California Classics With a Lake View
Greensboro · Greensboro · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 13, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Sitting lakeside at Reynolds Lake Oconee, ESSĒ leans hard into the special-occasion energy — white tablecloths, water views, the works. The wine list follows suit: a curated California-forward selection built for the resort crowd who wants something recognizable and celebratory. It's not trying to surprise you, and it mostly doesn't.
The list reads like a greatest hits of Napa Valley, and honestly, it executes that lane competently. You've got Cakebread and Rombauer Chardonnays covering the buttery-and-oaky crowd, while the reds lean on reliable big-names like Duckhorn, Stag's Leap Artemis, and Far Niente Cabernet. Chateau Montelena adds a touch of heritage credibility, and Opus One sits at the top for those celebrating something significant. What's missing is any real exploration outside California — no interesting Willamette Pinot, no Rhône-style bottles, nothing that would make a curious drinker lean forward. Wine Spectator's 2024 Award of Excellence tracks here: this is a competent, California-focused list that does what it sets out to do.
By-the-glass specifics aren't published, which is a minor frustration for a restaurant at this price point. Given the bottle list skews toward recognizable Napa names, expect the pours to mirror that — probably a Chardonnay or two and a Cabernet at a price that makes you briefly consider just ordering a bottle. The Wednesday half-price wine night is a legitimate reason to plan your visit mid-week.
Stag's Leap Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 — $85
Artemis is one of Napa's most dependable Cabs at any price — structured, fruit-forward, and genuinely good. At $85 in a resort restaurant setting where everything else on the list trends higher, this is the move if you want a serious red without committing to a triple-digit bottle.
Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2020
Most tables here will grab the Rombauer or Cakebread by reflex, but Montelena is making a very different kind of Chardonnay — restrained, mineral-driven, less oak than you'd expect. It's the bottle that proves not everything from California has to taste like vanilla butter. Worth the $110 if you want something with actual tension.
Opus One 2019
At $450, you're paying a significant resort premium on a bottle that retails in the $300+ range and is available at fine wine retailers everywhere. Save Opus One for a cellar purchase, not a restaurant markup situation. The Stag's Leap or Far Niente will drink beautifully with your filet and leave real money on the table.
Duckhorn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 + Filet Mignon
Duckhorn Cab has enough dark fruit and structure to stand up to a perfectly seared filet without steamrolling the tenderness of the cut. It's the kind of pairing that doesn't require any explanation — you just take a bite, take a sip, and nod.
Wednesday — Half-price wine night on Wednesdays — the single best reason to choose mid-week for your reservation at this resort restaurant.
✔️ The Bottom Line
ESSĒ is a solid lakeside wine destination for California Cab and Chard fans who know what they want and don't need to be challenged. Wednesday half-price wine night turns a steep list into a genuinely good deal — time your reservation accordingly.
Friendly Center · Greensboro · Korean Fried Chicken and Asian Fusion
Bonchon Greensboro is a legitimately great spot for Korean fried chicken, and the wine list knows it's irrelevant. Come for the wings, drink the beer, and only touch the Canyon Road if it's $3 a glass.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Friendly Center / West Greensboro · Greensboro · Asian-inspired Chinese
P.F. Chang's Greensboro checks the box on wine the same way it checks every other corporate box — reliably, joylessly, and at a markup. If you're here for the food, stick to the Riesling and call it a night; the rest of the list isn't worth the deliberation.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Wendover / West Greensboro · Greensboro · Casual American steakhouse with Australian-inspired theme
We wouldn't send a friend here for the wine — we'd tell them to order a beer or a cocktail and save their wine calories for somewhere that gives a damn. The food can be fine; the wine program is an afterthought.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Friendly Center · Greensboro · Upscale Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Greensboro doesn't take risks with wine, and it doesn't need to — the list is professionally managed, properly stored, and staffed by someone who actually knows it. If you're celebrating a promotion, this works. Just don't expect to discover anything.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Westridge / Holden Road · Greensboro · Italian
Positano isn't trying to be a wine destination, but its Italian-focused list punches well above its neighborhood-restaurant weight class. Fair prices, real regional variety, and a few genuinely interesting picks make this worth ordering a bottle instead of just a cocktail.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Greensboro · Steakhouse / Seafood
B. Christopher's is a dependable wine stop for a classic steakhouse experience — just go on a Wednesday when the bottle prices get cut in half and the math finally makes sense. If you're craving Caymus with a ribeye and an expense account, you'll be happy; if you want exploration, this isn't your room.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Southwest / Time Corners · Fort Wayne · American
Catablu is exactly what it needs to be for its neighborhood — a reliable, thoughtfully maintained list that won't embarrass you on a date night or bore you entirely. It's not a destination wine list, but it's a solid supporting act for a kitchen that clearly takes food seriously.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Otay Ranch Town Center · Chula Vista · American
BJ's is a fine place to drink a craft beer and eat a Pizookie. It is not a place to drink wine. Order a Brewhouse Blonde, skip the wine list entirely, and save your wine night for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SanTan Village · Gilbert · American
The Cheesecake Factory is a perfectly fine place to eat — the wine list just isn't a reason to go. Order a cocktail, split a bottle of Santa Margherita if you must, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that earned it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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