Art gallery vibes, Iberian wine instincts
Shirlington · Arlington · Global small plates / tapas-style fusion · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 27, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Palette 22, the wine list feels like a natural extension of the art on the walls — deliberately curated, a little offbeat, and clearly not assembled by someone who just pulled a distributor catalog and called it a day. The Spain-forward lean is refreshing in a DC-area scene that defaults to California Cab and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. It's not a deep cellar, but it has a point of view.
The list runs 30-60 bottles with a serious commitment to the Iberian Peninsula — think Albariño from Rías Baixas, Tempranillo blends from Rioja, and Cava for bubbles without the Champagne markup. Austria shows up with a Grüner Veltliner that feels genuinely intentional rather than token. France, Italy, and South America round things out, though those sections feel less considered than the Spanish anchor. The gaps are real — no real depth in Burgundy or anything natural — but the list earns its stripes by knowing what it is and committing.
Ten to eighteen pours by the glass is generous for a small-plates format, and it's the right call — this is a grazing menu that wants you mixing and matching all night. The Albariño and Cava are your workhorses here, built for the bright, acidic, globally-inflected small plates coming out of the kitchen. Rotation isn't aggressive, but what's on the board is well-matched to the food.
Albariño, Rías Baixas — $12
Rías Baixas Albariño by the glass is almost always a smart order, and here it punches above its price point — briny, citrusy, and built to run laps around a table full of small plates.
Grüner Veltliner, Austria
Most people at Palette 22 are reaching for Spanish bottles, and rightfully so, but the Austrian Grüner is a sleeper. That white pepper and green herb character plays surprisingly well against the Kung Pao Cauliflower's heat and the kitchen's broader Asian-inflected flavors.
Tempranillo blend, Rioja
Rioja Tempranillo is fine, but it's also the safe, expected anchor on every mid-range Spanish-leaning list in America. In a room built for exploration, defaulting to a generic Rioja red feels like ordering a Caesar salad. There are more interesting moves here.
Cava + Shrimp & Grits Fritters
Cava's high acid and fine bubble cut right through the richness of the fried fritter while the yeasty, biscuity character echoes the grits underneath. It's the kind of pairing that makes the whole table stop mid-conversation.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Palette 22 is the rare suburban small-plates spot that actually thought about its wine list instead of just populating it. The Spanish focus is a genuine strength, the by-the-glass selection gives you room to explore, and the prices won't make you regret the third pour.
Shirlington · Arlington · American Brasserie
Carlyle won't change your relationship with wine, but it won't ruin it either — and on Tuesday, when everything on the bottle list is half off, it briefly becomes one of the better deals in Shirlington. Come for the prime rib, order the Jordan, and call it a good night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Westover · Arlington · Turkish and Mediterranean
Maya Bistro isn't a wine destination, but Monday half-price bottles and legitimately interesting Turkish pours make it a Wild Card worth knowing about. Come for the pide, stay for the Angora — just don't touch the Oyster Bay.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Ballston · Arlington · New England–inspired seafood & raw bar
Salt Line Ballston isn't trying to be a wine destination, but the list is smarter and more purposeful than most seafood spots in this price range. Send a friend here for oysters and Muscadet and they'll thank you.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
National Landing / Pentagon City · Arlington · Southern & Korean-influenced American
Succotash Prime's wine list is exactly what you'd expect from a polished upscale Southern spot in a hotel-adjacent dining corridor — safe, recognizable, and priced for expense accounts. We'd send a friend here for a reliable night out, not a wine destination.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
National Landing / Crystal City · Arlington · Modern Italian
Corso is a dependable Italian wine list in a neighborhood that could easily get away with doing much less — it doesn't dazzle, but it doesn't disappoint either. If the Wednesday half-price bottle rumor holds up when you call ahead, it might just tip into genuinely great value territory.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Clarendon · Arlington · Retail Wine & Takeout
Liberty To-Go is a genuine wild card — a tavern wine shop hybrid with a fortified wine section that would embarrass most dedicated wine bars, all priced without the usual Arlington markup. Come for the Barolo, stay for the Sherry flight you didn't know you needed.
Small but Thoughtful
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.