Wine Wednesday Saves an Otherwise Resort List
Clearwater Beach · Clearwater · Asian Fusion / Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 6, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Ocean Hai reads exactly like you'd expect from a polished Wyndham Grand property on the water — safe, familiar labels that look great on a menu but won't surprise anyone who's been to a resort in the last decade. It's well-organized and the setting is genuinely beautiful, but the list is clearly built to move product, not to spark curiosity. That said, Wine Wednesday changes the math considerably.
Roughly 50–80 bottles cover the expected bases: California Cabs and Chards anchor the domestic side, with international representation that's broad but shallow — think Santa Margherita and Kim Crawford doing the heavy lifting. There's no real regional adventurousness here; you won't find a Grüner Veltliner or an Etna Bianco sneaking in to complement the Asian-fusion menu. The Graham's Port selections are a genuine bright spot, suggesting someone in the building thought about the full dinner arc. Beyond that, this is a list built for hotel guests who want something recognizable, not for wine hunters.
The by-the-glass program runs approximately 10–18 options, which is a respectable count for a resort dining room. Expect the usual suspects — a California Chardonnay, a Sauvignon Blanc, something rosé — rotating without much fanfare. Nothing on the pour list is going to make you put your chopsticks down in amazement, but you won't be drinking bad wine either.
Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 2018 — $165
At 74% above retail, Silver Oak is actually the least-gouged bottle on this list in percentage terms. For a resort in peak tourist territory, that's as close to fair as it gets. If you're going to splurge on a bottle here, this is where your dollar does the most work.
Graham's 20 Year Tawny Reserve Porto
Most tables at a beachfront Asian-fusion spot aren't thinking about Port, and that's a mistake. A 20-year Tawny from Graham's alongside something like the Peking duck — with its lacquered, caramelized richness — is a genuinely interesting move that nobody at the next table will be making.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2023
At $44 a bottle for something you can grab at a gas station wine rack for $16, this is the list's worst value by a wide margin. It's a 175% markup on a wine that's perfectly fine but absolutely ubiquitous. Order literally anything else.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio Valdadige 2022 + Sushi and Sashimi Selections
Santa Margherita's Pinot Grigio is crisp, neutral, and citrus-forward — exactly what you want against clean raw fish. It doesn't compete, it just holds the door open. And at $52 with an 86% markup, it's one of the more fairly priced bottles on the list relative to what you're getting.
Wednesday — Wine Wednesday: select bottles offered at approximately half price in the dining room and lounge. Specific labels vary by week — ask your server what's on the half-price list before ordering.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Ocean Hai is a solid resort wine list doing resort wine list things — nothing revelatory, but nothing embarrassing. Come on a Wednesday, half-price a decent bottle, and enjoy the waterfront view without thinking too hard about what's in your glass.
Westshore · Clearwater · Fine-dining steakhouse
The Capital Grille is a reliable machine — the wine program is competent, well-staffed, and properly executed, but the markups are steep and the list plays it extremely safe. Send a friend here for a business dinner, but tell them to order Jordan before anyone at the table reaches for the Opus One.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Clearwater vicinity · Clearwater · Upscale steakhouse with seafood and extensive wine program
Fleming's is a reliable machine — excellent execution, real wine depth by-the-glass, staff that knows the list, and no surprises in a bad way. Just don't expect discovery; expect comfort, and budget accordingly for markup.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Indian Rocks Beach · Clearwater · Seafood / American
Guppy's won't win any awards for adventurous curation, but the list is fairly priced, thoughtfully stocked for a seafood crowd, and broad enough that everyone at the table finds something. Send a friend here for the grouper and tell them to drink the Cloudy Bay.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Belleair Bluffs · Clearwater · American Steakhouse
E&E Stakeout Grill is a perfectly decent neighborhood steakhouse wine list that asks too much on most nights — but Wine Wednesday flips the math entirely and makes this one of the better value plays in the Clearwater area. Come on a Wednesday, order the Chianti Classico, and you'll have zero complaints.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Clearwater Beach · Clearwater · Mediterranean and Mexican-inspired wine bar and bistro
This is the best wine program you're likely to find within walking distance of Clearwater Beach, and that's not faint praise — it's a genuine destination for the wine-curious crowd that usually has to settle for whatever's on draft. Wednesday's half-price U.S. bottle deal seals it: show up, order spaghetti, drink better than you planned.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
US-19 / East Clearwater · Clearwater · Italian
Carrabba's Clearwater is a solid, honest chain wine program — fair prices, recognizable producers, nothing offensive. Send a friend here if they want Italian comfort food and an easy bottle of Chianti; don't send them if they're hoping to find something worth talking about.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
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.