When the Wine List is an Afterthought
Downtown Sarasota · Sarasota · Contemporary American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed February 25, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Element reads like it was assembled from a restaurant supply catalog circa 2008. There's zero personality here, just the usual suspects marked up like they're liquid gold.
You're looking at maybe 30 bottles total, leaning heavily on recognizable names that belong in airport lounges. The California section is all Kendall-Jackson and Robert Mondavi. The Italian offerings stop at Ruffino Chianti. There's a token Veuve Clicquot at $120 and some random Australian Shiraz that probably arrived on a pallet truck. No regional depth, no interesting producers, no evidence anyone who curated this list actually drinks wine.
The by-the-glass selection appears to be four wines: a Chardonnay, a Pinot Grigio, a Cab, and a Pinot Noir. Standard pours in what we're guessing are all-purpose stems. No rotation, no seasonality, just the same lineup every night. If you're lucky, they'll have one of them chilled to the right temp.
House Red — $8
Because everything else is marked up 4x retail and this at least won't break your spirit or your wallet
None Found
There's nothing hiding on this list — what you see is aggressively mediocre and that's the whole story
Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label
You can buy this bottle at Total Wine for $45; paying nearly triple here is a crime against your credit card
Robert Mondavi Private Selection Merlot + Grilled Chicken Breast
Two things that are perfectly fine but utterly forgettable — at least they won't fight each other
❌ The Bottom Line
Element's wine program feels like an obligation, not a passion. Skip the wine entirely and order a craft beer or cocktail — at least those might have some thought behind them.
Sarasota · Sarasota · Steak house
Alpine Steakhouse isn't trying to reinvent the wine list, and it doesn't need to — this is a dependable, California-forward program that does its job well in a room built for red wine and red meat. If you're in Sarasota and want a straightforward, satisfying wine experience with your steak, this is a safe and genuinely pleasant bet.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Siesta Key · Sarasota · American
Summer House earns its Wine Spectator credential by not messing anything up — the California list is competent, the setting earns the experience, and the classics hit their marks. Just don't come looking for discovery; come looking for a good glass of Cab with a great piece of steak on a warm Florida night.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lakewood Ranch · Sarasota · Italian
Osteria 500 is doing the right things with wine in a market that doesn't always demand it — focused Italian list, fair prices, and enough depth to reward the curious. Send your friends here if they want a proper Italian dinner with a bottle worth talking about.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Siesta Key · Sarasota · Italian
Café Gabbiano is a reliable, well-run wine program at a genuinely lovely beachside Italian spot — the Italian list is the real draw, the staff knows their stuff, and if you stay focused on Tuscany and Piedmont, you'll eat and drink very well. Markups keep it from being a rager, but we'd absolutely send a friend here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Sarasota · Sarasota · Asian Noodle
Come for the artisan noodles, skip the wine entirely. This is a beer and tea spot that happens to have a few bottles gathering dust. Order the cocktails if you need something beyond lager.
Grocery Store
Steep
Stemless Casual
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Sarasota · Sarasota · Coastal American
Jack Dusty won't blow your mind, but it won't ruin your dinner either. Come for the view, order something crisp and white with your fish, and don't overthink it—this is resort wine drinking, not wine geek territory.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Stemless Casual
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Contemporary American
By George is a fine place to drink wine if you know what you're walking into — a curated-but-safe list built for a stylish crowd that wants rosé and bubbles without friction. Come for the Crémant and the Tavel; don't expect to find anything that'll make you rethink your relationship with wine.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Jolla · Chula Vista · Contemporary American
Nine-Ten is a genuinely good restaurant with a competent wine program — the sommelier is present, the list is legitimate, and the setting earns the price of admission. But the markups are aggressive enough that you'll want to be selective, because this list can eat your wallet if you reach for the obvious names.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Winston Salem · Contemporary American
Sir Winston is the rare hotel restaurant that makes a real effort on wine, and for Winston-Salem, that counts for a lot. Pricing runs steep enough that you'll feel it by the second bottle, but the selection earns at least one visit from anyone who takes wine seriously.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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