Albany's Neighborhood Pour, Done Right
Center Square · Albany · Wine Bar
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 15, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Marrone Wine Bar’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Marrone, the list immediately signals that someone here gives a damn — 80-plus bottles spanning Italy, France, Spain, New York, and California is no accident in a Center Square neighborhood spot. The by-the-glass program is genuinely impressive in size, which is usually where wine bars either shine or fall apart. First read: promising.
The regional spread is Marrone's strongest card. Old World anchors — Italy and France — share real estate with domestic picks from California and New York, which shows a willingness to look closer to home without abandoning the classics. Spain gets a seat at the table too, which keeps things from feeling like every other safe American wine list. That said, the selections skew recognizable: Catena, La Crema, Duckhorn, Rombauer — crowd-pleasing labels that won't surprise anyone who's browsed a Total Wine. There's a solid foundation here, but we'd love to see a few more producers that don't already have endcap displays at the grocery store.
Twenty to forty options by the glass is genuinely generous — that's not a token gesture, that's a commitment. It means you can explore without committing to a bottle, which is exactly what a wine bar should encourage. We'd push staff on what's rotating versus what's been sitting open since last Tuesday.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling 2022 — $28
At $28, it's the most approachable bottle on the list and a reliable crowd-pleaser with real versatility. Yes, the markup is still steep relative to retail, but in absolute dollars this is the easiest entry point on the menu — especially if you're splitting a charcuterie board and don't want to commit to a $95 Cab.
Catena Malbec 2021
Most people sleep on Catena because it shows up everywhere, but that's the point — it consistently overdelivers for what it is. At $42 it's not cheap, but the wine itself punches well above its humble retail price, and on a list that skews toward recognizable California names, this Argentinian bottle is the outlier worth ordering.
La Crema Chardonnay 2022
Thirty-eight dollars for La Crema is a tough ask when you can grab it off a shelf for $16. It's a fine, inoffensive Chardonnay, but 'fine and inoffensive' at 138% markup is not a win. Order something else.
Catena Malbec 2021 + Charcuterie Board
The Malbec's dark fruit and firm structure cut right through the fat in cured meats and hold their own against sharp, salty flavors. It's a natural match that doesn't require any overthinking — which is the best kind.
Wednesday — Half-price bottles of wine every Wednesday night.
The Bottom Line
Marrone is the kind of neighborhood wine bar Albany is lucky to have — a knowledgeable staff, a real by-the-glass program, and a Wednesday half-price bottle night that genuinely changes the value math. The markups sting at full price, but if you play it smart (Wednesday, Riesling, Malbec), you walk out happy.
· Albany · Italian, Steakhouse, Seafood
Choose by budget, check bottle size, and confirm the current menu. We haven't independently assessed service, glassware or storage.
Downtown Albany · Albany · Steakhouse
Order by the glass and explore: the posted menu gives you Riesling, Chablis, Cahors and Rioja without a bottle commitment. Pentimento at $16 is our price-conscious red starting point. Check the current list before ordering; the complete cellar, service and storage haven't been independently verified.
West Albany · Albany · Italian
Grappa ’72 gives you several ways into Italian wine without committing to a prestige bottle. Our move is Nozzole Chianti Classico Riserva at $47/bottle for the table, or Bigi Orvietto at $9/glass if you want your own white. Confirm the current vintage and price when ordering.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown/Clinton Square · Albany · Modern Mexican / Latin-inspired
Ama Cocina isn't a destination wine bar, but it's a Wild Card worth respecting — a food-forward Latin spot that actually thought about its wine list instead of phoning it in. Come for the tacos, order the Albariño, and be pleasantly surprised.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Warehouse District/Riverfront · Albany · Wine Bar / American Small Plates
The Shaker & Vine is Albany's best argument for the self-pour wine bar format — the markup is shockingly fair, the riverside setting earns its keep, and the list is approachable without being embarrassing. Don't come hunting for rare producers, but do come for a relaxed pour with a view.
Solid Range
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Colonie · Albany · Classic Italian-American
Lombardo's wine list is the culinary equivalent of a comfortable booth — nothing revelatory, but nothing offensive, and it gets the job done alongside a plate of baked ziti. Send a friend here for the food and tell them to order the Barolo if they want to feel like they tried.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Healdsburg · Wine Bar
Maison is what happens when someone builds a wine bar list with genuine curiosity instead of a regional checklist — you're in the heart of Sonoma Wine Country and the list keeps pointing you toward Mosel Riesling, Douro whites, and 1934 Madeira. The by-the-glass program alone justifies a visit, and the pricing is fair enough that you can explore without flinching. If you're in Healdsburg and you actually care about wine, this is the stop.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Old Mill District · Bend · Wine Bar
For a Va Piano visit in Bend, head to the Wine & Champagne Bar at 425 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 301. Confirm the current wines and pour prices directly, and reserve ahead for groups of six or more. The winery’s subscription page is not a tasting-room menu.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Helena · Wine Bar
The Hawthorn is exactly the kind of place that makes a mid-sized Montana city worth lingering in — a down-to-earth wine spot with a real point of view, solid food pairings like charcuterie boards and cheese plates, and staff that actually seems to give a damn. We'd send any friend here without hesitation, especially if they're in the mood to explore something Italian or old world without being lectured about it.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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