Lake Views Can't Save a Lazy List
Lake Como · Lake Geneva · American / Supper Club · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 24, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Mars Resort’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Mars Resort is exactly what you'd expect from a lakeside supper club that knows its crowd and isn't trying to impress anyone. Stone Cellars leads the charge — a mass-produced grocery store label — and that sets the tone pretty quickly. The good news is that $7 house pours are hard to argue with when you're watching the sun go down over Lake Geneva.
The list runs about 18-22 wines and leans almost entirely on California workhorses: J. Lohr, Sonoma-Cutrer, Sea Sun, and Kendall-Jackson make appearances alongside a smattering of Italian and French options. The Bisol Prosecco and The Beach Rosé from France are the most interesting things on the list, and they're still not exactly pushing any boundaries. There's no real cellar depth here — no surprises, no old-world deep cuts, no natural wines — just the reliable crowd-pleasers that move fast in a lakeside bar setting. A Mars Private Label Chardonnay and Cabernet round out the list, which is either charming local branding or a red flag, depending on your optimism.
The by-the-glass program covers roughly 10-12 options anchored at $7 for house wines and sparkling, which is genuinely reasonable for a resort setting in 2024. You'll find the Stone Cellars lineup, Bisol Prosecco, and a few steps up like Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay and Sea Sun Pinot Noir. Rotation appears minimal — this is a set-it-and-forget-it program, not one that's refreshed seasonally.
Bisol Prosecco — $7
Bisol is a legitimate Valdobbiadene producer — not some anonymous bubble — and if Mars is pouring it at the same $7 house price point, that's the glass to grab on the patio. It outperforms everything else at that price on this list.
The Beach Rosé
It's easy to scroll past this on a list loaded with California staples, but The Beach is a French rosé — likely Provence — and it's the most food-friendly, sessionable option on the menu. Most people will default to Kendall-Jackson, but this is the smarter order.
Stone Cellars White Zinfandel
Stone Cellars is Beringer's value label, and the White Zin is the least interesting wine on a list that's already playing it safe. If you're here for the fish fry, you deserve better than this.
Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc + Fish Fry
Oyster Bay's New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc has enough brightness and citrus cut to handle a Friday fish fry without getting lost. It's not a profound pairing, but it's the right call on this list — and it'll hold up better than the house Chardonnay.
The Bottom Line
Mars Resort is a great place to drink a cold glass of something while live music plays and the lake does all the heavy lifting — but don't come here expecting a wine program that cares as much as you do. Order the Bisol, enjoy the view, and save the serious bottle for somewhere else.
· Lake Geneva · Resort dining
The Abbey Resort is a beautiful property, and the Yacht Club dining room presumably delivers on atmosphere and food. The wine list, however, is a nine-bottle shrug — steep markups on familiar labels with no depth, no rotation, and no apparent curation. Order a cocktail or a beer and save the wine conversation for somewhere that's having it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Lake Geneva · Winery and Orchard
Apple Barn Orchard & Winery isn't trying to compete with your favorite natural wine bar, and it doesn't need to. It's a tight, honest, hyper-local fruit wine program priced like it wants you to actually buy a bottle — or three. If you're in Lake Geneva and open-minded about what wine can be, it's worth the stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Lake Geneva · Winery
AeppelTreow is not a wine list — it's a statement. If you're driving through Lake Geneva and want something genuinely different from the standard Midwestern winery experience, this four-bottle fruit wine lineup delivers on its own terms. Just know what you're walking into: this is orchard country, not Napa.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Lake Geneva · Waterfront American
The Boathouse at Pier 290 has a wine list that does the job without doing much else — familiar producers, California-heavy, built for the path of least resistance. If you're coming for the setting and want something easy and recognizable to drink, you'll be fine. If wine is the point of your evening, you'll want to look elsewhere.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Lake Geneva · New American
Turf. Kitchen + Tap looks like a solid resort wine program — broad enough geographically to suggest some genuine effort, casual enough in setting that nobody's going to quiz you on your order. We'd feel comfortable sending a friend here for a relaxed dinner with a decent glass of wine, but we'd stop short of calling it a destination for the list itself. Come for the views and the Choriqueso; the wine will take care of itself.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lake Como / The Ridge Hotel · Lake Geneva · American
Crafted Americana's wine program is resort-standard in the fullest sense: recognizable, priced for convenience, and unlikely to generate any complaints or any real excitement. If you're at The Ridge for the weekend and want a solid glass of Cab with your prime rib, you'll be fine — just don't come expecting a discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
