Milwaukee Burger Company - Madison
Order the milkshake, skip the wine list
North Sherman Avenue · Madison · American Burger Joint · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 28, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list here is less a list and more a footnote — a couple of Barefoot bottles tucked beneath a beer menu that actually has something to say. This is a burger joint that knows it's a burger joint, which we respect, but someone still made the call to offer wine and we have to talk about it.
Selection Deep Dive
There's no region focus, no producer story, no attempt at curation — just Barefoot Chardonnay and Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc holding down the fort. Barefoot is a perfectly legal wine, but it's also available at every gas station in Wisconsin for under eight dollars a bottle. When a restaurant's entire wine program can be summarized in two SKUs from a grocery store shelf, the program isn't really a program — it's an afterthought. There are no reds, no bubbles, no interesting additions, nothing that suggests anyone thought about this for more than five minutes.
By the Glass
You're looking at two pours, max — and both are Barefoot. The glass options mirror the bottle options because the bottle options are the glass options. There's no rotation, no seasonal swap, no sign this will ever change.
Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc — Unknown
If you're committed to ordering wine here — and we'd gently ask why — the Sauvignon Blanc at least has enough acidity to cut through a greasy burger without completely disappearing. It's the lesser bad option, which is the nicest thing we can say.
Barefoot Chardonnay
It's not hidden and it's not a gem, but the Chardonnay is inoffensive enough that if someone at your table insists on wine while everyone else drinks beer, this won't ruin the night. Manage expectations accordingly.
Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc
Look, skip both of them. You're at a burger joint with a solid beer list. Order a local craft beer, order a milkshake, order literally anything else on the drinks menu — the wine is here in name only.
Barefoot Chardonnay + Cheese Curds
If you must, the lightly oaked Chardonnay won't completely embarrass itself next to fried cheese curds. The fat in the curds softens the wine's flatness, and the wine's mild sweetness plays along. It's the blind leading the blind, but it works in a pinch.
❌ The Bottom Line
Milwaukee Burger Company is genuinely good at being a burger restaurant — the wine program is not part of that success story. Drink the beer, eat the burger, leave the Barefoot for someone else.
Comments
Get the Weekly Wingman
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.