Concert Night Wine, Nothing More
Downtown Newark · Newark · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 15, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Nico Kitchen + Bar’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Nico Kitchen + Bar — tucked inside NJPAC — reads exactly like what it is: a captive-audience list built for people who need a glass before the curtain goes up. Eleven labels, nearly all of them available by the glass, and every single one a name you've seen at a grocery store end cap. There's nothing offensive here, but there's nothing to get excited about either.
The list leans almost entirely on major commercial producers — Meiomi, Ruffino Lumina, Hess Shirtail, Conundrum — names that move volume and generate zero curiosity. There's a token nod to bubbles with Domaine Chandon and Moët, and the Chapoutier Belleruche Rosé is technically the most interesting producer on the list, though it's the entry-level Rhône blend rather than anything from their serious portfolio. The McBride Sisters Sauvignon Blanc is a nice touch for representation, but the overall selection makes no effort to reflect the diverse Newark dining scene or introduce guests to anything new. Gaps are everywhere: no domestic Pinot that isn't Meiomi, no old-world reds, no skin-contact wines, no local New Jersey producers.
Ten of eleven bottles are available by the glass, which sounds generous until you realize the list is only eleven bottles deep — so this is basically just the whole list poured one glass at a time. Prices run $11 to $16 a glass, which is fair for Newark, and the Domaine Chandon Brut at $16 is the top-end pour. Rotation appears nonexistent; this list feels like it hasn't changed since opening night.
Chapoutier Belleruche Rosé — $13/glass
Chapoutier is a legitimate Rhône producer, and even their entry-level Belleruche is better-made than most rosés that share shelf space with it. At $13 a glass, it's the one pour on this list that has a real winemaker behind it.
Highlands 41 Black Granite Red Blend
It's the cheapest red on the list at $12 a glass and most people will skip right past it for the Hess Cab, but a red blend at this price point often over-delivers on fruit and body — worth a try if you want something to sip through a long intermission.
Moët Chandon Imperial Brut
At $33 a bottle — which appears to be the only bottle price on the menu — you might think this is a deal. It's not. Moët Imperial is a volume-production NV Champagne that retails for around $45-55, meaning you're essentially paying close to retail while someone else does the pouring. The Domaine Chandon at $16 a glass is a smarter play if bubbles are the move.
Conundrum White Blend + Charcuterie Board
Conundrum's white blend — Chardonnay, Muscat, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier — is a crowd-pleaser precisely because it's slightly aromatic and off-dry. That plays well against salty cured meats and any fruit accents on a charcuterie spread, making it one of the more useful pours on an otherwise one-note list.
The Bottom Line
Nico is a pre-show pitstop, not a wine destination — the list exists to get a glass in your hand before you head into the auditorium, and it does exactly that and nothing more. Order the Chapoutier Rosé, enjoy the show, and don't expect the wine program to be part of the evening's highlight reel.
Newark · Newark · Spanish
Spanish Tavern is a Newark institution worth visiting for the atmosphere and the paella, but the wine program doesn't quite match the room's ambitions. Drink something Spanish, keep it simple, and let the food carry the night.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Newark · Newark · Wine Bar / Small Plates
Consigliere is one of Newark's most interesting wine rooms precisely because it's not trying to be a conventional wine bar — the African diaspora focus and soundtrack-first atmosphere make it a genuine Wild Card worth the trip. If you can handle some ambiguity on the list and lean into the experience, it punches well above its weight.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Newark Liberty International Airport · Newark · Wine Bar / Light Bites
Oeno is a legitimately surprising wine program stranded inside one of America's least glamorous airports — the Champagne depth is real, the grower selections are credible, and it earns its Wild Card badge just by existing here. Markups are steep and the setting undercuts the wine, but if you've got a long layover and a taste for grower Champagne, this is where you should be.
Surprising Depth
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newark · Portuguese / Steakhouse
Fernandes Steakhouse II isn't a wine destination, but the Portuguese section of the list gives it a genuine identity that most neighborhood steakhouses completely lack. Come for the grilled meat, order something from Portugal, and leave the Dom Pérignon for someone else's table.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ironbound · Newark · Portuguese / Seafood
Sol Mar isn't a destination wine list, but it's an honest one — Portuguese-focused, reasonably priced, and built to serve food that actually needs wine alongside it. Send a friend here for the whole experience; just tell them to order a bottle of something white and cold from the Douro.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Newark · Newark · Italian tapas / wine bar
Spuntino earns its Wild Card badge by building a genuinely interesting dessert wine and port program inside what looks like a casual Italian tapas spot — that Vin Santo lineup alone is worth the trip. If you're bringing someone who wants to explore wine without committing to a full bottle, the flights make this one of the better low-stakes wine education stops in the area.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
· Yountville · New American
The Charter Oak's wine program is a quiet act of restraint in a town that usually goes big or goes home. Eighteen glasses, fair prices, and enough range to reward curiosity — the Gamay alone is worth the detour. If you're eating in Yountville and don't want to spend your evening navigating a 200-bottle list or getting upsold into triple-digit Cab territory, this is your room.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Vail · New American
Larkspur has the bones of a Reliable — a thoughtful regional spread, a polished dining room, and a kitchen putting out serious plates like the Creekstone Farms strip loin and Ahi tuna crudo that deserve equally serious wine. We just don't have enough list detail to hand you a confident pick or warn you off a specific bottle. If you're heading here, ask the server what's drinking well right now and set a firm price ceiling before you open the book — Vail markups are real and they are not shy.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Vail · New American
Harvest clears the bar that most ski town wine lists don't even bother approaching — there are real producers, genuine regional diversity, and a by-the-glass program with actual depth. Markups skew steep, as expected in Vail, but the J.L. Chave and the Madeira show that someone on staff is paying attention. If you're eating here, don't default to whatever's loudest on the list — dig into the by-the-glass section and you'll be rewarded.
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.
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