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🎲The Wild Card

Melt Eclectic Deli

Bohemian Northside Deli That Actually Has Wine

Northside · Cincinnati · Eclectic Deli & Cafe · Visit Website ↗

casual-vibeshidden-gemby-the-glass-heroold-world-focus

Reviewed March 28, 2026

Wingman Metrics

List VarietySmall but Thoughtful
MarkupSteal
GlasswareBasic Stemmed
StaffWilling but Green
Specials & DealsSet & Forget
Storage & TempAcceptable

First Impression

Walking into Melt, you're not expecting much from the wine list — and then you clock a French rosé for $25 a bottle and recalibrate fast. This is a sandwich shop that quietly cares about what's in your glass, even if it's not making a big deal about it. The list is short, unpretentious, and priced like it actually wants you to order a bottle.

Selection Deep Dive

The list is compact — somewhere in the 15-25 bottle range — with a lean toward France and Italy, which is exactly the right instinct for a casual, food-forward spot. You're not getting a regional deep-dive into Jura or a vertical of anything, but what's here is purposeful rather than filler. The Reserve Saurine Rosé from France anchors the list with some Old World credibility, and the CA Furlan Cuvee Prosecco nods toward Italian bubbles for the brunch crowd. Gaps are real — no reds are specifically called out in the data, and there's no evidence of anything obscure or producer-driven — but at these prices, the lack of depth is forgivable.

By the Glass

Six to ten pours by the glass, with the CA Furlan Cuvee Prosecco leading the charge at $9 — an easy yes for a Saturday afternoon sandwich. The glass program feels approachable over ambitious, which matches the room perfectly. Don't come here expecting a rotating BTG program with tasting notes; do come here expecting a cold pour that won't insult your sandwich or your bank account.

đź’°Best Value

Reserve Saurine Rosé — $25

A French rosé at $25 a bottle in a sit-down setting is legitimately hard to find. This isn't a supermarket shelf-filler — it's a considered pick at a price point that makes ordering a whole bottle a no-brainer instead of a negotiation.

đź’ŽHidden Gem

CA Furlan Cuvee Prosecco

Most people sleep on Prosecco at a deli, defaulting to whatever's on draft. But CA Furlan is a solid, family-run Veneto producer, and at $9 a glass it's the kind of casual bubbly that makes a veggie sandwich feel like a celebration.

â›”Skip This

CA Furlan Cuvee Prosecco

At $30 a bottle, the math on the Prosecco is a bit off compared to the rosé — you're paying more per ounce by the bottle relative to the glass price. Stick to ordering it by the glass at $9, or just grab the rosé bottle instead and come out ahead.

🍽️Perfect Pairing

Reserve Saurine Rosé + Eclectic deli sandwich

A dry French rosé has the acidity to cut through rich spreads and layered deli fillings without overpowering them — it's the versatile, unfussy wine that a big, eclectic sandwich practically calls for.

🎲 The Bottom Line

Melt is a Wild Card in the best sense — a bohemian Northside deli that punches above its weight with honest French and Italian pours at prices that make you want to linger over a second glass. Don't come here for a deep cellar experience; do come here because $25 French rosé with a great sandwich is one of Cincinnati's better-kept secrets.

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