Finger Lakes Roots, Napa Ambitions, Solid Execution
Downtown / South Main Street · Canandaigua · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 26, 2026 · How we review
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 →
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 · 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
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
Downtown Canandaigua · Canandaigua · Bar / Pub / Pizza / American
Wally's has no business having a 91-bottle wine list, and yet here we are. It's not a wine destination, but if you're grabbing a late slice and want something better than house red in a tumbler, this place will surprise you.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Canandaigua · Canandaigua · Bistro / Italian
Il Posto is doing honest, focused work on a wine list that respects its Italian menu without overcrowding the table. The markups lean steep at the top end and we want more Finger Lakes on a list that's literally in the Finger Lakes — but for a neighborhood bistro in downtown Canandaigua, this is a solid night out.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Charlotte · Steakhouse
The Palm Charlotte's wine list is a six-bottle natural wine curio hiding inside a chain steakhouse, and it's more interesting than it has any right to be. The Crochet Sancerre at $23 alone is worth the detour. Don't expect breadth, staff guidance, or a by-the-glass program worth writing home about — but if you know what you're looking at, this short list punches well above its weight.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Riverwalk · San Antonio · Steakhouse
Brenner's on the Riverwalk punches above the average tourist-strip steakhouse — 159 labels with real dessert wine depth and some genuine international range is nothing to dismiss. Pricing is likely steep given the location, and the list skews traditional, but if you know what you're looking for, there's something worth ordering here. Go in with a plan, skip the obvious bottles, and don't leave without looking at the dessert wine section.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Las Vegas · Steakhouse
Strip House's all-by-the-glass format is smart for a Vegas crowd that wants to explore without committing, and the list has more personality than most hotel steakhouses — the Testamatta and the Lingua Franca Chardonnay prove someone made actual choices here. Prices skew high at the top end, but the $15–$25 tier offers genuine quality. Come for the steak, stay for the glass pours, and skip the Kosta Browne unless the night calls for it.
Solid Range
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.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
