California Classics With a Lake View
Greensboro · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 13, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed ESSĒ’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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.
South Elm · Greensboro · Wine bar & cheese
Lewis & Elm earns the Wild Card badge because it's the kind of unexpected neighborhood wine bar that punches well above its zip code — a sommelier-curated list leaning into Tuscany, Greece, and Sicily inside a cozy South Elm storefront is not what most people expect to find in Greensboro. We'd happily send a friend here for a flight and a cheese board, and tell them to actually listen to whatever the staff recommends. Just know that our sourced pricing detail is thin right now, so go in with curiosity and ask questions — that's the right posture for a place like this anyway.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Greensboro · New American and Wine Bar
1808 Craft & Vine is doing something quietly smart: a fully by-the-glass list at prices that don't punish curiosity, with enough international range to keep things interesting. We don't know the food, we don't know the staff, and the list isn't going to wow a Burgundy collector — but if you're in Greensboro and want to drink something you'd never order at a chain steakhouse, this is the move.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Greensboro · Wine and Cocktail Bar
Marjae's is doing something genuinely uncommon for a mid-size Southern city: running a wine-forward space with actual expertise behind it, at prices that won't make you wince. We'd send a friend here for a low-key date night or a Thursday tasting without hesitation — just go in ready to ask questions, because the staff seems like they actually want to answer them.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
· Greensboro · Cocktail and Wine Bar
Bitters Social House isn't trying to be a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — but the pricing is genuinely fair, a couple of producer picks show real effort, and the by-the-glass setup means you can drink well without committing to a bottle. If you're in Greensboro and need a glass before or after dinner, this is a perfectly honest place to have one.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Greensboro · Italian Steakhouse
Giovanni's is a reliable neighborhood anchor — the room is good, the food has a loyal following, and the Italian reds give you enough to work with if you dig past the Sand Point labels. We'd send a friend here for dinner without hesitation; we'd just steer them straight toward the Barolo or Brunello and skip the California filler.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Greensboro · Steakhouse
Fleming's Greensboro is doing more than most chain steakhouses bother to do with wine — 42 by-the-glass options and actual Alsatian whites on a Greensboro wine list deserves acknowledgment. The markups are real and the list isn't going to surprise anyone who's been to a Fleming's before, but if you're eating a bone-in ribeye and want a proper glass without guesswork, this delivers.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Roswell · Roswell · American
Canton St. Social is a solid neighborhood restaurant in historic downtown Roswell, and the wine program appears to be built for exactly that — supporting a good night out without overcomplicating things. We don't have enough sourced wine data to tell you what to order, which means your best move is to ask your server what's pouring well that night and go from there. Worth a visit for the food and atmosphere; the wine list is a work in progress as far as our research goes.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Worcester · American
The Boynton is a great neighborhood spot for a cold beer, a burger, and a game — and that's exactly what it should be. The wine program is along for the ride, not driving the car. If wine matters to you tonight, this isn't your destination; if you're here for the food and the vibe, order a beer and enjoy it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Atlanta · Atlanta · American
Hard Rock Cafe Atlanta's wine list is a Lazy List by every measure — grocery store brands, steep markups, no specials, and a rotating staff with little incentive to know what's in the glass. If you're here for the memorabilia and the atmosphere, lean into a cocktail or a beer. If wine is non-negotiable, the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling or Columbia Crest Cab will get you through the night without regret.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
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
