Arts District Hangout With a Safe Wine Playbook
Neighborhood of the Arts (NOTA) · Rochester · American, Contemporary Bistro · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Edibles Restaurant & Bar’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Edibles reads like a well-stocked grocery store shelf — familiar names, nothing risky, nothing embarrassing. It fits the room: a lively NOTA neighborhood spot where the martinis are clearly the headliner and wine is more of a supporting act. You're not coming here for a cellar deep-dive, but you're not going to be stuck drinking something terrible either.
The list clocks in around 30–40 labels spread across California, Italy, New Zealand, Argentina, and Australia, with a fun outlier in Gruet Brut from New Mexico. California dominates the reds — J. Lohr, Estancia, Mirassou, Ravenswood — while the whites lean on Italian Pinot Grigio and a couple of crowd-friendly Chardonnays. There's no serious Old World presence to speak of, no Burgundy, no Rhône, no Spanish wines worth noting. The list does what it needs to do for a casual bistro crowd without taking any real swings.
Ten to fourteen options by the glass cover the basics well enough — sparkling, white, rosé-adjacent (yes, the Beringer White Zin is there), and red. Prices run $9–$14, which is reasonable for Rochester and won't make you wince. Don't expect rotation or surprise pours; this list feels like it hasn't changed much in a while.
J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon — $38
J. Lohr Seven Oaks is a reliable Paso Robles Cab that consistently punches above its retail price point. At bottle pricing in the mid-to-upper $30s, it's one of the smarter buys on this list — ripe, structured, and it holds up to anything off the bistro grill.
Gruet Brut
Most people scroll past this one, but Gruet out of New Mexico is legitimately one of the best domestic sparkling wine values in the country. It's made méthode traditionnelle, drinks well above its price class, and it's a genuinely interesting conversation piece on an otherwise predictable list. Order it.
Yellow Tail Shiraz
There's nothing technically wrong with Yellow Tail, but you can buy this at any gas station in America for under $10. Seeing it on a restaurant wine list — even at a casual spot — signals that some spots on this list weren't thought through. Your money works harder on almost anything else here.
Alamos Malbec + Cajun Grilled Berkshire Pork Chop
Alamos Malbec brings enough dark fruit and soft tannin to stand up to a charred, spiced pork chop without steamrolling it. The Argentinian Malbec and a smoky, fatty Berkshire cut is a natural match — the wine's plum and cocoa notes play off the cajun seasoning without the clash you'd get from a bigger California Cab.
The Bottom Line
Edibles is a solid neighborhood restaurant where wine plays backup to a great cocktail program and a rotating bistro menu — the list is fair-priced and inoffensive, but don't come here expecting to be surprised. If you want something interesting, order the Gruet and call it a night.
Downtown · Rochester · American Steakhouse
CHAR makes it easy to try Finger Lakes wine alongside the steakhouse standards. Our move is Hosmer Cabernet Franc at $16/glass, with Panizzi Vernaccia at $14 for anyone leaning white. Check the per-ounce pricing before ordering a Coravin pour.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Neighborhood of the Arts · Rochester · Contemporary American with Italian and French inspiration
Avvino is the rare neighborhood restaurant where the wine list is a genuine reason to show up, not an afterthought. If you're in Rochester and you care about drinking well, this is your room.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Brighton / Monroe Ave · Rochester · Contemporary American with Italian and French influences
Avvino is the kind of wine-forward neighborhood restaurant Rochester deserves more of — nearly 200 bottles, a sommelier, and a standing half-price Wednesday that makes a solid splurge genuinely accessible. It's not reinventing the wine list, but it's doing the right things consistently enough that we'd send a friend here without hesitation.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Village Gate / NOTA · Rochester · Farm-to-Table / New American
Lento isn't trying to be a wine destination, but its list is thoughtful enough that it kind of becomes one by accident — especially if you care about Finger Lakes wines in their natural habitat. Send your friends here, let them order the Duck Confit, and point them toward the Cab Franc.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pittsford · Rochester · Refined Seasonal American with Wood-Fired Pizzas
jojo Pittsford is the kind of wine program that makes you want to cancel your dinner reservation somewhere else. For a bistro in suburban Rochester, this list is genuinely exciting — send your wine-curious friends here without hesitation.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
East Avenue / Winton · Rochester · Traditional Italian
Ristorante Lucano is a reliable Italian dinner with a wine list that doesn't embarrass itself — Italy-focused, anchored by classics, a bit overpriced but not offensively so. Send a friend here for a date night with the instruction to order the Barolo and not overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
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.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
