Vermont's Best Wine List, No Contest
Downtown · Burlington · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 7, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Hen of the Wood’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
You open the wine list at Hen of the Wood and immediately realize you're not in Vermont anymore — or at least not the Vermont of mediocre chardonnay and safe cab. This is a list that someone actually thought about, built with intention, and keeps current. Loire Valley, Beaujolais, Sicily, Austria, Alsace, Piedmont: the regions alone tell you this program has a point of view.
The 150-250 bottle list reads like a love letter to European terroir with a few smart California detours thrown in to keep things honest. The Beaujolais and Loire selections go deeper than what most restaurants twice the size bother with, and the Piedmont and Alsace corners reward anyone willing to stray from the obvious. Dirty & Rowdy Sémillon showing up here is a signal — this list isn't just checking boxes, it's actively seeking out producers who are doing something interesting. The Domaine Louis Boillot Gevrey-Chambertin anchors the prestige end without the list tipping into trophy-wine territory.
Twelve to twenty pours is a serious by-the-glass program, and Hen of the Wood doesn't waste the slots. The Domaine de la Paonnerie Beaujolais and Folk Machine Chenin Blanc signal that the glass pours are pulling from the same thoughtful place as the full list — not just the easy sells. A pair of rosé options gives the table something to argue about, which we consider a feature.
Folk Machine Chenin Blanc — null
California Chenin Blanc done right is one of the great undervalued glass-pour moves, and Folk Machine has been delivering the goods for years. At a by-the-glass price in a room like this, it's the smart order before you've even looked at the food menu.
Dirty & Rowdy Sémillon
Most people scroll past Sémillon on a wine list without a second thought — which is exactly why you shouldn't. Dirty & Rowdy makes one of the more compelling versions in California, and finding it here in Burlington means someone on staff actually cares enough to stock it. Order it.
Domaine Louis Boillot Gevrey-Chambertin
It's a great wine from a legitimate producer, but Gevrey-Chambertin at restaurant markup is a hard value proposition anywhere — and unless you're celebrating something that warrants three figures, there are smarter places to put your money on this list.
Domaine de la Paonnerie Beaujolais + Mushroom Toast
Beaujolais and umami-forward mushrooms is one of those pairings that sounds simple because it is — the wine's earthy, fruit-driven character mirrors what's on the plate without fighting it. The Paonnerie is a step above your average Beaujolais-Villages, which makes it the right call for a dish this good.
The Bottom Line
Hen of the Wood is the best wine list in Vermont and earns its place on any short list of serious wine programs in New England. Send your friends here, and tell them to ignore the safe choices — the whole point of this list is to go somewhere unexpected.
Waterfront · Burlington · Craft Brewery with Bar Snacks
Foam is a brewery first, but the wine program punches way above its weight class — it's small, local, and priced like they actually want you to drink it. If you're on Burlington's waterfront and want something interesting in your glass that isn't a hazy IPA, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Burlington · New American with Vegan Options
The Daily Planet isn't a wine destination, but it has the instincts of one — a thoughtful natural wine pick, Monday half-price bottles, and fair pricing in a casual room that doesn't take itself too seriously. Send a friend here on a Monday and tell them to ask about the orange wine.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Burlington · New American Bistro
The Gryphon is a reliable neighborhood bistro with a wine list that matches its ambitions exactly: familiar, functional, and forgettable. Come for the burgers and brick walls, but don't expect the wine to be the highlight of your night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Burlington · Neapolitan wood-fired pizza and Italian cuisine
Pizzeria Verità isn't trying to be a wine destination and it doesn't need to be — it's a smart, Italy-focused list with honest markups and a few genuinely interesting bottles tucked in among the crowd-pleasers. Go for the pizza, order the Nebbiolo or the Cirò, and leave happy.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Church Street Marketplace · Burlington · Upscale American Steakhouse
EB Strong's has a wine list that does the job well and occasionally surprises you — especially if you look past the Caymus and dig into the European picks. Wednesday's half-price bottle program makes it one of the better wine-value nights in Burlington, full stop.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront · Burlington · Seasonal New American, farm-to-table
Hen of the Wood Burlington is the rare restaurant where the wine list is as considered as the food, and that's saying something when the kitchen is this good. If you're driving through Vermont and care about what's in your glass, this is worth a reservation.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
· McKinney · New American
Gather isn't trying to be a wine destination, and that's okay — but the $63 Syrah by the glass and the static, California-heavy list suggest the program hasn't been pushed in a while. Stick to the mid-tier pours, order the Chianti, and enjoy it for what it is: a casual neighborhood spot where the wine won't derail the evening.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Fort Wayne · New American
Copper Spoon proves you don't need a 200-bottle binder to run a thoughtful wine program — you just need to care about what you put on the list. For Fort Wayne, this is genuinely one of the better places to order a bottle without second-guessing yourself.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · New American
Mathews isn't a destination wine list, but it's honest, fairly priced, and more thoughtful than it looks at first glance. Send a friend here if they want a good glass without a lecture.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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