Downtown Sarasota's Safe Wine Harbor
Downtown Sarasota · Sarasota · American · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed February 25, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Mattison's City Grille’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Mattison's wine list reads like a greatest hits compilation for tourists—California Cabs, safe Chardonnays, and nothing that'll scare the golf course crowd. It's the kind of list where you know exactly what you're getting before you even open the menu. Competent but utterly predictable.
The selection skews heavily toward recognizable American labels with a few token Italian and French entries thrown in for variety. You'll find your Kendall-Jackson, your La Crema, maybe a Caymus if you're feeling spendy. There's little regional exploration—no Finger Lakes Riesling, no Oregon Gamay, no surprises whatsoever. The list does what it needs to do for convention diners and snowbirds looking for familiar names, but wine geeks will find themselves ordering a second cocktail instead.
Glass pours lean on the usual suspects—a Sonoma Chardonnay around $12, a Napa Cab at $15, maybe a Pinot Grigio for the reluctant wine drinker. The rotation appears static, with the same lineup holding court month after month. Pours are generous enough, but you're paying downtown prices for wines you could grab at Total Wine for a third of the cost.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $32
Washington Riesling that offers actual character and versatility with seafood at a markup that won't make you wince
Frescobaldi Nipozzano Riserva
If they've got this Tuscan workhorse on the list, it's probably the most interesting bottle under $50—Chianti that actually shows structure
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
At $140+ on the list, you're paying four times retail for a wine that's become more about the label than what's inside
Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc + Gulf Grouper
New Zealand's citrus punch cuts through Florida seafood richness without overwhelming delicate white fish
The Bottom Line
Mattison's won't lead you astray, but it won't excite you either. It's the wine equivalent of ordering the salmon—safe, competent, forgettable. Come for the downtown location, order a glass of something familiar, and save your wine exploration for another night.
Downtown Sarasota · Sarasota · Contemporary American
A one-page list that mixes Greek, Italian and French bottles with Cristal, Taittinger and Laurent-Perrier Champagnes, and posts many prices as two unlabeled numbers. Start with the Gai'a Assyrtiko (70 / 17) alongside the wood-fired octopus, or take the Les Girelles Picpoul (48 / 12) on a Tuesday, when the list says bottles at $99 and less are half off (bubbles and Champagne excluded). This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups, and the list carries no printed date, so confirm current availability and ask which number is the glass.
Downtown Sarasota · Sarasota · American
A 38-wine list that mixes French and California bottles and posts three Cabernet Francs among its reds. Start with the Charles Joguet Chinon at 68 or the Micro-Cosme red at 10 / 39, and ask which number is the glass. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Siesta Key · Sarasota · Italian
A big, Italy-heavy list with a run of $38 house-label bottles and reds that climb to a $696 1993 Quintarelli. Order the $38 C.G. Vini Chianti or the $38 Argiolas Vermentino, and save the Quintarelli for a table that has confirmed it's in stock. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Siesta Drive and US 41 · Sarasota · Steakhouse
A steakhouse list built in two layers: 80 wines on the main list with 42 poured by the glass from $10 to $45, and a 20-wine Reserve list that runs $160 to $715. For a steak dinner, order the Calera by Duckhorn Pinot Noir at $17 a glass with the filet, or pick the $42 Réserve Mont-Redon if the table wants a bottle. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups, and prices should be confirmed.
Sarasota · Sarasota · American with winery focus
A winery-restaurant list built mostly on its own bottlings, with clear glass and bottle prices. Order bin 79 Chardonnay with Dana's Parmesan-Crusted Chicken, or try the $10.75 house Red, and confirm what is pouring in Sarasota. This unrated guide covers the posted wine menu, not service, storage or retail markups.
Siesta Key · Sarasota · American
Summer House posts a seven-page list whose biggest section is Cabernet Sauvignon and blends, with a 31-pour glass page priced from $13 to $38. Start with the $17 Decoy Cabernet by the glass, then buy the $70 bottle if the table likes it, or try the $29 Collefrisio Montepulciano Riserva for something off the Cabernet track. Confirm current availability and prices, since the restaurant says pricing, vintages and wines are subject to change; this unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown Roswell · Roswell · American
Canton St. Social is a solid neighborhood restaurant in historic downtown Roswell, and the wine program appears to be built for exactly that — supporting a good night out without overcomplicating things. We don't have enough sourced wine data to tell you what to order, which means your best move is to ask your server what's pouring well that night and go from there. Worth a visit for the food and atmosphere; the wine list is a work in progress as far as our research goes.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Worcester · American
The Boynton is a great neighborhood spot for a cold beer, a burger, and a game — and that's exactly what it should be. The wine program is along for the ride, not driving the car. If wine matters to you tonight, this isn't your destination; if you're here for the food and the vibe, order a beer and enjoy it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Atlanta · Atlanta · American
Hard Rock Cafe Atlanta's wine list is a Lazy List by every measure — grocery store brands, steep markups, no specials, and a rotating staff with little incentive to know what's in the glass. If you're here for the memorabilia and the atmosphere, lean into a cocktail or a beer. If wine is non-negotiable, the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling or Columbia Crest Cab will get you through the night without regret.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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