Great Sushi, Wine List Forgot to Show Up
St Andrews · Columbia · Japanese, Sushi · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 3, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Inakaya Watanabe Japanese Restaurant’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 at Inakaya Watanabe hoping for a sake list or maybe a few interesting imports to go with the omakase vibes, and instead you get a generic BTG lineup that reads like the wine section of a TGI Fridays circa 2009. Ten wines total, no producers listed, no regions called out — just varietal names floating in the void. The food deserves better.
The list is essentially a varietal parade of California-style staples: Chardonnay, Merlot, Riesling, White Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a house red and white with no identity to speak of. There are no regions, no producers, no vintages — nothing to anchor any of these pours to an actual bottle or winery. For a traditional Japanese restaurant where delicate fish and clean flavors are the whole point, the absence of anything remotely crisp, mineral, or food-forward — think dry Riesling, Grüner, Chablis, even a decent Pinot Gris — is a real missed opportunity. The list isn't offensive, it's just completely indifferent.
Seven-plus glass pours sounds generous until you realize they're all anonymous varietal wines with no producer behind them and glass prices running $4.50 to $8.25. There's no rotation, no seasonal interest, no sense that anyone curated this program beyond checking a box that says 'wine available.' At these prices the damage is minimal, but so is the reward.
Riesling (by the glass) — $8.25
If you're going to drink anything here with sushi, Riesling is your best weapon — even an anonymous one. The residual sweetness and acidity can actually hold up against soy, ginger, and spicy rolls better than anything else on this list. It's the least wrong choice.
Pinot Noir (by the glass)
Most people ordering red wine at a sushi spot are already making a questionable call, but Pinot Noir is at least the right kind of wrong — lighter body, lower tannin, and enough red fruit to not bulldoze delicate fish. Relative to the Cab and Merlot on the same list, it's the one red that won't embarrass you.
White Zinfandel (by the glass)
There is no universe in which White Zinfandel enhances a sashimi platter or a specialty roll. Sweet, flat, and entirely out of context — this one exists purely for guests who genuinely don't want to think about wine at all. Respect the fish, skip this pour.
Riesling (by the glass) + Sashimi Platter
A glass of Riesling — even a generic one — brings enough sweetness and acidity to complement the clean, oceanic flavors of fresh sashimi without steamrolling them. It's not a perfect match, but it's the closest thing to a functional pairing this list can offer.
The Bottom Line
Inakaya Watanabe is clearly a solid neighborhood sushi spot, and the food likely earns its loyal following — but the wine program is an afterthought that nobody has revisited in years. Come for the fish, order sake if they have it, and treat the wine list as a last resort.
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