Great Burgers, Forget the Wine List
South · Rochester · American bar and grill, burgers
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 5, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Newt's South’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walk into Newt's South and the vibe is immediately clear: this is a burger-and-beer joint that happens to have wine on the menu. The wine list reads like a gas station shelf — Copper Ridge, Barefoot, Woodbridge — and it's not trying to be anything else. That's fine, honestly, but you should know what you're walking into.
The selection is almost entirely California mass-market brands: Copper Ridge Chardonnay and Cabernet, Barefoot Moscato, Woodbridge Chardonnay and Cabernet, and Josh Cabernet Sauvignon as the one name-brand upgrade. There's no regional exploration, no Old World presence, no rosé or sparkling to speak of. If you're looking for anything beyond the grocery store aisle basics, this list has nothing for you. Josh Cab is as adventurous as it gets, and that's being generous.
Everything is by the glass — that's essentially the whole program. Pours land at $7 across the board, which is remarkably cheap for a sit-down spot. The rotation doesn't appear to change; what's on the menu stays on the menu, season after season.
Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon NV — $7
At $7 a glass for a bottle that retails at the same price, you're essentially drinking at cost. It's nothing special, but it's honest and cheap, and on a Wednesday it's $3.50.
Josh Cabernet Sauvignon
By the standards of this list, Josh Cab is a genuine step up — it's a polished, consistent California Cab that most people at this bar walk right past in favor of a beer. At Newt's, it's the closest thing to a real wine pick.
Barefoot Moscato NV
Even at $7 it's hard to justify — cloying, sweet, and completely out of place next to a half-pound burger. Save the glass pour for something that can at least cut through the fat.
Josh Cabernet Sauvignon + Specialty half-pound burger
A bold, fruit-forward California Cab has enough structure to stand up to a greasy, char-edged half-pound patty. It's not a sommelier's dream pairing, but it works, and it's the best move on this list.
Wednesday — Half-off all wine by the glass every Wednesday, typically paired with happy hour rail drinks and beer specials. At $3.50 a glass, the math gets hard to argue with.
The Bottom Line
Newt's South is not a wine destination — it's a great burger bar that happens to sell wine at suspiciously cheap prices. Come for the food, order a beer, and if you must have wine, hit it on a Wednesday when the glasses drop to under four bucks.
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
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Small but Thoughtful
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Basic Stemmed
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Occasional
Acceptable
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Small but Thoughtful
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Basic Stemmed
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Small but Thoughtful
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Small but Thoughtful
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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.
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