Views and Finger Lakes Finds Worth the Drive
Woodcliff Hotel & Spa · Rochester · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 14, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Horizons Modern Kitchen & Wine Bar’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're sitting at Monroe County's highest point, looking out over Finger Lakes hills and downtown Rochester, and the wine list lands on the table with over 250 bottles on it. That's not a hotel restaurant wine list — that's an actual wine program. The focus on local Finger Lakes producers alongside serious Old World and New World selections signals that someone here cares.
The list pulls from a smart spread of regions: Finger Lakes, Burgundy, Willamette Valley, Napa, Columbia Valley, Argentina, and Italy all show up with purpose. The Finger Lakes section deserves particular attention — Forge Cellars and Lamoreaux Landing are the real deal, not just token local picks dropped in for regional pride. Burgundy gets a respectful nod with Louis Jadot's Macon-Villages, and Siduri's Willamette Pinot rounds out the West Coast contingent without going full trophy-wine territory. There are gaps — we'd love to see more depth in Italy and South America beyond a few token entries — but for a hotel restaurant in the Rochester suburbs, this is genuinely impressive range.
Eighteen-plus options by the glass priced between $7 and $17 is a serious commitment to the format, and the spread hits multiple styles without leaning entirely on crowd-pleasing grocery store brands. The low end of that price range is legitimate — $7 for a glass of something worth drinking is increasingly rare. The inclusion of Forge Cellars 'Classique' Riesling on the glass list is the kind of move that earns trust.
Forge Cellars 'Classique' Riesling 2017, Finger Lakes — $17
Forge Cellars is one of the Finger Lakes' most respected producers, and this Riesling — made with input from Burgundy's Domaine Leflaive — punches well above a $17 glass price. You'd pay serious money for this in a Manhattan wine bar.
Lamoreaux Landing Semi-Dry Riesling 2018, Finger Lakes
Most people see 'semi-dry' on a Riesling and assume it's for people who don't really drink wine. They're wrong. Lamoreaux Landing is a top-tier Finger Lakes producer and this style, when done right, has the balance and tension that makes German Spätlese collectors chase bottles for decades. Order it.
LaMarca Prosecco, Italy
LaMarca is fine — it's everywhere, it's inoffensive, it's also something you can pick up at Wegmans for $13 a bottle. With Veuve Du Vernay also on the list, there's little reason to pay restaurant markup on this one.
Louis Jadot Macon-Villages Chardonnay 2020, Burgundy + Pan-Seared Fish (per New American menu format)
Macon-Villages is unoaked white Burgundy — clean, mineral, with enough stone fruit to stay interesting. It's the move with any white fish or scallop preparation on a New American menu, cutting through butter without competing with the protein.
The Bottom Line
For a hotel restaurant on the edge of Fairport, Horizons punches well above its zip code — 250+ bottles, fair glass pours, and genuine Finger Lakes representation make it worth the reservation. Come for the view, stay for the Forge Cellars.
Downtown · Rochester · American Steakhouse
CHAR makes it easy to try Finger Lakes wine alongside the steakhouse standards. Our move is Hosmer Cabernet Franc at $16/glass, with Panizzi Vernaccia at $14 for anyone leaning white. Check the per-ounce pricing before ordering a Coravin pour.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Neighborhood of the Arts · Rochester · Contemporary American with Italian and French inspiration
Avvino is the rare neighborhood restaurant where the wine list is a genuine reason to show up, not an afterthought. If you're in Rochester and you care about drinking well, this is your room.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Brighton / Monroe Ave · Rochester · Contemporary American with Italian and French influences
Avvino is the kind of wine-forward neighborhood restaurant Rochester deserves more of — nearly 200 bottles, a sommelier, and a standing half-price Wednesday that makes a solid splurge genuinely accessible. It's not reinventing the wine list, but it's doing the right things consistently enough that we'd send a friend here without hesitation.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Village Gate / NOTA · Rochester · Farm-to-Table / New American
Lento isn't trying to be a wine destination, but its list is thoughtful enough that it kind of becomes one by accident — especially if you care about Finger Lakes wines in their natural habitat. Send your friends here, let them order the Duck Confit, and point them toward the Cab Franc.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pittsford · Rochester · Refined Seasonal American with Wood-Fired Pizzas
jojo Pittsford is the kind of wine program that makes you want to cancel your dinner reservation somewhere else. For a bistro in suburban Rochester, this list is genuinely exciting — send your wine-curious friends here without hesitation.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
East Avenue / Winton · Rochester · Traditional Italian
Ristorante Lucano is a reliable Italian dinner with a wine list that doesn't embarrass itself — Italy-focused, anchored by classics, a bit overpriced but not offensively so. Send a friend here for a date night with the instruction to order the Barolo and not overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Lake Geneva · New American
Turf. Kitchen + Tap looks like a solid resort wine program — broad enough geographically to suggest some genuine effort, casual enough in setting that nobody's going to quiz you on your order. We'd feel comfortable sending a friend here for a relaxed dinner with a decent glass of wine, but we'd stop short of calling it a destination for the list itself. Come for the views and the Choriqueso; the wine will take care of itself.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Sonoma · New American
El Dorado Kitchen isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it's set up squarely in one, and the list reflects that self-awareness. Fair pricing, smart local representation, a few genuinely interesting outliers, and the full list available by the glass make this a reliable stop for a well-poured evening in Sonoma. If you're after a deep cellar or something truly adventurous, look elsewhere — but if you want to drink well without stress, this delivers.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · New American
Siren has a wine list that punches above its weight in a few key areas — particularly the by-the-glass whites and the Champagne bottle program — but the markup structure means you're spending real money to access it. If you're the kind of diner who wants to order Furmint on a Tuesday night in Atlanta, this is one of the few places that makes that possible, and that alone earns it a spot on the shortlist.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
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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