Finger Lakes Address, California Cab State of Mind
Downtown Canandaigua · Canandaigua · Chophouse / 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
The wine list at Nick's is exactly what you'd expect to find at a well-intentioned steakhouse in a small New York lakeside town — familiar labels, safe bets, and a heavy California lean. It's not trying to challenge you, and it doesn't. What it does do is give you something decent to drink with a ribeye, which, honestly, is the job.
Twenty-three bottles isn't a deep cellar, but Nick's does sneak in a few names worth noting. Bergstrom Cumberland Reserve from Willamette, a Val di Suga Brunello, and a Volpaia Chianti Classico suggest someone on the buying side has at least glanced beyond the grocery store aisle. That said, the backbone of this list is Josh Cellars, Meiomi, Caymus, and Kendall Jackson — brands that move volume at every mid-range steakhouse in America. The lone local shoutout is Dr. Konstantin Frank's Semi-Dry Riesling from Seneca Lake, which feels almost apologetic given that Nick's is sitting smack in the middle of one of the most exciting Riesling regions in the country. One local producer is not a Finger Lakes wine program.
Fourteen pours by the glass is a respectable count for a 23-bottle list, which means most of what they have is available without committing to a bottle. The glass lineup skews heavily toward crowd-pleasing California reds and basic whites — Kim Crawford, Kendall Jackson, Josh Cabernet. Nothing here is going to surprise you, but you won't be stuck with the house Woodbridge unless you're watching the budget.
Volpaia Chianti Classico — Not listed — bottle price unavailable
Volpaia is a serious Chianti producer with real estate in Radda in Chianti, and their Classico consistently drinks above its weight. On a list dominated by California fruit bombs, this is the most food-friendly, terroir-driven bottle available — made for a Prime Rib or the French Onion Soup without bullying either.
Buglioni L'Imperfetto Valpolicella Superiore Classico
Most people at a chophouse are reaching for the Caymus or the Stag's Leap without a second thought. The Buglioni L'Imperfetto is a Valpolicella Superiore Classico from a small family estate in the Veneto — earthy, slightly wild, with the kind of dark cherry and dried herb character that actually makes red meat taste better. It's the most interesting bottle on this list and it will get passed over every single night.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
At $150 a bottle, Caymus is doing what Caymus always does — charging a premium for a brand that retail shoppers can find for $70-$80 at any Total Wine. The wine itself is fine, but you're paying for the name recognition, not the quality. The Bergstrom Cumberland or the Brunello give you more actual wine for your money.
Bergstrom Cumberland Reserve Pinot Noir + Surf & Turf
Bergstrom's Cumberland is a serious Willamette Valley Pinot with enough structure for the beef side and enough finesse not to steamroll the seafood. It's one of the few bottles on this list with the versatility to bridge both halves of a Surf & Turf without picking a fight with either.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Nick's is a reliable steakhouse wine list in a town that could be doing something far more interesting with its Finger Lakes backyard. Come for the ribeye, drink the Buglioni, and try not to think too hard about the Caymus markup.
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
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