Finger Lakes Roots, Napa Ambitions, Solid Execution
Downtown / South Main Street · Canandaigua · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 26, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Nick's Chophouse & Wine & Martini Bar’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Nick's comes out swinging with a name that promises both chops and wine cred — and the list mostly delivers on the first half of that deal. At 26 labels, this isn't a deep cellar, but it reads like someone made real decisions rather than just calling a Sysco rep. The Finger Lakes local picks are a nice touch for upstate New York.
The list leans heavily California — Meiomi, Josh Cellars, La Crema, Caymus, Franciscan, Stag's Leap — which is exactly what a chophouse crowd expects and exactly what keeps things from getting interesting. There are bright spots: Volpaia Chianti Classico, Val di Suga Brunello, Buglioni Valpolicella Superiore, and the Chateau des Laurets Puisseguin-Saint-Emilion show some genuine Old World intention. The two Finger Lakes Rieslings — Dr. Konstantin Frank and Lamoreaux Landing — are the most regionally honest thing on the list and deserve more attention than they'll probably get. Bergstrom Cumberland Reserve Pinot Noir from Willamette is a legitimate upgrade pick that stands out in a sea of safe California labels.
Fourteen by-the-glass options at $9–$13 is a respectable spread for a restaurant this size, and the price ceiling is reasonable for an upscale chophouse in upstate New York. The selections skew toward crowd-pleaser territory — Kim Crawford, Kendall Jackson, Josh Cellars — so don't expect anything adventurous by the glass. If you're looking for something with a pulse, ask whether the Buglioni or either Riesling is available by the pour.
Franciscan Napa Cabernet Sauvignon — $48/bottle
Franciscan Estate consistently punches above its weight in Napa Cab territory — structured, fruit-forward, and food-friendly with a steak. At $48, it's one of the more honest asks on the list compared to the Caymus at $150, which will make your wallet cry without dramatically improving your evening.
Buglioni L'Imperfetto Valpolicella Superiore Classico
Most tables here will gravitate straight to a Cab, but this Valpolicella from the Veneto is the move if you want something with more complexity and a little dirt under its fingernails. Valpolicella Superiore has more structure and depth than the name suggests to most American diners, and Buglioni makes a genuinely good one. Order it and feel smarter than everyone else at the table.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
At $150 a bottle, Caymus is the wine equivalent of a greatest-hits album — everyone knows it, it's everywhere, and you're paying a massive premium for the brand recognition. Retail on Caymus Napa hovers around $80–$85, making this roughly a 1.8x markup on a wine that was already trading on name rather than quality. The Franciscan or Stag's Leap gets you further.
Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino + Prime ribeye
Brunello and a well-marbled ribeye is one of the most reliable combinations in the chophouse playbook — the wine's high acidity and firm tannins cut through the fat, and the earthy Sangiovese character plays off the char on the meat. Val di Suga makes a solid, age-worthy Brunello and it's the most serious bottle on this list. If you're splurging on the steak, match it.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Nick's is a perfectly respectable chophouse wine list for Canandaigua — locals get two solid Finger Lakes Rieslings, steak lovers get their Napa Cabs, and there's enough Italian depth to keep things from being totally predictable. The markups on the trophy bottles are aggressive, but play it smart and you'll drink well.
South Main Street / lakefront · Canandaigua · Steakhouse and seafood with American fine dining
Nolan's is a dependable lakeside wine list that does right by its guests without taking any real risks — the Finger Lakes locals are a genuine highlight worth seeking out. Send a friend here for the view and the steak; tell them to order the Heron Hill.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Canandaigua · Canandaigua · Spanish tapas and wine bar
Pintxo is punching well above its weight class for a small-city wine bar, and the Spanish regional focus gives it a genuine identity that most places never find. If you're anywhere near the Finger Lakes and care even a little about wine, this one's worth the detour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Canandaigua Lake waterfront · Canandaigua · Hotel Restaurant / American
Rose Tavern is a perfectly pleasant place to drink wine if you're already staying at The Lake House — the setting does a lot of the work. But if you're driving in specifically for the wine list, you'd do better hitting a dedicated Finger Lakes tasting room down the road.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Canandaigua Lake waterfront · Canandaigua · Upscale Contemporary American / Event Dining
The Lake House is a beautiful place to get married or host a corporate dinner, but the wine program is clearly an afterthought — a functional, inoffensive list designed to move bottles at events, not to excite anyone. If you're eating here, drink the Finger Lakes options and leave the Meomi alone.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Canandaigua Lake waterfront · Canandaigua · Hotel Restaurant / American
Rose Tavern isn't trying to be a destination wine bar, but it's got the bones of one — a sommelier, a thoughtful local-first list, and a glass program that lets you actually explore it. Markups on the name brands are punishing, but stick to the Finger Lakes section and you're drinking well at a lake view that most wine lists couldn't dream of.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Lafayette Street · Canandaigua · Indian
Flavors isn't a wine destination, but it's not pretending to be one either — the list is honest, the prices are fair, and the Fox Run Riesling alone justifies ordering a bottle. Come for the food, drink the Riesling, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ali'i Drive / Waterfront · Kailua-Kona · Steakhouse
This is a chain wine program doing exactly what corporate tells it to — nothing more, nothing less. If you're in Kailua-Kona for the wine, you're in the wrong zip code and definitely the wrong restaurant.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Route 28/Thruway Corridor · Kingston · Steakhouse
This is a chain wine list doing exactly what chain wine lists do: minimum effort, maximum familiarity, corporate pricing. Order the steak, grab a beer, or spring for the Chateau Ste. Michelle if you need something in a glass.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
University Town Centre · Morgantown · Steakhouse
The wine program at Outback Morgantown exists to fill a line on the menu, not to enhance your dinner. Order the steak, enjoy the Bloomin' Onion, and if you must drink wine, grab the J. Lohr Cab and make peace with it.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.