Mediterranean soul, Vermont hospitality, decent pours
Shelburne · Burlington · Mediterranean · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 23, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Electra's, the wine list feels like it was built to complement the food rather than show off — which is either refreshing or a little underwhelming depending on your expectations. The Mediterranean regional focus (Greece, Italy, Spain, France) makes sense given the kitchen, and the sheer number of by-the-glass options suggests they want you drinking, not just browsing. At $7 for a house pour, the entry point is genuinely accessible for Shelburne.
The list runs 30–45 bottles with a clear tilt toward Old World producers that echo the Mediterranean menu — a smart editorial choice even if it doesn't break new ground. Greece gets a seat at the table, which is still a rarity in Vermont restaurant programs, and that alone earns some credit. The gaps show up in depth: there's not much here for someone looking to dig into a specific region or chase a vintage. It's a list that says 'we thought about this' without necessarily saying 'we obsessed over it.'
Twenty-four wines by the glass is a legitimately impressive number for a neighborhood bistro of this size — most places half this ambition top out at ten. The house Pinot Noir, Rosé, and Chardonnay anchor the program at $7, giving budget-conscious diners a real on-ramp. Rotation and quality of the broader BTG list isn't fully documented, but the volume alone suggests there's something for most tables.
House Rosé — $7
At $7 a glass, the house Rosé is the most honest pour on the menu — Mediterranean-leaning, food-friendly, and priced like they actually want you to order a second one.
Greek Selection (by the glass)
Greek wine on a Vermont wine list is still a genuine outlier — if Electra's is pouring something from the islands or the mainland by the glass, that's the move most tables will sleep on. Ask the server what's Greek and order it.
House Chardonnay
House Chardonnay at a Mediterranean restaurant is a placeholder, not a statement. With 24 BTG options available, you can do better than the default white for the same price or just a few dollars more.
House Rosé + Rosemary & Concord Grape ½ Duck
The fruity-savory tension in that duck dish — rosemary earthiness against the sweetness of Concord grape — needs something with enough brightness to cut through the fat without fighting the fruit. A dry Rosé does exactly that without overcomplicating dinner.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Electra's wine program won't make a sommelier's pulse race, but it's thoughtful enough to make dinner genuinely enjoyable — especially at these prices. If you're eating the duck or the pork chop, someone in the kitchen thought about what you'd be drinking, and that counts for something.
Waterfront · Burlington · Craft Brewery with Bar Snacks
Foam is a brewery first, but the wine program punches way above its weight class — it's small, local, and priced like they actually want you to drink it. If you're on Burlington's waterfront and want something interesting in your glass that isn't a hazy IPA, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Burlington · New American with Vegan Options
The Daily Planet isn't a wine destination, but it has the instincts of one — a thoughtful natural wine pick, Monday half-price bottles, and fair pricing in a casual room that doesn't take itself too seriously. Send a friend here on a Monday and tell them to ask about the orange wine.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Burlington · New American Bistro
The Gryphon is a reliable neighborhood bistro with a wine list that matches its ambitions exactly: familiar, functional, and forgettable. Come for the burgers and brick walls, but don't expect the wine to be the highlight of your night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Burlington · Neapolitan wood-fired pizza and Italian cuisine
Pizzeria Verità isn't trying to be a wine destination and it doesn't need to be — it's a smart, Italy-focused list with honest markups and a few genuinely interesting bottles tucked in among the crowd-pleasers. Go for the pizza, order the Nebbiolo or the Cirò, and leave happy.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Church Street Marketplace · Burlington · Upscale American Steakhouse
EB Strong's has a wine list that does the job well and occasionally surprises you — especially if you look past the Caymus and dig into the European picks. Wednesday's half-price bottle program makes it one of the better wine-value nights in Burlington, full stop.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront · Burlington · Seasonal New American, farm-to-table
Hen of the Wood Burlington is the rare restaurant where the wine list is as considered as the food, and that's saying something when the kitchen is this good. If you're driving through Vermont and care about what's in your glass, this is worth a reservation.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Central McAllen · McAllen · Mediterranean
The kitchen is clearly doing its job — the wine list just isn't. Skip the bottle, order a cocktail, and hope the restaurant rethinks this list before your next visit.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Naperville · Naperville · Mediterranean
Vasili's isn't trying to be a wine destination, but the Greek-focused list has enough genuine producers and interesting grapes to reward curious drinkers — especially on Tuesdays when the bottles go half-price. Watch the markups on the Agiorgitiko, lean into the northern Greek reds and the Malagousia, and you'll eat and drink very well along that riverwalk.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
South Tacoma · Tacoma · Mediterranean
The Adriatic Grill is the kind of neighborhood restaurant that earns a loyal following by doing the right things quietly — a thoughtful wine list, fair pricing, and a Wine Wednesday program that is frankly one of the better deals in Tacoma. If you can get there on a Wednesday with a group and a hunger for lamb, you're having a great night.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.