Lehigh Valley's Quiet Overachiever Pours Decent
Fogelsville / Near Allentown · Allentown · American, Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 4, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Madeline's, you half expect the wine list to be an afterthought — it's a casual bar and grill in Fogelsville, after all. But the list shows some genuine effort: internationally diverse, covering Italy, France, Oregon, Argentina, and beyond. It's not going to win any awards, but it's trying harder than the zip code might suggest.
About 20-30 bottles span a respectable range of regions — you've got Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, a Tuscany Sangiovese-Cab blend, Côtes du Rhône rosé, and a Portuguese white blend sitting alongside the expected California Cab and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. The Cantini Bruni 'Poggio D'Elsa' is the most interesting bottle on the list — a Sangiovese-Cabernet mashup from Tuscany that breaks the predictable mold. Gaps exist: no Burgundy, no Champagne, nothing especially old or cellar-worthy. But for a neighborhood spot in the Lehigh Valley, the breadth is legitimately solid.
Roughly 10 options by the glass, which is a healthy pour-to-bottle ratio for a place at this price point. The BTG selection mirrors the bottle list's diversity — you can get a glass of the Les Dauphins Rosé, the Washington Hills Riesling, or the Zardetto Prosecco without committing to a full bottle. No evidence of regular rotation or a curated BTG program, but what's here does the job.
Les Dauphins Rosé, Côtes du Rhône — N/A
Côtes du Rhône rosé at a bar and grill price point is almost always a steal. Les Dauphins is a reliable, food-friendly producer — grab this with the chicken piccata and you're winning the table.
Cantini Bruni 'Poggio D'Elsa' Sangiovese/Cabernet, Tuscany
Most people here will default to the Merlot or the Malbec. Don't. This Tuscan blend is the most interesting bottle on the list — Sangiovese brings the acid and structure, Cab fills in the body. It's the kind of bottle you'd find at a wine bar charging twice as much.
Parducci Wine Cellars Merlot, Mendocino
Parducci is fine, in the way that a beige wall is fine. It's inoffensive, ubiquitous, and brings nothing to the table you couldn't get from a grocery store run. With more interesting options on the same list, there's no reason to default here.
Marion-Field Cellar 'The Harrison' Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley + Filet mignon
Oregon Pinot and a well-rested filet is a classic move for a reason — the wine's bright red fruit and earthy undertone complement the beef without steamrolling it. The Harrison is the most elegant bottle on this list, and the filet is the most elegant plate. Let them find each other.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Madeline's won't be the reason you plan a trip to Fogelsville, but if you're already there, the wine list earns a solid passing grade. Fair prices, decent range, and a few genuinely good picks make it worth ordering a bottle instead of defaulting to the bar menu.
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Bethlehem Historic District · Allentown · Upscale New American with French-Asian influences
Edge is a dependable night out for wine in a market that doesn't always take the glass seriously — the list won't dazzle you, but it won't embarrass you either. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink well; just steer them away from the rosé markup.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bethlehem/Lehigh Valley region · Allentown · Fusion/Eclectic Bistro
Twisted Olive is a solid neighborhood wine stop — fair prices, familiar faces on the list, nothing that'll blow your mind but nothing that'll ruin your night either. Send a friend here for a casual Wednesday dinner, not a special occasion splurge.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bethlehem/Wind Creek Resort · Allentown · Steakhouse
Chop House does what a casino steakhouse wine list is supposed to do: it stocks the names people recognize, charges casino prices for them, and gets out of the way. If you're here for the prime ribeye and a bottle of Jordan, you'll leave happy — just don't look too hard at the markups.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Bethlehem · Allentown · Contemporary American Rooftop
Zest isn't where you go to geek out on wine, but it is where you go to drink something decent while watching the sun dip over Bethlehem without dropping $100. For a rooftop bar, this list is honest, fairly priced, and does exactly what it promises.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Seidersville / Allentown–Bethlehem Border · Allentown · Farm-to-Table New American
Bolete is the best wine list in the Lehigh Valley by a comfortable margin, and it would hold its own in most major cities. If you're driving 45 minutes for dinner, the wine list alone makes it worth the trip.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Grocery Store
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Tremont · Cleveland · American, Bar
Lava Lounge isn't a wine bar and doesn't pretend to be — but that Stoller pour at near-retail pricing makes it a Wild Card worth knowing about. Come for the atmosphere and the lumpia, order the Pinot, and leave impressed by what you didn't expect.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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