Great Jazz, Forgettable Wine List
Downtown / Maple Avenue · Saratoga Springs · Jazz Bar / Cocktail Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 20, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Nine Maple Avenue’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 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 · Casual Italian
Wheatfields is a reliable neighborhood Italian stop, and the wine list does exactly what it needs to — it covers the room without taking any risks. The Dr. Konstantin Frank Riesling and the Louis Jadot Mâcon Village are the two picks worth seeking out; everything else is competent filler at markups that could be friendlier. If you want to drink well here, order by the glass and go off the beaten path.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Saratoga Springs · Winery Bistro
Thirsty Owl Saratoga is a single-producer concept that leans all the way in, and if you're curious about Finger Lakes wines in a comfortable dining setting, it's a genuinely good place to learn the range. The wild card badge fits: you won't find the usual suspects here, but that's exactly the point. Go in knowing what you're signing up for and you'll walk out pleasantly educated.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Saratoga Springs · Italian / Pizzeria
Village Pizzeria's wine list is a pleasant surprise for a Saratoga Springs Italian spot — fair prices, a serious BTG count, and enough Italian-regional picks to reward the curious. It's not a destination wine list, but if you order the Lugana or the Vermentino instead of the default Pinot Grigio, you'll drink well without overthinking it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Saratoga Springs · New American / Fine Dining
Morgan & Co. has built a wine list that respects its guests without overcharging them — fair pricing, a meaningful by-the-glass selection, and enough off-the-beaten-path picks to reward the curious. It's not a destination wine list, but if you're in Saratoga Springs and want a reliable bottle alongside a fine dining meal, you're in good hands. Go for the Sancerre, take a flyer on the Falanghina, and let someone else order the Rombauer.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Saratoga Springs · Italian
Noah's Italian made a bold structural call — every wine by the glass, no exceptions — and the Italian-focused selection backs it up with real producers like Ratti, Tornatorre, and Buglioni rather than the usual suspects. We don't know what's on the plate or who's pouring, but on the strength of the wine list alone, this is worth a visit if you're in Saratoga Springs and want to drink Italian wine without committing to a full bottle.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Saratoga Springs · Winery tasting room / light bites
Adirondack Winery isn't trying to be a destination wine list — it's a tasting room that wants you to leave with a bottle of something you didn't know was made in New York. The pricing is genuinely fair across all 36 labels, the Baco Noir and Cab Franc give curious drinkers something worth lingering on, and the Meritage 2019 at $44.99 tops out the range without gouging anyone. If you're passing through the Lake George area and curious about what northeastern New York actually grows, this is worth the stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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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