Hudson Valley Bistro With a European Wine Obsession
Rondout Waterfront · Kingston · European Bistro / New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 24, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Eliza’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
Seventy-two labels doesn't sound like much until you clock what's actually on this list — Cornelissen, Foradori, Les Capriades, Keller. This is not a list built by someone scrolling a distributor catalog. Someone at Eliza is paying real attention, and it shows from the first page.
The list skews hard European and doesn't apologize for it — Jura, Mosel, Sicily, Trentino, Provence, Loire, Bordeaux — all represented with producers who actually mean something. The Marnes Blanches Poulsard and Wasenhaus Pinot Noir signal a natural wine lean without going full-circus. There's a Clos Cibonne Tibouren from Provence that most wine lists in New York City don't bother with, let alone Kingston. If there's a gap, it's domestic — the Hudson Valley proximity doesn't translate into many local pours, and there's not much for the guest who wants a straightforward California Cabernet.
Nine by-the-glass options in the $11–$24 range is a lean but respectable program for a neighborhood bistro. We'd want to know how often the list rotates, because the bottle selection suggests the kitchen has range — the glass menu should match that ambition. If the Cornelissen Susucaru or the Marnes Blanches Poulsard make it onto the glass list at any point, order them without hesitation.
K. Descombes 'Kéké' Beaujolais 2024 — $66
Georges Descombes' son is making some of the most honest Beaujolais in the game right now, and $66 for a bottle you'd be thrilled to drink anywhere is exactly what a neighborhood bistro list should deliver.
Clos Cibonne 'Tradition' Tibouren Provence 2023
Most people reach for the Whispering Angel when they see Provence rosé. Clos Cibonne is the move for anyone who actually wants to taste something — Tibouren is a rare grape, and this estate has been doing it since the 1930s. Don't sleep on it.
François Cazin Crémant Chardonnay Loire NV
At $88 a bottle, you're paying Champagne prices for a Crémant — and right above it on this list sits the Étienne Calsac 'L'Echappée Belle' grower Champagne. That's the obvious call. Save the Cazin for a night when the budget matters more.
Julian Haart 'Rote Erden' Riesling Mosel 2023 + Roasted chicken or pork with seasonal vegetables
Haart's Rote Erden has that electric tension — bright acid, mineral grip, a whisper of residual sweetness — that cuts through roasted fat without fighting the kitchen's herb-forward Hudson Valley style.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Eliza is punching well above its weight class for a waterfront bistro in Kingston. If you're driving up the Hudson and you care about what's in your glass, this list is reason enough to make a reservation.
Route 28/Thruway Corridor · Kingston · Steakhouse
This is a chain wine list doing exactly what chain wine lists do: minimum effort, maximum familiarity, corporate pricing. Order the steak, grab a beer, or spring for the Chateau Ste. Michelle if you need something in a glass.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Route 28/Thruway Corridor · Kingston · Chain American Grill
You're not coming to Ruby Tuesday Kingston for the wine, and the list knows it. But if you show up on a Wednesday and grab a half-price bottle with dinner, it's hard to complain too loudly.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Route 28 Corridor · Kingston · Italian
La Florentina isn't a wine destination — it's a neighborhood Italian with a wine list that knows its lane and stays in it. Come for the pizza, order the Chianti carafe, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · Kingston · Japanese / Sushi
Sushi Makio's wine list is modest but functional, with honest pricing and a smart nod to Japanese wine options that most spots never bother with. We'd happily send a friend here for a low-key sushi night — just order the Yuzu Wine and leave the Cab alone.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lake Katrine/Kingston Periphery · Kingston · Italian
Reginato's food reputation is real and the kitchen clearly cares — the wine list does not return the favor. Order the pasta, drink the Chianti, and keep your expectations firmly earthbound.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Rondout Waterfront · Kingston · Italian
Savona's is a reliable neighborhood Italian with a wine list that mostly stays in its lane — nothing offensive, nothing thrilling, and markups that sting a little on the familiar names. Come on a Wednesday when the bottles are half price, order the Millbrook Tocai Friulano, and you'll have a genuinely good night on the Rondout waterfront.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
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.