Solid suburban pours, nothing to overthink
Northwest / West Circle · Rochester · American Contemporary · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 5, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Five West is exactly what you'd expect from a polished suburban bar: familiar names, approachable prices by the glass, and zero surprises. It's not trying to be a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend otherwise. What you see is what you get — and honestly, for a Wednesday night burger and a glass of something red, that's fine.
Fifteen labels, all of them available by the glass — which tells you this list was built for the bar crowd, not the wine nerd. The California and French anchors are predictable: William Hill Chardonnay, Coppola Pinot Grigio, and a couple of Orin Swift bottles doing the heavy lifting on the red side. The Beach Rosé from Château d'Esclans is a legitimate inclusion, and Stoneleigh shows up as the lone New Zealand rep. There are no real regional surprises here — no domestic Pinot from Oregon, no Spanish Tempranillo, nothing that makes you lean in. It's a greatest hits compilation and it knows it.
The full list is available by the glass, which is convenient if not exactly exciting. At $8–$17 a pour, you're paying bar-district prices for grocery-aisle familiarity on most of the roster. The Orin Swift options top out at $17/glass, which is the ceiling here and probably where most tables land.
Chateau d'Esclans The Beach Rosé — $13/glass
At $13 a glass, The Beach Rosé is the best reason to sit on this patio. It's a proper Provence rosé from a producer that actually knows what they're doing — dry, crisp, and miles above the usual pink options at places like this.
Orin Swift Abstract Red Blend
Most people here are ordering the Bloodlines Cab because it's familiar, but the Abstract — a Grenache-led Rhône-style blend — is the more interesting bottle. It's got more personality than anything else on the red side of this list and costs $2 less per glass.
Orin Swift Bloodlines Cabernet Sauvignon
At $65 a bottle, you're paying a significant premium for a wine that retails around $25. The markup here is hard to justify when you can drink it at home for a fraction of the price. Order by the glass if you must, but don't commit to the bottle.
Orin Swift Abstract Red Blend + Steak
The Abstract's dark fruit and soft tannins won't fight the steak the way an overextracted Cab would. It's a crowd-pleasing red with just enough backbone to hold up to red meat without requiring you to think too hard about it.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Five West is a perfectly competent neighborhood spot where the wine list does its job without embarrassing anyone. Don't come here chasing something rare — come for the patio, order The Beach Rosé, and call it a win.
Northwest / 55th Street · Rochester · Italian-American
Olive Garden's wine list exists to check a box, not elevate a meal — it's priced above its station and assembled without much curiosity. Order the Chianti, eat the breadsticks, and don't come here expecting the wine to be the point.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Apache Mall · Rochester · American
The Cheesecake Factory's wine list is exactly what you'd expect from a high-volume mall chain: safe, recognizable, and marked up enough to make you wish you'd ordered a cocktail. Come for the Chicken Madeira, skip the wine hunt.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Rochester · American, Sushi
CRAVE isn't a wine destination, but it's a perfectly competent place to drink on a Monday when those bottle prices get cut in half. Show up any other night and you're paying full markup on a list that doesn't earn it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
South / near Hwy 63 · Rochester · Casual American bar & grill
Ground Round is a solid spot for a burger and a beer — lean into that and don't look at the wine list. If someone at your table insists on wine, point them toward the Kim Crawford and move on.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South · Rochester · American bar and grill, burgers
Newt's South is not a wine destination — it's a great burger bar that happens to sell wine at suspiciously cheap prices. Come for the food, order a beer, and if you must have wine, hit it on a Wednesday when the glasses drop to under four bucks.
Grocery Store
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown · Rochester · Thai
ThaiPop isn't a wine destination, but its list is smarter than the size suggests — just stick to the aromatic, low-tannin options and leave the Cab to someone else. If you're in downtown Rochester and want Thai food with a decent glass of something cold and food-friendly, you won't be disappointed.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
West Side / Prairie Crossing · Springfield · American Contemporary
Cooper's Hawk Springfield is a well-run, fairly priced winery restaurant that delivers exactly what it promises — just don't expect anything outside the family. If you're dining with a group that wants wine without drama, the pricing alone makes it worth the stop.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Memorial Blvd / North Murfreesboro · Murfreesboro · American Contemporary
Primrose Table isn't a wine destination, but it's a genuinely solid neighborhood spot where you can drink well without getting gouged — especially on Thursdays. Show up then, order the Garnacha or the Chenin Blanc, and you'll leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Charlotte · Charlotte · American Contemporary
The Artisan's Palate is your reliable neighborhood option when you want a decent bottle without drama. Nothing flashy, nothing offensive—just solid enough to keep you coming back when convenience beats adventure.
Solid Range
Fair
Stemless Casual
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.