Farm-to-table vibes with a local wine surprise
Virginia Beach · Norfolk · American Gastropub · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 26, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Grain’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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The wine list at Grain doesn't try to be anything it's not — it's a tight, approachable selection that fits the farm-to-table gastropub format without pretension. What catches your eye immediately is the inclusion of local Virginia producers alongside the usual California suspects, which tells you someone here is paying at least some attention. At $5–$13 a glass and bottles topping out around $94, this is a list built for the burger-and-bowl crowd, not the cellar-obsessed.
Grain pulls from a genuinely varied geography — Italy, California, France, Oregon, Washington, Germany, South Africa, New Zealand, and Virginia — which is impressive for a list in the 40–80 bottle range. The California presence is predictable (hello, Rombauer and The Prisoner), but the Virginia shoutout with Michael Shaps Viognier from Monticello is a real differentiator that most gastropubs skip entirely. The Gotham 'Sabine' Rosé from Provence on keg is a clever operational move — it keeps the pour fresh and the price honest. Gaps show up in aged or serious bottles; this isn't a list for anyone hunting a proper Burgundy or a structured Barolo.
With 8+ by-the-glass options and a price ceiling of $13, the BTG program is one of the more honest in the area. The keg wines — Michael Shaps Viognier and Gotham 'Sabine' Rosé — are the sleeper stars here, as keg format means fresher pours and less oxidation risk than a bottle that's been open since Tuesday. The rest of the BTG slate sticks to crowd-pleasers, which is exactly right for a spot where most people are splitting a flatbread.
Michael Shaps Viognier 2015 – Monticello, Virginia (keg) — $13
A Virginia Viognier on draft is not something you stumble across every day. Michael Shaps is one of the state's most respected producers, and the keg format keeps it tasting fresh. Supporting local at this price point is a no-brainer.
Gotham 'Sabine' Rosé 2016 – Provence, France (keg)
Most people scroll past the rosé at a burger joint. Don't. Provence rosé on keg means it's always fresh, always crisp, and always more interesting than whatever pale pink the table next to you ordered without thinking.
Prisoner Wine Company 'The Prisoner' Red Blend 2015 – California
The Prisoner is everywhere, marked up everywhere, and leaned on by restaurants that want a recognizable name to justify a higher bottle price. It's not a bad wine, but it's also not why you come to a farm-to-table spot in Norfolk. There are better stories on this list.
Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay 2015 – Carneros, California + Grain Bowl
Rombauer's buttery, fruit-forward Chard doesn't need a fight — it wants something with body and a little richness. A grain bowl with roasted vegetables or a creamy sauce gives it exactly that, keeping the whole meal feeling indulgent without tipping into heavy.
The Bottom Line
Grain won't blow any wine nerds away, but it earns its keep as a solid neighborhood pour with fair prices and a genuine nod to Virginia winemaking that most gastropubs can't be bothered to make. Send a friend here for a casual weeknight — just steer them toward the keg wines.
Downtown Norfolk · Norfolk · American
Mermaid Winery is a genuine wine destination that happens to be in Norfolk — and yes, that still surprises us a little. The pricing leans steep and the staff isn't running a Master Sommelier class, but the list is deep where it counts and Wednesday half-price night is one of the better wine deals in the region.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Virginia Beach · Norfolk · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Virginia Beach won't surprise you on wine, and a few markups are hard to forgive, but the depth is real and the by-the-glass program is better than most steakhouses at this price point. If you're here for a special occasion steak and want a bottle that won't embarrass the meal, you'll find it — just avoid the house pours and do a little homework first.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Norfolk · Norfolk · Gourmet Market & Wine Shop
Taste Unlimited is a gourmet market that quietly outclasses most sit-down restaurants on wine curation and blows them out completely on price. If you're in Norfolk and haven't figured out that this is also a wine stop, you've been leaving money on the table.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Governors Pointe · Norfolk · Southern American
Vintage Tavern has no business having a wine list this serious in a suburb of Norfolk — and we mean that as a high compliment. The markups take some of the shine off, but a sommelier on staff, 400 bottles, and a genuine Virginia section make this the best wine destination for miles around.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Norfolk · French
Todd Jurich's Bistro is the most serious wine list in Norfolk, full stop — but you'll pay for that seriousness, especially on the French side. Go for the sommelier's guidance, order the Barboursville, and enjoy the fact that a room this focused on wine exists in downtown Norfolk at all.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Ghent · Norfolk · New American
Varia is doing something genuinely rare in a mid-sized market — building a wine program that would hold its own in Chicago or D.C. The markup isn't always charitable, but the depth, the cruvinet by-the-glass program, and the evident expertise on staff make this one worth the trip across town.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Broadway at the Beach · Myrtle Beach · American Gastropub
Liberty Tap Room is a solid spot for cold beer, a burger, and a game on the screen — but the wine list is an afterthought and the pricing reflects zero effort to earn your wine dollars. Come for the beer, skip the bottle.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · La Crosse · American Gastropub
The Crow is a legitimately fun bar — just come for the bourbon and craft beer, not the wine. If you need a glass, grab the Elmaro Rosa to support a local producer and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
College Area / Mount Royal · Duluth · American Gastropub
Tavern on the Hill is not a destination wine spot, but it's a fair, unpretentious list that earns its keep in a fun room. If you're in the neighborhood and want a decent glass with your pizza, you won't leave disappointed — just don't come in expecting anything beyond the basics.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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