Thoughtful Pours Where Sushi Meets Sancerre
· Portsmouth · Japanese / Sushi · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 20, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Nichinan’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Fifteen bottles is a short list, but Nichinan's wine program reads like someone actually thought about what goes with raw fish and delicate Japanese flavors — not just grabbed the usual restaurant standbys. There's a Grüner Veltliner, a Soave Classico, and a Sancerre on here, which is more than most sushi spots in New Hampshire can say. It's compact, but it's curated.
The list skews intelligently toward whites and lighter reds that actually make sense next to sushi and Japanese cuisine — Pieropan's Soave Classico and Landhaus Mayer's Grüner Veltliner are genuinely smart calls, both high-acid, food-forward wines that most diners will walk right past in favor of the Cline Chardonnay. The red side is thin but not lazy: Louis Jadot Burgundy, a Côtes du Rhône from Brotte, and the Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Châteauneuf-du-Pape show some Old World ambition. The Robert Sinskey P.O.V. Red Blend and a Chilean Cabernet from Tahuan round things out on the New World side. Gaps are real — no sake-adjacent pairings, no orange wine, and Champagne representation is a single Nicolas Feuillatte — but within 15 labels, they're doing more than most.
Eleven of fifteen bottles are available by the glass, which is a genuinely generous ratio and makes this a strong by-the-glass destination for casual sushi dinners. Prices run $14–$20 per glass, with the Pieropan Soave at $14 and Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne topping out at $20. No obvious rotation program, but the breadth of the glass list means you can work through white, pink, and red without committing to a bottle.
The Bottom Line
Nichinan's wine list is short but earns its keep — the presence of Pieropan, Grüner Veltliner, and Henri Bourgeois Sancerre tells you someone on staff understands that sushi and Chardonnay is not the only answer. Markups are fair across the board, and the by-the-glass selection is wide enough to keep the table happy without forcing a bottle. If you're in Portsmouth and want something better than the default wine-at-a-sushi-restaurant experience, this delivers.
· Portsmouth · Seafood & American
The Oar House wine list is a workmanlike effort — short, safe, and priced fairly for what it is. If you're coming for the seafood and want a glass of Albariño or a crisp Sauvignon Blanc to go with it, you'll be well served. Just don't come here expecting to be wowed by the wine program.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Portsmouth · New American / Tapas-Style
Moxy earns its Wild Card badge not because we can confirm every pour, but because the bones of the wine program — an intentional regional focus, a menu built for wine-friendly snacking, and a room that draws people back — suggest genuine effort. If you're in Portsmouth and want something more interesting than a safe Napa Cab next to your tapas, this is worth the reservation. Come in curious, ask the staff what they're excited about, and let the list surprise you.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Portsmouth · Italian-American
The Rosa isn't trying to reinvent the wine list — it's trying to serve its room well, and largely succeeds. Twenty-five by-the-glass options with Italian producers mixed alongside California staples makes this one of the more thoughtful pours in Portsmouth. If you're after wine-bar ambition, look elsewhere; if you want a reliable glass with your gnocchi without any drama, The Rosa delivers.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Portsmouth · Steakhouse
The Library Restaurant is a Wine Spectator award holder that plays it very, very safe — heavy California Chardonnay, a prestige Champagne tower, and markups that favor the house. If you're here for a special occasion and want to pop a Pol Roger at $125 or a Veuve at $155, it's a fine room for that. But if you're hoping to find something unexpected or feel like the wine program is working hard for you, this list isn't going to surprise you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
New Castle · Portsmouth · Hotel Restaurant / New American
Salt Kitchen & Bar is a perfectly adequate place to drink wine if you're already staying at the Wentworth, but we wouldn't recommend driving out to New Castle for the list. Order the local seafood, pick something coastal to drink, and enjoy the view — that's the real value here.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Market Street · Portsmouth · Italian
Dolce Vita is a reliable neighborhood wine bar with enough Italian depth to satisfy anyone who came to drink well with their dinner. The markups on the California heavy-hitters are a soft deterrent, but lean Italian and you'll leave happy.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Ogden · Japanese / Sushi
Tona earns its Wild Card badge not because the wine program is remarkable on its own, but because Tuesday half-price wine night at one of Utah's most decorated sushi spots is a genuinely great deal hiding in plain sight. Come for the sushi, stay for the midweek special — just don't come expecting a list that surprises you.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Newport News · Japanese / Sushi
Hayashi's wine list is exactly what it needs to be for a neighborhood sushi spot — fair prices, nothing weird, nothing special. Grab the Kung Fu Girl Riesling and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · Kingston · Japanese / Sushi
Sushi Makio's wine list is modest but functional, with honest pricing and a smart nod to Japanese wine options that most spots never bother with. We'd happily send a friend here for a low-key sushi night — just order the Yuzu Wine and leave the Cab alone.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
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.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
