Great Curry, Forgettable Wine Program
Downtown · Duluth · Indian
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 12, 2026
RagingWine reviewed India Palace’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at India Palace feels like an afterthought stapled to the back of a menu built around butter chicken and lamb curry. It's short, California-heavy, and priced like they expect you not to notice. You're here for the food — and honestly, that's probably the right call.
We're looking at an estimated 15-25 bottles, and the regional story is basically just California, full stop. There's no attempt to explore wines that actually sing alongside spiced Indian cuisine — no Riesling, no Gewürztraminer, no Grüner Veltliner, nothing with the acidity or residual sugar that could genuinely hold up to a Vindaloo or a Saag Paneer. The two confirmed producers — Kopp and Nielson — are both Pinot Noirs, which at least shows someone has a type, even if that type isn't particularly well-suited to the cuisine. The list reads like it was assembled once and never revisited.
Glass pours land in the 4-8 range, priced between $8 and $13, which sounds reasonable until you do the math on the markups. There's no indication of rotation or a thoughtful by-the-glass program — what you see is likely what's been on there for a while. If you're going by the glass, it's fine, but don't expect any surprises.
Nielson Pinot Noir California — $44
It's the cheaper of the two confirmed bottles and, relative to the Kopp, takes less of a hit to your wallet. Still a 175% markup over retail, but if you're committed to ordering a bottle, this is where the damage is slightly more contained.
Kopp Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
Russian River Pinot at this price point is a stretch, but the Kopp is genuinely a step up in provenance — RRV fruit has the cool-climate character to cut through rich, cream-based dishes like Chicken Tikka Masala better than most California Pinots would. Still overpriced, but at least you're getting something with a real regional identity behind it.
Nielson Pinot Noir California
A 175% markup on a $16 retail bottle is a tough sell. The broad 'California' designation tells you everything you need to know about the sourcing ambition here. At $44, you could do a lot better almost anywhere else — including the wine shop down the street.
Kopp Pinot Noir Russian River Valley + Chicken Tikka Masala
The Kopp's Russian River cool-climate fruit and lighter body won't bulldoze the creamy tomato base of the Tikka Masala the way a bigger Cab would. It's not a perfect match by any stretch — an off-dry Riesling would win that fight — but among what's available here, this is the move.
The Bottom Line
India Palace is a genuinely solid spot for Indian food in Duluth, but the wine program is collecting dust. Steep markups, a California-only list that ignores everything that actually works with spiced cuisine, and zero signs of anyone caring enough to change it — order a mango lassi and save the wine for somewhere else.
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