Jazz, Croque Monsieurs, and Vermont on the List
Church Street · Burlington · French · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 24, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You're sitting on a bustling Church Street Marketplace patio, live jazz drifting out from inside, and the wine list lands with more heft than a French bistro in Burlington has any business producing. Eighty-plus labels with a Vermont local play — this place is doing something intentional. It's not perfect, but it's trying.
The list sits comfortably in the 80–120 label range, which for a mid-price bistro in Vermont is genuinely respectable. The regional focus leans into Vermont producers — a smart move that most Burlington restaurants still won't commit to — with Snow Farm Vineyard showing up as a local anchor. Beyond Vermont, the list reads like a solid French-leaning bistro card with expected European coverage, though we'd love to see more depth in Burgundy and Loire to really sell the Parisian conceit. There are gaps, but the bones are good.
Fifteen by-the-glass options is a healthy pour count for this price point and neighborhood. The rotation doesn't appear to change aggressively — this is more of a set program than a dynamic weekly slate — but the sheer count means you're not stuck choosing between the house white and a Malbec. The inclusion of local Vermont pours by the glass is the real differentiator here.
Snow Farm Vineyard Seyval Blanc — $12–$15 est.
Snow Farm is one of Vermont's most serious producers, and getting their Seyval Blanc by the glass at a bistro price is a genuine opportunity. It's local, it's interesting, and you won't find it on the wine list back home.
Snow Farm Vineyard Seyval Blanc
Most people at a French bistro are reaching for Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay by reflex. The Snow Farm Seyval Blanc is the more interesting glass — crisp, slightly mineral, and a conversation starter that actually connects to where you're sitting.
Generic House Red
Without specific bottle data, the safest skip is whatever anonymous house pour is propping up the low end. With 15 BTG options and a local producer worth exploring, there's no reason to default to the bottom of the list.
Snow Farm Vineyard Seyval Blanc + Croque Monsieur
The Seyval Blanc's bright acidity and lean fruit cut right through the béchamel and ham richness of a Croque Monsieur without fighting the dish. It's a genuinely good local-meets-classic-French moment on the plate.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Leunig's earns its Wild Card status by doing something Burlington doesn't do enough of — putting Vermont wine front and center on a real list, in a real bistro, without making it feel like a novelty. Send a friend here if they think Vermont wine isn't worth ordering.
Waterfront · Burlington · Craft Brewery with Bar Snacks
Foam is a brewery first, but the wine program punches way above its weight class — it's small, local, and priced like they actually want you to drink it. If you're on Burlington's waterfront and want something interesting in your glass that isn't a hazy IPA, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Burlington · New American with Vegan Options
The Daily Planet isn't a wine destination, but it has the instincts of one — a thoughtful natural wine pick, Monday half-price bottles, and fair pricing in a casual room that doesn't take itself too seriously. Send a friend here on a Monday and tell them to ask about the orange wine.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Burlington · New American Bistro
The Gryphon is a reliable neighborhood bistro with a wine list that matches its ambitions exactly: familiar, functional, and forgettable. Come for the burgers and brick walls, but don't expect the wine to be the highlight of your night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Burlington · Neapolitan wood-fired pizza and Italian cuisine
Pizzeria Verità isn't trying to be a wine destination and it doesn't need to be — it's a smart, Italy-focused list with honest markups and a few genuinely interesting bottles tucked in among the crowd-pleasers. Go for the pizza, order the Nebbiolo or the Cirò, and leave happy.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Church Street Marketplace · Burlington · Upscale American Steakhouse
EB Strong's has a wine list that does the job well and occasionally surprises you — especially if you look past the Caymus and dig into the European picks. Wednesday's half-price bottle program makes it one of the better wine-value nights in Burlington, full stop.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront · Burlington · Seasonal New American, farm-to-table
Hen of the Wood Burlington is the rare restaurant where the wine list is as considered as the food, and that's saying something when the kitchen is this good. If you're driving through Vermont and care about what's in your glass, this is worth a reservation.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
West Hartford Center · Hartford · French
Avert is a reliable wine stop if you're already going for the duck confit and don't want to overthink it — the French-focused list is competent and the by-the-glass count is genuinely impressive for West Hartford. Just watch the top end of the bottle list, where markups quietly get away from you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Gainesville · Gainesville · French
Alpin Bistro is doing something genuinely rare in North Florida: building a focused, France-first wine list with real producers and fair pricing on the bottles that matter. The Wednesday BOGO is the best wine deal in Gainesville — show up with a friend and let the Loire Valley do its thing.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
College Hill · Wichita · French
Georges is doing something genuinely impressive for its market — a focused, honest French wine list in a city where that's not a given. It's not a deep cellar and the BTG program could use more energy, but as a neighborhood bistro wine experience, it punches well above its zip code.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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