Greensboro's Cozy Secret Hiding in Plain Sight
· Greensboro · Wine and Cocktail Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · October 5, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Marjae's Wine Bar’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Marjae's hits differently than whatever you were expecting from Greensboro's nightlife scene. Warm lighting, colorful decor, and a patio that actually makes you want to stay — this is the spot for people who'd rather talk about what's in their glass than shout over a DJ. It reads intimate and intentional, which is already ahead of half the wine bars in bigger cities.
We don't have the full list in front of us, so we'll be straight with you: the specific bottles here remain undisclosed. What we do know is there's a sommelier on staff, which at a cozy neighborhood wine bar of this size is not a small thing — it signals that someone is actually curating what goes on that list rather than just calling a distributor and saying yes to everything. The vibe skews approachable over encyclopedic, which fits the room. If you're chasing a 200-label deep dive into Burgundy, this probably isn't your destination; if you want something interesting chosen by someone who knows what they're doing, that's a different conversation.
Thursday wine tastings at $10 a head suggest the by-the-glass program is meant to be explored, not just endured. That price point for a curated tasting in any market is worth showing up for. We can't verify current pour counts or specific selections, but a bar built around wine with a sommelier in the mix should have options worth asking about.
The Bottom Line
Marjae's is doing something genuinely uncommon for a mid-size Southern city: running a wine-forward space with actual expertise behind it, at prices that won't make you wince. We'd send a friend here for a low-key date night or a Thursday tasting without hesitation — just go in ready to ask questions, because the staff seems like they actually want to answer them.
· Greensboro · New American and Wine Bar
1808 Craft & Vine is doing something quietly smart: a fully by-the-glass list at prices that don't punish curiosity, with enough international range to keep things interesting. We don't know the food, we don't know the staff, and the list isn't going to wow a Burgundy collector — but if you're in Greensboro and want to drink something you'd never order at a chain steakhouse, this is the move.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Greensboro · Cocktail and Wine Bar
Bitters Social House isn't trying to be a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — but the pricing is genuinely fair, a couple of producer picks show real effort, and the by-the-glass setup means you can drink well without committing to a bottle. If you're in Greensboro and need a glass before or after dinner, this is a perfectly honest place to have one.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Greensboro · Italian Steakhouse
Giovanni's is a reliable neighborhood anchor — the room is good, the food has a loyal following, and the Italian reds give you enough to work with if you dig past the Sand Point labels. We'd send a friend here for dinner without hesitation; we'd just steer them straight toward the Barolo or Brunello and skip the California filler.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Greensboro · Steakhouse
Fleming's Greensboro is doing more than most chain steakhouses bother to do with wine — 42 by-the-glass options and actual Alsatian whites on a Greensboro wine list deserves acknowledgment. The markups are real and the list isn't going to surprise anyone who's been to a Fleming's before, but if you're eating a bone-in ribeye and want a proper glass without guesswork, this delivers.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Greensboro · Wine shop & bar
We want to root for a place called State Street Wine Company, but three unlabeled wines at the entry level is not a wine program — it's a starting point that hasn't started yet. If the selection expands and the curation gets intentional, check back. For now, there are better wine bars in Greensboro worth your evening.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Elm · Greensboro · Wine Bar & Retail
Tasting Room is the kind of wine bar Greensboro didn't know it needed — approachable enough for beginners, interesting enough for people who care, and free of the pretense that kills the fun. If you're in the area, skip the chain restaurant wine list and come here instead.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
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