Little Blackbird

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.