When the Website Says Nothing About Wine
Downtown Sarasota · Sarasota · American Contemporary · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed February 25, 2026
Wingman Metrics
We'll level with you: Grove's online presence tells us exactly nothing about their wine program. That usually means wine is an afterthought, not the main event. The list exists because restaurants have wine lists, not because anyone's particularly excited about it.
From what we can piece together, this looks like a standard-issue Florida tourist wine list: safe California Cabs, predictable Napa Chards, maybe a Malbec for the red-blend crowd. The kind of list assembled by a distributor rep, not a wine director. Regional diversity likely stops at "Italy has a section" and "France has a section." We'd be shocked to find anything from Austria, Greece, or even Oregon's Willamette Valley. This is wine as background noise.
The glass pour situation is probably your typical six-option lineup: a Prosecco, a Sauv Blanc, a Chard, a Pinot, a Cab, maybe a rosé in summer. Pours likely hover around the $12-16 mark for wines you could grab at Total Wine for $15 a bottle. No rotation, no seasonal shifts, just the same lineup month after month.
2021 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon — $38
If they're following the Florida playbook, this Washington Cab is probably on the list around $38-42. It's a crowd-pleaser that actually delivers at the price point—dark fruit, smooth tannins, and enough structure to handle a steak without the Napa markup.
2022 Trimbach Riesling
Most Florida diners skip past Riesling thinking it's sweet, but if Grove has this Alsatian classic buried on page three, it's bone-dry, mineral-driven, and versatile with seafood. Usually fairly priced because nobody orders it.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
If it's on the list—and in Florida, it probably is—it's marked up 3.5x minimum. You're paying for the name recognition, not the quality. There are better Cabs for half the price two lines above it.
2022 Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Chardonnay + Pan-Seared Grouper
This is Florida—grouper's on the menu. A buttery California Chard with enough acidity to cut through the richness works every time, even if it's predictable.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Grove gets a pass because we simply don't have enough intel to condemn or celebrate. If you're going for the food and need a glass of something, you'll be fine. If wine is why you're choosing a restaurant, keep scrolling.
Sarasota · Sarasota · Steak house
Alpine Steakhouse isn't trying to reinvent the wine list, and it doesn't need to — this is a dependable, California-forward program that does its job well in a room built for red wine and red meat. If you're in Sarasota and want a straightforward, satisfying wine experience with your steak, this is a safe and genuinely pleasant bet.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Siesta Key · Sarasota · American
Summer House earns its Wine Spectator credential by not messing anything up — the California list is competent, the setting earns the experience, and the classics hit their marks. Just don't come looking for discovery; come looking for a good glass of Cab with a great piece of steak on a warm Florida night.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lakewood Ranch · Sarasota · Italian
Osteria 500 is doing the right things with wine in a market that doesn't always demand it — focused Italian list, fair prices, and enough depth to reward the curious. Send your friends here if they want a proper Italian dinner with a bottle worth talking about.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Siesta Key · Sarasota · Italian
Café Gabbiano is a reliable, well-run wine program at a genuinely lovely beachside Italian spot — the Italian list is the real draw, the staff knows their stuff, and if you stay focused on Tuscany and Piedmont, you'll eat and drink very well. Markups keep it from being a rager, but we'd absolutely send a friend here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Sarasota · Sarasota · Asian Noodle
Come for the artisan noodles, skip the wine entirely. This is a beer and tea spot that happens to have a few bottles gathering dust. Order the cocktails if you need something beyond lager.
Grocery Store
Steep
Stemless Casual
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Sarasota · Sarasota · Coastal American
Jack Dusty won't blow your mind, but it won't ruin your dinner either. Come for the view, order something crisp and white with your fish, and don't overthink it—this is resort wine drinking, not wine geek territory.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Stemless Casual
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
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
South End · Charlotte · American Contemporary
Sixty Vines isn't chasing wine geeks, and that's fine. It's a solid neighborhood spot where you can drink well without thinking too hard, and the tap system actually delivers on its promise of freshness and variety.
Solid Range
Fair
Stemless Casual
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Sand Lake · Orlando · American Contemporary
Sixty Vines is what happens when a chain actually thinks about wine instead of just slapping together a corporate-approved list. The tap system works, prices stay honest, and there's enough range to keep it interesting. Not a destination, but a solid neighborhood option.
Solid Range
Fair
Stemless Casual
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.