Bohemian Northside Deli That Actually Has Wine
Northside · Cincinnati · Eclectic Deli & Cafe · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed March 28, 2026
Wingman Metrics
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Downtown · Cincinnati · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Cincinnati is a reliable, well-stocked steakhouse list that delivers exactly what it promises — big California reds, proper storage, and a bottle for every budget above $50. Just don't come expecting discovery; come expecting execution.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Over-the-Rhine · Cincinnati · Tapas / Mediterranean-inspired small plates
Abigail Street is a Wild Card because nobody walks into a tapas spot in OTR expecting Lebanese orange wines and Champagne from Bollinger — but here we are. The markup math on the tap program stings, but the top half of this list is doing real work and earns a recommendation.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North / Kenwood area · Cincinnati · New American / Grill & Wine Bar
Seasons 52 Cincinnati is a chain wine program that punches above its weight class on volume and actually tries — Monday half-price bottles are a legitimate reason to show up on a specific night. Just go in knowing this is a crowd-pleaser list, not a discovery list, and you'll leave satisfied.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Mason · Cincinnati · West Coast–style American (brunch-focused cafe)
Maplewood Mason isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — the list is fair, accessible, and has just enough personality (Stolpman, Jezebel Blanc) to keep it from being totally forgettable. If you're here for brunch, grab a glass and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hyde Park · Cincinnati · Italian (housemade pasta, wood-fired pizza)
Forno Hyde Park is a reliable neighborhood wine program that doesn't embarrass itself — solid Italian range, reasonable glass pours, and a Wood-Down Wednesday deal that genuinely changes the math on the better bottles. The markups on everyday bottles are hard to ignore, but if you time it right and order smart, there's a real dinner here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Newport (Greater Cincinnati Riverfront) · Cincinnati · Seafood
Chart House delivers exactly what it promises: a reliable, unadventurous wine list in a spectacular waterfront setting. Come for the view and the lobster bisque — just don't expect the wine list to match the scenery.
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.