Great Sushi, Forgettable Wines From The Grocery Aisle
Downtown · Stamford · Japanese/Sushi · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 1, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Kashi Stamford’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Kashi is a genuinely good-looking restaurant — modern, stylish, the kind of place that makes you want to order a round of cocktails before you even sit down. Then you open the wine list and that momentum stalls. Fifteen labels, most of them names you'd recognize from the supermarket end-cap.
The list reads like someone grabbed whatever was available from a mid-tier distributor and called it a day. Angeline Pinot Noir, Mondavi Cabernet, Three Finger Jack Cab, Broquel Malbec — these aren't bad wines exactly, but they're also not wines that belong on a list charging restaurant markups at a destination sushi bar. There's no regional story here, no nod to sake-adjacent wine regions like Alsace or Burgundy that would actually make sense alongside raw fish. Fifteen labels total means the kitchen clearly cares more about the menu than the wine program, and honestly, fair enough — the food earns that attention.
Thirteen of fifteen bottles are available by the glass, which sounds generous until you realize the selection itself is thin. The glass pour range of $9–$12 is approachable for Stamford, but when the ceiling of the list is Mondavi and Three Finger Jack, a higher pour count doesn't really help. There's no rotation, no seasonal additions — what's on the list is what's on the list.
Broquel Malbec — $9/glass
Broquel is an Achaval Ferrer project and punches above its commercial price point — it's the most food-friendly, structured wine on this list. At the low end of the glass pour pricing, it's the clearest value here, especially alongside richer rolls.
Broquel Malbec
Nobody orders Malbec at a sushi bar, which is exactly why it works — the plummy fruit and firm structure cut through tempura batter and heavier sauced rolls in a way the Cabs on this list can't match. It's the dark horse.
Mondavi Cabernet
Robert Mondavi Private Selection is a $10 retail bottle. Whatever it's priced at here, the math doesn't work in your favor, and it's a hard sell alongside delicate sushi anyway. Order a cocktail instead — this place does those better.
Angeline Pinot Noir + Rock Shrimp Tempura
Angeline is a light, fruit-forward California Pinot that won't stomp on fried shrimp. The low tannin and soft red fruit play off the sweetness of the rock shrimp without competing with the tempura batter. It's not a revelatory pairing, but it's the best this list can offer for that dish.
The Bottom Line
Come to Kashi for the sushi and the atmosphere — both deliver. But the wine list is an afterthought, and with a stylish room and serious food, that's a real missed opportunity. Stick to cocktails or sake and save the wine obsession for somewhere that reciprocates.
· Stamford · Seafood
Crab Shell's wine list won't win any awards, but it's priced fairly, matched to the menu, and doesn't try to be something it isn't. Send a friend here for cold seafood and a bottle of the Macon-Lugny — they'll be happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Stamford · Italian
Ernie's has no business being this interesting about wine, and that's exactly why you should go. It's a tight, weird, well-priced list in a format nobody expects — and that's the whole point of a Wild Card.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Stamford · Peruvian
Fiesta on Main puts real effort into its Peruvian kitchen, which makes the wine list feel like an afterthought someone assembled in fifteen minutes using a Sysco catalog. Stick to pisco sours — the wine program isn't the reason to come here.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Stamford · American / Grill
Zody's is a great spot for a cold beer after nine holes and a plate of comfort food — but if wine is your thing, order a cocktail instead. The list isn't broken, it just doesn't try.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Stamford · Wine Bar / New American
Uncorked Stamford is a reliable landing pad after work — not a destination for serious wine drinking, but a competent, comfortable room with a list that does its job. Send a friend here for drinks before dinner, not for the bottle list itself.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Stamford · Greek
Kouzina is doing the right things with Greek wine in a city that doesn't ask for it, and that's worth something. Pricing runs a little hot, but if you stick to the Greek producers and let the Assyrtiko do its thing, you'll eat and drink well.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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