Fifty-percent off bottles? Say less.
Cocoa Village · Melbourne · Seafood and Raw Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 12, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Oyster Shooters Raw Bar & Grill’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Oyster Shooters is exactly what you'd expect from a no-fuss raw bar in Cocoa Village — short, approachable, and thoroughly dominated by one producer. It doesn't try to be a wine destination, but Thursday nights flip the script hard enough to earn a second look.
The list leans almost entirely on Oyster Bay from Marlborough, New Zealand — Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Pinot Noir. It's a one-brand show, which means zero discovery and zero risk. That said, Oyster Bay is competently made, widely liked, and if you're here for char-broiled oysters and cold beer, a clean Marlborough Sauv Blanc isn't a wrong answer. The regional gap is glaring — no California, no France, no Italy — but this isn't a wine bar and it doesn't pretend to be.
By-the-glass options appear to cover the full Oyster Bay lineup, which gives you five workable pours without much deliberation. The $4 happy hour house wine is the kind of deal that makes weekday decisions very easy. Rotation doesn't seem to happen here — what's on the list is what's on the list.
Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc — $4 (happy hour)
A crisp, grassy Marlborough Sauv Blanc at $4 a glass is hard to argue with — especially sitting next to a plate of oysters on the half shell. This is the move.
Oyster Bay Pinot Noir
Most people aren't ordering red wine at a raw bar, which means this one gets ignored. New Zealand Pinot Noir has enough acidity and red fruit to actually work with something like lobster bisque — give it a shot before defaulting to white.
Oyster Bay Chardonnay
There's nothing wrong with it, but it's the least interesting pour on a list that's already playing it safe. The Sauv Blanc does more with the seafood-forward menu, and you're not getting anything from the Chardonnay that justifies choosing it over a cold draft.
Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc + Boutique Oysters on the Half Shell
Marlborough Sauv Blanc and raw oysters is one of the most no-brainer pairings in the casual dining world — the bright citrus and saline edge of the wine mirrors the brine of the oyster without fighting it. It works every time.
Thursday — Shrimp Night every Thursday from 6–10 PM. Bottles priced at $175 and under are 50% off, along with 50% off specialty cocktails and single-pour liquors.
The Bottom Line
Oyster Shooters isn't coming for any wine accolades, but Thursday's 50% off bottles is a genuinely great deal that lifts this place well above its modest list. Come for the oysters, stay for the discount, and don't expect much beyond Oyster Bay — you'll leave happy anyway.
North Melbourne · Melbourne · Japanese / Sushi
Makoto isn't trying to be a wine bar and it knows it — the list is short, the labels are familiar, and the prices are genuinely kind. Send your friends here for sushi and tell them to order the Malbec by the bottle; they'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Melbourne · Melbourne · Elevated Regional American
The Landing Rooftop is a reliable spot for a glass with a genuinely spectacular view — hit it on a Wednesday when the wines go half price and the Cambria Chardonnay becomes the best deal on the Space Coast. Don't come here to geek out on wine; do come here to drink something decent while watching a rocket launch.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
West Melbourne · Melbourne · Floribbean / Key West-inspired American
Hemingway's Tavern isn't a wine destination, but it earns its keep with a list that's wider than the vibe suggests and a Wednesday half-price bottle deal that makes even the steeper markups disappear. Come for the tacos, stay for the Albariño, and thank the calendar for getting you there on Wednesday.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
West Melbourne · Melbourne · Greek / Mediterranean
It's a counter-service Greek grill in a strip mall that serves Xinomavro and Assyrtiko at fair prices — that's either a minor miracle or a Wild Card, and we're calling it the latter. Don't sleep on the wine list just because you're eating off a paper tray.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Melbourne · Melbourne · Casual steakhouse / Australian-inspired American
Outback's wine list is exactly what you'd expect from a national chain that treats wine as a revenue line item rather than a program worth caring about. Come for the steak, order the Chateau Ste. Michelle if you need a bottle, and save the real wine exploration for a different night.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Melbourne · Melbourne · Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse is not a wine destination and makes zero pretense of being one — we respect the honesty, even if we can't respect the list. Order the rolls, order the ribs, order a beer, and let the wine page collect dust.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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