Finger Lakes local pride, California comfort zone
South Main Street / lakefront · Canandaigua · Steakhouse and seafood with American fine dining · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 27, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Nolan's on Canandaigua Lake’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 Nolan's is exactly what you'd expect from a polished lakeside steakhouse in upstate New York — recognizable labels, approachable prices, nothing that's going to make your palms sweat. What lifts it slightly above the usual resort-town formula is a genuine nod to the Finger Lakes producers sitting right in their backyard.
The 40-60 bottle list leans heavily on California — Simi, La Crema, Josh Cellars, Stag's Leap, The Prisoner — solid crowd-pleasers that any table will recognize and order without hesitation. There's a Napa tier anchored by Mount Veeder and Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Artemis, which gives the list some actual ambition at the top end. The Finger Lakes representation is small but meaningful: Heron Hill Semi Dry Riesling and Fox Run Unoaked Chardonnay show they're paying at least some attention to their neighbors. Gaps are real — no Burgundy, no Rhône, no serious Italian beyond a Barone Fini Pinot Grigio — but this list isn't pretending to be something it's not.
The by-the-glass program runs 12-16 options in the $9-$16 range, which is honest pricing for a fine dining room on a lake in peak tourist territory. Rotation appears static rather than seasonal, and there's no evidence of a chalk board special or a weekly pour that changes things up. You'll find what you need, but don't expect to be surprised.
Fox Run Unoaked Chardonnay — $36–$45 (estimated bottle)
A Keuka Lake Chardonnay made without oak influence — cleaner, crisper, and more food-friendly than most of the California Chardonnay competition on this list. Ordering it here also means you're drinking local on a lake that's practically within sight of the vineyard, which is hard to argue with.
Heron Hill Semi Dry Riesling
Most diners at a steakhouse will scroll right past a semi-dry Riesling without a second look. That's their loss. Heron Hill's version from Keuka Lake has the acid to cut through a butter-basted steak and enough residual sugar to balance bold seasoning. It's the most interesting bottle on the list and the one that actually tells you where you are.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
It's fine. It's also the wine your office ordered at the last holiday party. At a lakeside fine dining spot with Stag's Leap and Mount Veeder on the same list, paying for the Josh is a lateral move at best. Spend a few dollars more and get something with actual character.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon + Certified Angus Beef steak
The Artemis is the kind of Napa Cab that was built for exactly this scenario — dark fruit, enough structure to match a well-marbled cut, and the finish to carry you through the last bite. It's the most obvious pairing on the menu, but it's obvious because it works.
✔️ The Bottom Line
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.
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
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
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