Serious Cellar Hiding Behind Nautical Kitsch
Downtown Norfolk · Norfolk · American · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 16, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Mermaid Winery’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
A winery concept in downtown Norfolk — that alone earns a raised eyebrow before you even sit down. But flip open the list and the skepticism fades fast: this is a real wine program, not a tourist trap dressed in anchor rope and mermaid art. Wine Spectator has handed out Best of Award of Excellence recognition here every year since 2016, and looking at the list, that tracks.
The strengths are California, Champagne, and Burgundy — and Mermaid leans into all three without apology. You've got Kistler and Peter Michael on the Chardonnay side, Domaine Leflaive and Louis Jadot anchoring the Burgundy section, and Bollinger alongside Pol Roger holding it down for Champagne fans who know the difference. Domaine Drouhin Oregon adds a smart Oregon Pinot presence that keeps the list from feeling like a California-only vanity project. At 150-250 bottles deep, this isn't a list that covers the world, but what it does cover, it covers well.
Twenty to thirty-five pours by the glass is genuinely impressive for a restaurant of this scale — most places in this tier top out at twelve and call it a day. Wednesday's half-price wine night means you can work through some serious pours without a serious bill. We'd want to see more rotation to keep regulars engaged, but the sheer volume of options makes this a by-the-glass program worth returning for.
Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs 2018 — $65
Schramsberg is one of California's most serious sparkling producers and the Blanc de Blancs consistently punches above its price point. At $65 on a restaurant list with Opus One on the same page, this is the smart order — real Champagne-method quality without the Champagne markup anxiety.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir
Most people at a table full of California heavyweights will default to Silver Oak or Jordan, but Domaine Drouhin Oregon is the sleeper. Véronique Drouhin has been making some of the most Burgundian Pinot Noir in the New World for decades, and it tends to get overlooked when it's sitting next to splashier California names. Don't sleep on it.
Opus One 2018
At $450 on the list, Opus One is doing what Opus One always does — charging for the name. It's a fine wine, but the markup here makes it a flex purchase, not a value play. There are better bottles on this list for the money and for the experience.
Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2020 + Charcuterie Board
Flowers is all coastal wind and red fruit — bright enough to cut through the fat of cured meats, structured enough to handle the salt. It's the kind of Pinot that makes a charcuterie board feel like an actual meal rather than a snack between courses.
Wednesday — Half-price wine night every Wednesday — applies to the wine list and makes those by-the-glass options genuinely compelling.
The Bottom Line
Mermaid Winery is a genuine wine destination that happens to be in Norfolk — and yes, that still surprises us a little. The pricing leans steep and the staff isn't running a Master Sommelier class, but the list is deep where it counts and Wednesday half-price night is one of the better wine deals in the region.
Virginia Beach · Norfolk · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Virginia Beach won't surprise you on wine, and a few markups are hard to forgive, but the depth is real and the by-the-glass program is better than most steakhouses at this price point. If you're here for a special occasion steak and want a bottle that won't embarrass the meal, you'll find it — just avoid the house pours and do a little homework first.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Norfolk · Norfolk · Gourmet Market & Wine Shop
Taste Unlimited is a gourmet market that quietly outclasses most sit-down restaurants on wine curation and blows them out completely on price. If you're in Norfolk and haven't figured out that this is also a wine stop, you've been leaving money on the table.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Governors Pointe · Norfolk · Southern American
Vintage Tavern has no business having a wine list this serious in a suburb of Norfolk — and we mean that as a high compliment. The markups take some of the shine off, but a sommelier on staff, 400 bottles, and a genuine Virginia section make this the best wine destination for miles around.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Norfolk · French
Todd Jurich's Bistro is the most serious wine list in Norfolk, full stop — but you'll pay for that seriousness, especially on the French side. Go for the sommelier's guidance, order the Barboursville, and enjoy the fact that a room this focused on wine exists in downtown Norfolk at all.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Ghent · Norfolk · New American
Varia is doing something genuinely rare in a mid-sized market — building a wine program that would hold its own in Chicago or D.C. The markup isn't always charitable, but the depth, the cruvinet by-the-glass program, and the evident expertise on staff make this one worth the trip across town.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Wessex Hundred · Norfolk · Regional American
Gabriel Archer Tavern isn't a wine destination in the traditional sense — it's a living showcase for one Virginia producer, and within that lane it's well worth your time. Send a friend here if they want to understand what Virginia wine actually tastes like; skip it if they need options.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Eagle Ranch · Vail · American
The Wild Sage is your dependable neighborhood spot in Eagle Ranch — the wine list won't blow your mind, but it won't embarrass you at dinner either. Watch the markups on the top-shelf Napa bottles and stick to the mid-range, and you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront · Traverse City · American
Warehouse Kitchen + Cork won't win any awards for depth or ambition, but it plays its hand honestly — fair prices, solid local representation, and a full by-the-glass program that respects your wallet. If you're in Traverse City and want a glass of something local with a water view, this works.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Truckee · Truckee · American
Sunnyside is a casual lodge restaurant wearing a serious wine list under its flannel — the markup is steep and it won't win any awards for staff expertise, but the producer lineup is legitimately impressive for where you're sitting. If you're already at the lake, this is absolutely worth ordering a real bottle.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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