evidence anyone has touched this list since it was first printed. The Risata Prosecco at $9/glass is a fine summer-on-the-water pour if that's all you need.
Raimund Prum Essence Riesling — $28/bottle
The only bottle here that actually makes sense for what the kitchen is doing. Off-dry Riesling from the Mosel cuts through fried seafood and spiced crab prep better than anything else on this list, and at the low end of the price range, it's the clearest value play.
Sonoma Cutrer Russian River Chardonnay
Most people at a casual waterfront shack are grabbing the Kendall Jackson out of habit. Skip it. Sonoma Cutrer is a legitimately better wine — more focused, better fruit, more interesting — and on a list this short, it stands out as the one bottle someone with taste actually selected.
Quilt Cabernet Sauvignon
At $75/bottle, Quilt is the most expensive thing on this list and the most out of place. It's a solid Napa Cab, but you're eating crab legs in a marina restaurant, not closing a deal in a private dining room. The markup here almost certainly doesn't justify the price, and there's no reason to drink red at all when the Riesling exists.
Raimund Prum Essence Riesling + Crab Legs
Sweetness in the crab, a touch of residual sugar in the Riesling, and enough acidity to keep everything bright and clean. This is a textbook match hiding on an otherwise forgettable list.
The Bottom Line
Crab Shack Caribba is a great place to drink a cold beer on a lake — the wine list is here because it has to be, not because anyone cared. Grab the Riesling, enjoy the water, and lower your expectations accordingly.
Wharf District · Morgantown · Italian
Oliverio's isn't a wine destination — it's a neighborhood Italian spot with honest prices and a list that covers the bases without any fuss. Send your friends here for dinner, not for the wine program, but at least they won't get gouged.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Morgantown · Upscale Steakhouse & American
Bourbon Prime is where you go when you want a reliable Napa Cab with your steak and you're not in the mood to think too hard about it. The wine list won't inspire you, but it won't let you down either — which is exactly what a downtown hotel steakhouse should deliver.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
University Town Centre · Morgantown · Seafood, American Chain
This is a wine list built for compliance, not curiosity — it exists so servers can say yes when you ask for wine. If you're eating at Red Lobster Morgantown, order the Henry of Pelham Riesling or the Cava, enjoy your biscuits, and don't think too hard about what could have been.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Nearby Fairmont · Morgantown · Italian
Muriale's isn't a wine destination, but it's an honest one — fair prices, familiar pours, and a list that knows what it is. Send your friend here for dinner, not for a wine education.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Cheat Lake · Morgantown · Italian (casual, contemporary)
Cafe Oliverio is a genuinely fun spot — live music, good food, lively crowd — and the wine list is serviceable without being memorable. Send your friends here for a great Italian dinner; just manage expectations on the wine front and steer them toward the Austin Hope.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Cheat Lake · Morgantown · New American
Fusion Restaurant has the setting to be a genuine dining destination, but the wine list is purely transactional — safe names, steep markups, zero curation. Come for the lake, order a cocktail, and save the bottle for somewhere that cares.
Crowd Pleasers
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.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
