California Sunshine in a Maryland Shore Town
Downtown Easton · Easton · Contemporary American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 25, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Out of the Fire’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Walking into Out of the Fire, the wine list reads like a confident California road trip — Paso Robles, Napa, Alexander Valley — which feels a little ambitious for a casual cafe on the Eastern Shore, but also kind of charming. The price range is accessible without being an afterthought, and the vibe of the room (eco-conscious, relaxed, stylish) matches a list that doesn't try too hard. It's not here to impress you with obscure growers; it's here to make sure you enjoy your pizza.
The list leans heavily California Cabernet, which makes sense for a crowd that skews toward the familiar — but it does mean you're not getting much in the way of regional diversity. Mount Veeder Cab from Napa anchors the top end with some genuine pedigree, while Brady's Cabernet Franc from Paso Robles is the one unexpected turn that hints at a list curator with a pulse. Whites, rosés, and international options remain largely a mystery from available data, which is a gap worth noting. The Edible Delmarva profile suggests the list is varietal-organized and producer-conscious, which at least signals some intentionality behind the selections.
Glass pours run $8–$15, which is genuinely reasonable for a sit-down restaurant with this caliber of food. We don't have the full BTG lineup confirmed, but the alcohol-to-go pricing suggests the in-house pours follow the same California-forward approach. At $8 entry, you're not going to cry over ordering a second glass to figure out what you want.
Daou 'Purity & Grace' Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 Paso Robles — $52
Daou consistently punches above its price class in Paso Robles, and 'Purity & Grace' is their approachable, polished tier — structured enough to feel serious, but not so tannic that it fights a wood-fired pizza. At this price point on a restaurant list, it's not a steal, but it's fair for what you're getting.
Brady Cabernet Franc Paso Robles
Everyone else at the table is ordering Cab Sauv, and that's fine — but Brady's Cabernet Franc is the pick for anyone who wants something with a little more lift and herb character. Cab Franc from Paso Robles is still flying under the radar nationally, and this is exactly the kind of bottle that rewards the curious diner.
Robert Mondavi Bourbon Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Bourbon barrel aging on a Cabernet is a marketing decision, not a winemaking one. The oak-on-oak treatment tends to flatten complexity and push the wine into novelty territory. There are better bottles on this list that don't need a gimmick to justify their price.
Brady Cabernet Franc Paso Robles + Vegan Hearth-Fired Pizza with Fire-Roasted Tomato, Smoked Onion, Roasted Mushrooms, and Olives
Cabernet Franc's herbal edge and softer tannins are a natural match for earthy roasted mushrooms and briny olives — the same combination that makes Loire Valley Cab Franc and pizza such a classic move. Brady's Paso version brings enough fruit weight to hold up to the fire-roasted tomato without overwhelming the vegetables.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Out of the Fire is a dependable wine stop in a town that doesn't have many — the California-focused list is a little one-note, but the pricing is honest and there are a few genuinely interesting bottles hiding in the lineup. Send a friend here for dinner, point them to the Cab Franc, and tell them to skip the bourbon barrel novelty act.
Downtown Easton · Easton · Roman-style pizza
Roma Alla Pala is absolutely worth visiting for the pizza — but the wine list is an afterthought with steep markups on recognizable grocery-store bottles. Order the Prosecco, focus on the food, and save the serious wine drinking for another night.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Royal Oak · Easton · Upscale New American with Global Influences
T at the General Store is a destination for the food first, and the wine list knows that — it's curated just enough to be useful without trying to steal the spotlight. Come on a Wednesday, order the LAN Crianza, and let the chef do the rest.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown Easton · Easton · Fusion (global/Asian-influenced American)
Tiger Lily won't win any awards for its wine program, but it earns its keep — fair prices, a thoughtful short list, and a few genuinely good picks buried in there for anyone willing to look past the Chardonnay. If you're eating here, drink the Eroica.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Easton · Easton · Authentic Northern Italian
Scossa is a legitimately good restaurant that happens to have a wine list more interested in Napa status symbols than in what's on the plate — but with the Brunello and Barbaresco hiding in there, and a strong by-the-glass count, there's enough to work with if you look past the obvious picks. Send your friends, but brief them first.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Easton · Easton · Regional
The Stewart is a genuine surprise on the Eastern Shore — a cocktail lounge with a brass-and-marble soul that quietly runs a Wine Spectator-recognized program with a real sommelier steering it. Hit it on a Wednesday and you've found one of the best wine deals in Maryland.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Easton · Easton · Australian, German
Kabinett is a genuine wild card — a glam little wine bar in a mid-size Pennsylvania city doing serious Austrian and German wine work that would hold its own in any major market. Send your friends, especially the ones who think they don't like Riesling.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Truckee · Truckee · Contemporary American
The Lodge surprises — in the best way — with a wine list that has no business being this considered at a neighborhood golf course restaurant in the Sierra. Markups creep toward steep on the prestige bottles, but the depth and range here beat 90% of similarly-priced mountain dining rooms. Worth the detour if you're in Truckee and want something more than a grocery store Cabernet with your ribeye.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Stateline / Edgewood Tahoe Resort · South Lake Tahoe · Contemporary American
Edgewood Tahoe is a reliable wine destination for resort dining — the sommelier keeps the program honest, the glass options are solid, and the California heavyweights on the bottle list deliver. Just go in knowing you're paying for the view as much as the wine, and budget accordingly.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Downtown / A Street · Bentonville · Contemporary American
The Preacher's Son is the best wine list in Northwest Arkansas by a comfortable margin, and it would be a respectable list in most major cities. The markup keeps it from sainthood, but if you're eating here, you're already spending money — lean into the Rioja or the Rhône blanc and don't look back.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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