Your neighborhood wine fix, no fuss
West Village · Durham · Gastropub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 9, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Local 22 doesn't try to be anything it isn't — and that's mostly a good thing. It's a tight, globally-minded selection that covers the basics without embarrassing itself, sitting comfortably alongside burgers and flatbreads. No pretension, no deep cellar, just a list that does its job in a casual West Village gastropub.
Around 30-50 bottles pulling from France, Portugal, Italy, New Zealand, California, Oregon, Washington, and — notably — North Carolina's own Yadkin Valley. The local angle is a genuine point of pride: the 2017 Jones Von Drehle Viognier is a rare moment where a gastropub actually commits to its regional wine scene rather than just nodding at it. The global spread is respectable without being deep anywhere in particular — you're not finding village-level Burgundy here, but you're also not staring at a wall of Kendall-Jackson. The orange wine option (Biancofongoli) is a fun curveball that suggests someone on staff is paying at least some attention.
Ten-plus by-the-glass options in the $8-$12 range is a solid spread for a neighborhood bar, and the selection rotates across styles and regions reasonably well. The 2019 Anjos Vinho Verde at the low end of the price range is a smart, sessionable pour for a warm Durham evening. Nothing here is going to make your jaw drop, but you won't be stuck choosing between two oaky Chardonnays either.
2019 Anjos Vinho Verde — $8
Crisp, low-alcohol, and priced to drink without guilt — this Portuguese staple is exactly what you want by the glass at a gastropub. Light, lively, and a steal at the low end of their BTG range.
Biancofongoli Orange Wine
Most people at a gastropub are going to reach for the Sauv Blanc or the Pinot Noir. Skip past them and grab this — it's the most interesting thing on the list and the kind of pick that makes your tablemates curious.
Barcava Brut Cava Spain
At $32 a bottle against a retail price of around $12, this is a 267% markup on an entry-level Cava. That's a lot to ask for bubbles you could pick up at Trader Joe's on the way over.
2018 Chateau de Pennautier Pays d'OC + Burger
A Languedoc red with enough dark fruit and structure to stand up to a beef patty, without the tannic muscle of a Cab that would overwhelm a casual pub burger. It's the right weight for the right dish.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Local 22 is exactly what a neighborhood gastropub wine list should be — accessible, globally diverse, with a genuine nod to North Carolina producers. The markups have some rough spots, but the overall package earns a regular spot in your rotation when you just want a solid glass with a burger and no fuss.
Fearrington Village / Pittsboro · Durham · Contemporary American / Modern Tasting Menu
Fearrington House is the rare Wine Spectator Award list that actually earns it — a deep, expertly managed cellar in a setting that has no business being this good. Yes, pricing at the top end is steep, but for a full tasting menu experience, this is as serious as it gets in the Carolinas.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Downtown · Durham · Japanese sushi restaurant with omakase and nigiri focus
M Sushi is a Wild Card in the best possible sense — a sushi counter in downtown Durham with an Old World wine list that actually respects the food it's serving. If you're willing to let go of the familiar and trust the list, this is one of the more satisfying wine experiences you'll find in the Triangle.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Rockwood / Chapel Hill Road · Durham · Cafe & Market
Foster's Market is a genuinely lovely café, and the wine program seems to know it's playing second fiddle — six house-label bottles at flat $15 pricing isn't a wine program so much as a courtesy. Order the coffee, eat the baked goods, and save your wine night for somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Southpoint / Fayetteville Road · Durham · Seasonal Farm-to-Fork American
Harvest 18 is a reliable neighborhood spot where the kitchen clearly outpaces the wine list. Come for the food, come on a Wednesday for the half-price bottles, and calibrate your expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Durham · Seasonal American, Southern-influenced hotel restaurant
For a hotel restaurant, The Restaurant at The Durham is punching well above its weight class — Jura producers and Matthiasson on a downtown Durham wine list is genuinely surprising. The markups keep it from being a destination for wine alone, but if you're eating here anyway, you're in better hands than most hotel guests ever get.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Duke West Campus · Durham · Fine Dining
Fairview is a reliable, well-run hotel wine program that does its job — it won't embarrass you on a date night or a client dinner, but it's not the reason to make the drive. Come for the occasion, drink the Jordan, and leave the exploration for another night.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Worcester · Gastropub
Armsby Abbey is not a wine destination — it's a world-class beer bar that stocks a wine list so no one at the table feels left out. Respect it for what it is, lean into the Garnacha or the Prosecco, and spend the rest of your mental energy on the tap list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Jersey City · Jersey City · Gastropub
The Life of Reilly is a cocktail bar first and a wine destination never — but the pricing is so honest and the Albariño so well-chosen that wine drinkers won't feel like an afterthought. Come for the cocktails, stay for a glass of something Spanish.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Fort Myers River District · Fort Myers · Gastropub
10 Twenty Five is a genuinely fun downtown spot where the beer list does the heavy lifting and the wine list shows up mostly as a formality. Come for the atmosphere and the food — just don't expect the wine to give you anything to talk about.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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