The Wine List Nobody Asked About
West Duluth · Duluth · American, bar & grill · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 12, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Grandma's Saloon & Grill – West Duluth’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You flip open the menu expecting a solid bar-and-grill experience — and on the wine front, that's exactly what you get, for better or worse. The list reads like the shelf at a gas station convenience store that's trying its best. Nobody came here for the wine, and the list knows it.
We're talking 15 to 30 bottles, all of them names you've seen on grocery store endcaps: Woodbridge, Barefoot, The Show. There's no regional story here, no small producer taking a chance, no reason to linger on the wine page. The list exists to check a box, and it does exactly that — nothing more. If you're hoping for something from Burgundy, the Finger Lakes, or even a halfway interesting California label, keep hoping.
Six to ten pours by the glass, priced between $7 and $13 — which is honestly fair for what's being offered. Rotation appears to be nonexistent; this list was set sometime in the past and hasn't moved since. You're choosing between shades of the same beige.
The Show Malbec — $10
It's not a revelation, but The Show Malbec is a reliably fruit-forward pour that holds up better than anything else on this list. At around $10 a glass, you're getting an honest drink that won't embarrass itself next to a burger.
The Show Malbec
Most people at Grandma's are reaching for a beer or a cocktail, which means the Malbec gets overlooked entirely. It's the one wine here with enough body and character to actually complement the food — order it before someone else figures that out.
Woodbridge Chardonnay
Woodbridge Chardonnay is fine in a box on your kitchen counter. Paying restaurant prices for it — even modest ones — is a tough sell when a cold beer or a cocktail will serve you so much better in this setting.
The Show Malbec + Ribs
The Malbec's dark fruit and soft tannins are built for something smoky and meaty. Next to a rack of ribs, it's doing the most it possibly can on this list — and it actually works.
The Bottom Line
Grandma's Saloon is a genuinely fun West Duluth institution, but the wine list is an afterthought and everyone involved knows it. Order a local beer, enjoy the ribs, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that shares it.
· Duluth · Brewpub
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
Sammy's is a Duluth institution and the pizza earns its reputation — the wine list is just not the point, and the restaurant isn't pretending otherwise. Order a beer or grab the cheapest glass pour, eat the pizza, and be happy.
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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