Lakeside pours where Ohio meets the unexpected
Portage Lakes / Green · Akron · Winery and wine bar with American pub fare · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 29, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You're sitting on a deck overlooking Portage Lakes, and the wine list lands in front of you — 26 labels split between house-made Ohio wines and a curated guest list of recognizable names. It's not trying to be a wine bar in the traditional sense, but it's genuinely trying, which counts for a lot out here. The casual nautical vibe and the water views do a lot of heavy lifting, and the list earns its spot at the table.
The 13 house wines are the soul of this list — locally produced and the reason you actually came. On the guest side, the picks skew toward crowd-pleasing brands: Butter Chardonnay, Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Decoy Merlot, and 7 Deadly Zins are all present and accounted for. There's a pleasant surprise in Piatelli Reserve Malbec and Ferrari-Carano Siena Red Blend, which punch above the usual bar-list expectations. Stags Leap Cabernet at $32 a bottle is the most interesting call on the list — that's a legitimately good wine at a price that doesn't insult you.
Twenty-three by-the-glass options is a strong number for a lakeside winery-pub, and the $6.50–$10 price range keeps things accessible. Nearly everything on the bottle list is available by the glass, which means you can graze through a few pours without committing to a full bottle — smart setup for a casual afternoon on the water. The rosé gets its own standalone slot, which we appreciate.
Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon — $32/bottle
Stags Leap retails around $20-25 at most shops, which makes a $32 restaurant pour genuinely fair — especially for a Napa Cab at a lakeside pub in Akron. Order this before someone else does.
Piatelli Reserve Malbec
Everyone's reaching for the Decoy Merlot out of habit, but the Piatelli Reserve Malbec from Mendoza is the sleeper on this list — richer, more interesting, and the kind of bottle that makes the charcuterie board disappear faster.
Butter Chardonnay
At $30 a bottle, you're paying restaurant price for something that's become a grocery store staple. It's fine wine, but it's everywhere — and the house Chardonnay almost certainly tells a more interesting local story for less.
Ferrari-Carano Siena Red Blend + Flatbread Pizza
The Siena is a Sangiovese-forward Tuscan blend with enough acidity and body to stand up to a cheesy, savory flatbread without drowning it. It's the most food-friendly wine on the guest list, and it earns its $36 ask in this context.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Nauti Vine is a Wild Card in the best way — you don't expect to find Stags Leap and Ferrari-Carano sharing a list with locally-made Ohio wines at a lakeside pub, but here we are. Come for the views, stay for the surprisingly decent wine program, and maybe skip the Butter.
Montrose / Fairlawn · Akron · Seafood
Come for the seafood — the Shrimp & Grits and Crab Cake have genuine fans — but come on a Tuesday when the bottles are half off, because that's the only time the wine program makes financial sense. Any other night, order a cocktail.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
East Akron · Akron · Japanese / Hibachi
Hibachi Japan's wine list isn't going to make anyone's bucket list, but it's priced fairly, covers the basics, and won't embarrass you on date night. Order the Riesling or Pinot Gris, enjoy the show, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Montrose / Fairlawn · Akron · Seafood
Bonefish Grill Fairlawn won't give you a wine moment worth texting about, but it won't rip you off either — and in the chain restaurant landscape, that clears the bar. Show up during Social Hour, grab a Kim Crawford, and focus on the fish.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Montrose / Fairlawn · Akron · Family American
Yours Truly is a solid diner doing diner things — the wine list is an afterthought, and that's fine, because you're probably here for the eggs anyway. Order the Prosecco or a Riesling, skip the red blends, and put your energy into the food.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Wadsworth · Akron · Steakhouse, American
Circle L is a genuine wine-list overachiever hiding in plain sight off I-76 — the Thursday bottle discount night alone is worth putting in your calendar. Send your wine-curious friends here; just make sure they don't show up on a Wednesday.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Wadsworth · Akron · American Upscale
Galaxy's Wine Room is the best wine program in the Akron orbit, and it's not particularly close — but the steep markups and thin by-the-glass selection hold it back from true destination status. Come with a budget, order a bottle, and skip the sticker shock on the Napa end of the list.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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