Finger Lakes Roots, Old World Ambitions, Zero Pretension
Pittsford · Rochester · Refined Seasonal American with Wood-Fired Pizzas · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed jojo Bistro & Wine Bar’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into jojo Pittsford, the wine list hits you like a well-organized record collection — there's clearly a brain behind this thing. A 100-plus bottle list in a wood-fired pizza bistro on a quiet Main Street could go sideways fast, but this one earns your attention. The sommelier's fingerprints are all over it: Burgundy, Loire, Northern Rhône, and a genuine nod to Finger Lakes all sharing the same page.
The list punches well above its suburban bistro weight class. France leads the serious drinking — Burgundy Pinot Noir and Loire Valley Chenin Blanc are well-represented, and the Northern Rhône Syrah selections suggest someone here actually cares about Crozes-Hermitage and Saint-Joseph. Italy shows up with natural wine options that feel curated rather than trend-chasing. The local angle is real too: Finger Lakes Riesling earns a proper spot rather than being tucked in as a token nod to the region. If there's a gap, it's that the New World California section occasionally slides toward the familiar crowd-pleasers, but it's a minor gripe on an otherwise sharp list.
Twenty to thirty by-the-glass options is aggressive for a neighborhood bistro and jojo pulls it off. The range spans enough ground — crisp whites, structured reds, something from the Finger Lakes — that you're not locked into a boring Chardonnay-or-Cabernet binary. Whether the pours rotate with the season or stay static could make or break the program long-term, but the depth here is genuinely impressive for Rochester dining.
Finger Lakes Riesling — $12
Finger Lakes Riesling is chronically underpriced relative to what it can deliver — crisp, mineral-driven, with just enough tension to cut through anything wood-fired. At bistro-friendly prices, it's the smartest glass on the list and one of the few local picks that can actually compete with European counterparts.
Northern Rhône Syrah
Most tables are going straight for Burgundy or the Italian naturals, which means the Northern Rhône Syrah is getting slept on. This is peppery, savory, old-world Syrah — nothing like the jammy Australian stuff — and it's exactly the kind of wine a sommelier sneaks onto a list hoping someone with a curious palate will find.
California Red (house-tier)
The California section shows signs of catering to the path of least resistance. House-level California reds at this price point rarely justify the markup when the French and Italian selections sitting nearby offer significantly more character for similar or less money. Save the budget for something with an actual story.
Loire Valley Chenin Blanc + Wood-Fired Pizza
Chenin Blanc's natural acidity and slight waxy texture cut through the char and fat of a wood-fired crust better than most whites on the list. It's not an obvious call, which is exactly why it works — bright, a little honeyed, with enough structure to keep pace with the smoke and toppings without disappearing.
The Bottom Line
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.
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
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
Pittsford Plaza · Rochester · Sushi and Japanese-inspired contemporary dining
Next Door is a Wild Card in the best sense: a grocery chain's restaurant with genuine wine ambition and a beverage program that earns more than a dismissive eye-roll. The markups will sting and the by-the-glass program needs more visibility, but the bones are here — and the wine pairing dinners featuring Château d'Yquem prove someone in the building actually cares.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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