Great Jazz, Forgettable Wine List
Downtown / Maple Avenue · Saratoga Springs · Jazz Bar / Cocktail Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 20, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Nine Maple Avenue’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Nine Maple Avenue is clearly an afterthought — and honestly, that's fine, because this place is really about the jazz and the whiskey. What you get is a short, supermarket-shelf roster of recognizable names that won't offend anyone but won't excite anyone either. If you came here for wine, you may have made a wrong turn.
The list runs about 10-20 bottles with no real regional identity — California, Italy, New Zealand, Washington, and France all show up, but none with any depth. You've got Josh Cellars Pinot Noir sitting next to Chateau D'Esclans Rosé, which is a little like finding a Michelin-starred dish on the same menu as a microwave burrito. There's no old-world exploration, no interesting producers, no natural wine, nothing that suggests anyone curating this list spent more than twenty minutes on it. The one bright spot is the Chateau D'Esclans Whispering Angel-adjacent Côtes de Provence Rosé, which at least signals someone knows what a wine list looks like.
Nine pours by the glass in the $8–$14 range — that's actually a reasonable glass-to-bottle ratio for a small list, and the pricing won't leave a mark. The problem is the selection reads like the wine aisle at a mid-tier grocery store: MezzaCorona Pinot Grigio, Stimson Estate Chardonnay, Belle Ambiance Cab. These are functional wines, not destination wines. Rotate through them quickly and pivot to the cocktail menu.
Chateau D'Esclans Cotes de Provence Rosé — $14
It's the only wine on this list with genuine pedigree. D'Esclans makes Whispering Angel — one of the most recognizable Provençal rosés in the world — and at $14 a glass in a jazz bar, you're getting something worth drinking.
MezzaCorona Pinot Grigio Alto Adige
Most people reach for Pinot Grigio and get something flat and forgettable, but MezzaCorona's Alto Adige bottling actually has alpine lift and some actual flavor. It's quietly the most food-friendly wine on this list.
Belle Ambiance Cabernet Sauvignon California
This is a mass-production California Cab that retails for around $8 a bottle. Even at bar pricing, you're paying a significant premium for something with no story and no substance. The Joseph Carr Napa Cab at least has a bit more going on.
Chateau D'Esclans Cotes de Provence Rosé + Charcuterie or light bites
Nine Maple is more of a drinks-and-vibe spot than a food destination, but if you're grazing on something light while the band plays, the dry, strawberry-tinged Provence rosé keeps things effortless without competing with the music.
❌ The Bottom Line
Come to Nine Maple Avenue for the live jazz, the whiskey program, and the atmosphere — the wine list is a placeholder, not a reason to visit. If you're committed to ordering wine, grab the Château D'Esclans Rosé and enjoy the music.
Downtown · Saratoga Springs · Tuscan Italian
Forno Bistro isn't a destination wine list, but it's a fair and functional one that respects your wallet — especially on Mondays when half-price bottles make a $30 Chianti feel like a genuine gift. Send your friends here for a fun dinner; just don't send the ones who want to talk about terroir.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
West Side / Route 50 Area · Saratoga Springs · Wine Bar and Bistro
If you're in Saratoga and want an honest, unpretentious look at what the Finger Lakes can do, Thirsty Owl earns the stop — especially on the patio in the warmer months. Just go in knowing this is a winery showcase, not a global wine bar, and you'll leave happy.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Side / Route 29 · Saratoga Springs · Winery with American Fare / Wood-Fired Pizza
The Saratoga Winery is a legitimate Wild Card: a single-producer list of cold-hardy New York grapes served in an Adirondack tasting room with live music and wood-fired pizza. It's not a destination for serious wine exploration, but it's a genuinely fun, low-stakes way to drink something you've never tried before.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Proper
Downtown · Saratoga Springs · Upscale New American
15 Church has the bones of a genuinely good wine program — the range is there, the interesting picks exist — but the pricing is aggressive enough that you'll spend more time doing mental math than enjoying your glass. Stick to the Old World bottles and avoid anything with a recognizable California label.
Solid Range
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Race Course / Union Avenue · Saratoga Springs · American, trackside dining
Come for the races, stay for the atmosphere, but don't come here for the wine. If you need something in a glass to toast a winner, grab the Champagne and leave it at that.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Caroline Street · Saratoga Springs · Bar Food / American Pub Fare
Come for the rooftop, stay for the beer — because the wine list is an afterthought and everyone involved seems fine with that. If wine is on your agenda tonight, this is not your stop.
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.