Finger Lakes address, Italian heart, solid pours
Downtown Canandaigua · Canandaigua · Bistro / Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 26, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Il Posto Bistro’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Thirty-three labels isn't a wine list that's trying to impress anyone — it's a list that's trying to feed you dinner. That's not a knock. At Il Posto, the wines feel curated around the food rather than assembled for show, with a clear Italian backbone and enough California muscle to keep the table happy. The price ceiling hits $135 for the Orin Swift Palermo, which tells you this place has some ambition.
The Italian coverage is the real story here: a Brunello from Ferrero, a 2016 Barolo from Marchesi, Santi's Amarone, Tornatore's Etna Rosso, and the Tenuta Sette Cieli Yantra from Tuscany. That's a respectable Italian run for a 33-label list in upstate New York. California shows up with Orin Swift doing its flashy thing and Juggernaut holding down the Pinot Noir slot, while the Château Peyrassol Côtes de Provence adds a nice left-field moment. The one thing we'd love to see more of: Finger Lakes representation beyond the single Weis Vineyards Dry Riesling — you're sitting in the middle of one of the most exciting wine regions in the country, use it.
Ten pours is a respectable glass program for a bistro of this size, running $8 to $14 a glass. The Juggernaut Russian River Pinot at $13 is the move if you want something with actual presence, and having the Daou Chardonnay available by the glass gives people a middle-ground option beyond the house pour. The rotation doesn't appear to change much, but the range covers enough ground to keep most tables content.
Weis Vineyards Dry Riesling, Finger Lakes, NY 2024 — Not listed by bottle — ask
A local Finger Lakes Riesling on a restaurant wine list is exactly the kind of thing we want to support. Weis makes clean, mineral-driven dry Riesling that typically retails well under $20, and drinking it here puts you directly in conversation with the region outside your window. Order it.
Tornatore Etna Rosso DOC, Sicily 2021
Most tables will slide right past this and order the Orin Swift, which is exactly why you shouldn't. Etna Rosso from Tornatore — grown on the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna — is nervy, earthy, and completely unlike anything else on this list. It's the kind of wine that makes you curious, and that's worth something.
Orin Swift 'Palermo' Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, CA 2022
At $135 a bottle, the Palermo is the most expensive thing on the list — and while Orin Swift makes a perfectly fine, fruit-forward Cab, this retails around $35-40, making the markup here somewhere in the neighborhood of 3.5x. It's a crowd-pleaser dressed up in a premium price tag. The Barolo or Brunello give you a better story for less ego.
Marchesi Barolo DOCG, Italy 2016 + Braised short rib or pasta with wild boar ragù
A 2016 Barolo has had time to settle into itself — the tannins are still there but they've softened into something genuinely compelling. Put it up against anything braised, slow-cooked, or rich with umami and you've got a combination that justifies the whole dinner. Nebbiolo and red meat is not a new idea, but it's a correct one.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Il Posto is doing honest, focused work on a wine list that respects its Italian menu without overcrowding the table. The markups lean steep at the top end and we want more Finger Lakes on a list that's literally in the Finger Lakes — but for a neighborhood bistro in downtown Canandaigua, this is a solid night out.
South Main Street / lakefront · Canandaigua · Steakhouse and seafood with American fine dining
Nolan's is a dependable lakeside wine list that does right by its guests without taking any real risks — the Finger Lakes locals are a genuine highlight worth seeking out. Send a friend here for the view and the steak; tell them to order the Heron Hill.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Canandaigua · Canandaigua · Spanish tapas and wine bar
Pintxo is punching well above its weight class for a small-city wine bar, and the Spanish regional focus gives it a genuine identity that most places never find. If you're anywhere near the Finger Lakes and care even a little about wine, this one's worth the detour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Canandaigua Lake waterfront · Canandaigua · Hotel Restaurant / American
Rose Tavern is a perfectly pleasant place to drink wine if you're already staying at The Lake House — the setting does a lot of the work. But if you're driving in specifically for the wine list, you'd do better hitting a dedicated Finger Lakes tasting room down the road.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Canandaigua Lake waterfront · Canandaigua · Upscale Contemporary American / Event Dining
The Lake House is a beautiful place to get married or host a corporate dinner, but the wine program is clearly an afterthought — a functional, inoffensive list designed to move bottles at events, not to excite anyone. If you're eating here, drink the Finger Lakes options and leave the Meomi alone.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Canandaigua Lake waterfront · Canandaigua · Hotel Restaurant / American
Rose Tavern isn't trying to be a destination wine bar, but it's got the bones of one — a sommelier, a thoughtful local-first list, and a glass program that lets you actually explore it. Markups on the name brands are punishing, but stick to the Finger Lakes section and you're drinking well at a lake view that most wine lists couldn't dream of.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Lafayette Street · Canandaigua · Indian
Flavors isn't a wine destination, but it's not pretending to be one either — the list is honest, the prices are fair, and the Fox Run Riesling alone justifies ordering a bottle. Come for the food, drink the Riesling, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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