Playful Pairings and Half-Price Wine Club Sundays
Cleveland Park · Washington · Mediterranean-inspired Wine Bar · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed March 7, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Little Blackbird’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
A 100-bottle list that takes wine seriously without being stuffy, which is exactly what Cleveland Park needed. The playful vibe extends to the wine program — this is a place that ages Chardonnay on seashells and calls its pairings 'Playful' instead of 'Suggested.'
The list leans European but doesn't ignore the home team, with solid representation from Italy and France alongside thoughtful West Coast picks. You'll find everything from Brooks' excellent Oregon Pinot to Tenuta Luce's Super Tuscan, with enough depth in each region to keep things interesting across multiple visits. The $40-85 bottle range keeps things accessible, and the Wine Club Sunday program suggests they actually want you to explore the list rather than hoard it. No massive cellar finds here, but the curation shows taste — Pala's 'Oltreluna' and Capella Sant'Andrea's Vernaccia aren't your typical wine bar defaults.
Twelve by-the-glass options hit the sweet spot between variety and freshness. The pours include a Bedell Cellars Chardonnay aged on seashells for $12 and a Coq Leon Beaujolais at $13 — both at 3.5oz pours that let you taste without committing. The glass list seems to rotate with intention rather than just sitting there collecting dust.
Brooks 'Amycas' 2023 — ~$55-65 range
Brooks makes some of Oregon's most food-friendly Pinot, and the 'Amycas' is their entry point that drinks well above its price point — perfect with their branzino
Capella Sant'Andrea 'Clara Stella' Vernaccia 2023
Most people skip Vernaccia thinking it's boring hotel wine, but this one's got salinity and texture that'll surprise you — especially with that Tart Flambee
DiamAndes 'Perlita' Malbec/Syrah 2020
Argentine Malbec-Syrah blends rarely justify their spot on a thoughtful list when there are better South American options out there
Comtesse Marion Pinot Noir 2023 + Lamb Chop with garlic scalloped potatoes and lamb demi-glace
French Pinot brings enough earthiness to match the lamb demi without overwhelming the scalloped potatoes — classic pairing executed right
First Sunday of the Month — Wine Club Sunday: All Playful Pairings at half price, plus special off-menu Playful Pairings available
The Bottom Line
Little Blackbird gets the wine bar formula right: thoughtful list, fair prices, and a Wine Club Sunday program that actually encourages exploration. Send your friend here when they want to drink well without the somm intimidation.
· Washington · Mediterranean
Zaytinya's wine list is one of the more focused and honest Greek programs you'll find at a mid-to-high scale restaurant in D.C. The by-the-glass selection is wide, the pricing doesn't insult you, and the Greek variety depth is genuinely impressive. If you've been waiting for a reason to finally figure out what Xinomavro tastes like, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Washington · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão's wine list is exactly what a national Brazilian steakhouse chain's wine list looks like: functional, familiar, and priced for margin rather than your benefit. The by-the-glass count is impressive on paper, but most of the options are labels you've seen at your grocery store for a fraction of what they're charging here. If you're coming for the meat — and you should be — stick to the Catena Malbec and enjoy the show.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Washington · Washington · Steak House
A 20-wine by-the-glass list with every pour between $14 and $30, split across four sparkling, six white, two rosé and eight red. With a steak, start with the $26 Clos Duval Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon or the $22 Monte Antico Supremus; for the cheapest glass, take the $14 Dr. Loosen Riesling. Pour sizes aren't posted and the page is undated, so confirm today's wines. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown DC · Washington · Steakhouse
A steakhouse beverage menu with 30 wines by the glass and a bottle list that is mostly California, with some France, Italy and Portugal. Start with the $9/glass happy hour Bonanza Cabernet if you arrive in the window, or the Eroica Riesling, the only Riesling on the glass list, and ask for prices because regular wine prices aren't posted. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Georgetown · Washington · Seafood, Steakhouse
An unpriced list that is easier to read for what it offers than for what it costs. If you want Bordeaux, ask for the 2020 Margaux de Brane Cantenac, or look at the Brunello di Montalcino in Sommelier's Selections, and get the price before you commit. This unrated guide covers the posted Beverage Menu, not service, storage or markups.
Washington · Washington · Latin, Vegetarian
A wide-ranging list with 14 wines by the glass from $17 to $95 and a bottle book that runs from $60 to $1,275. Start with the $17 Eichinger Grüner Veltliner or the $20 Pêcheur Trousseau, and ask for the Natural Wines section if you want something low-intervention. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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