The wine list nobody asked for
Miller Hill · Duluth · American, bar & grill · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 12, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Grandma's Saloon & Grill – Miller Hill’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Grandma's Miller Hill reads exactly like you'd expect from a family bar-and-grill anchored next to a mall — safe, predictable, and clearly an afterthought. It's the kind of list that exists because a restaurant has to have one, not because anyone cared about putting it together. Worth noting: this location is closing May 3, 2026, so take this as a final dispatch.
Twenty-something bottles, all domestic, all recognizable from a grocery store shelf — this is a list built on brand recognition rather than any real curation. The Show Malbec and Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling are reliable enough pours, but Woodbridge Cabernet as a feature says everything you need to know about the ambition level here. There's no old-world presence, no regional exploration, and no producer worth seeking out. It serves burgers and nachos, and the wine list knows its lane — it just doesn't try to be anything more.
Eight to twelve options by the glass, which is a decent count for a place like this, but the range is essentially a tour of supermarket favorites. Glass prices run $8–$14, which sounds reasonable until you realize you're paying restaurant markup on bottles that retail for $10. Rotation doesn't appear to be a thing here — what's on the list is what's on the list.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $9
Ste. Michelle's Columbia Valley Riesling is genuinely good wine for the money — crisp, balanced, and one of the most reliable value Rieslings in the country. In a list this thin, it's the obvious move.
The Show Malbec
Most people in a bar-and-grill setting default to Cab and ignore the Malbec entirely. The Show is a solid, fruit-forward pour that holds up better against the burgers and ribs than anything else on this list.
Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon
Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi is a $10 retail bottle. At bar-and-grill markup, you're overpaying for something you could grab at a gas station on the way home. Hard pass.
The Show Malbec + Ribs
Malbec and smoked, saucy ribs is a genuinely good match — the dark fruit and soft tannins in The Show stand up to the weight of the meat without fighting it. It's the one combo on this menu where the wine actually earns its place.
The Bottom Line
Grandma's Miller Hill is a beloved Duluth institution, but the wine list has never been the reason to show up — and with the location closing in May 2026, it's not getting better. Order a beer, enjoy the nostalgia, and save the wine for somewhere else.
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Lake Superior Brewing has no business having a wine list this interesting, and we mean that as a full compliment. If you're in Duluth and you want to drink wine somewhere that actually thought about it, this brewpub is the surprising answer.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Duluth · Cocktail Bar
This is a cocktail bar that slipped a legitimately interesting nine-bottle wine list into the corner without making a big deal about it — and we respect the quiet confidence. Don't come here for a deep cellar experience, but do come here knowing you have real options beyond the well liquor.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Duluth · Italian
Va Bene is presumably doing something right in the kitchen, but the wine list is a two-item afterthought that tells you this place doesn't take wine seriously. Order a glass, enjoy your pasta, and don't expect anything more.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Duluth · European / Hotel Restaurant
Midi is doing more with 38 labels than most hotel restaurants do with 80. The aromatic white selection alone makes it worth a serious look, and the pricing won't leave you feeling robbed on the way out.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Duluth · Italian-American and Pizza
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Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Canal Park · Duluth · American, Bar, Pizza
Old Chicago Duluth isn't a wine destination and doesn't pretend to be — it's a reliable fallback for the table member who wants a glass of something decent while everyone else works through the tap list. If you stick to the Ste. Michelle Riesling, you'll leave satisfied; just don't come here expecting anything that will make you put down your pizza.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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