Smoke, ribs, and a wine list that shows up
· La Crosse · Steakhouse / Smokehouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 15, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Piggy's Restaurant & Blues Lounge’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Sixteen bottles deep, this is a meat-first establishment that at least took wine seriously enough to stock something worth drinking. The list is short but intentional — no filler rosé, no mystery house pour — and the pricing stays honest enough that you won't feel robbed before the ribs arrive.
The list leans hard into California, which makes sense for a steakhouse crowd in La Crosse that wants something familiar. You've got two Pinot Grigio slots (Gabbiano and Santa Margherita), a Chalk Hill Chardonnay alongside La Crema, and the reds are stacked with Napa and Sonoma workhorses — Seghesio Zinfandel, Rutherford Hill Merlot, Dutcher Crossing Cab, and The Prisoner anchoring the top end at $69. There's zero Old World presence and no rosé to speak of, so adventurous drinkers are on their own. But for a smokehouse in the upper Midwest, this is a list that earns its keep.
Eight pours available by the glass, priced $7–$11, which is refreshingly approachable — you can try the La Crema Chardonnay or the Angeline Pinot Noir without committing to a bottle. The glass program mirrors the bottle list without much separation, so don't expect anything poured by the glass to surprise you.
Seghesio Zinfandel — $40
Seghesio is a Sonoma institution — this is a proper Zinfandel from a producer that actually does it right, and $40 at a restaurant is close to what you'd pay at retail. With barbecue and smoked meats on the menu, it's also the most logical bottle on the list.
Dutcher Crossing Dry Creek Cabernet
Most tables at a place like this go straight for The Prisoner because the label is recognizable. Dutcher Crossing is a smaller Dry Creek Valley producer making structured, food-friendly Cab — at $59 it's a better drink for the money and a lot more interesting than the crowd-pleaser sitting next to it.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
At $38, you're paying for the brand name, not what's in the glass. Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio is fine, but it's a $14 retail bottle in a steakhouse markup costume. The Sileni Sauvignon Blanc at $26 is a smarter, fresher pour if you want white wine.
Seghesio Zinfandel + Smoked Ribs
Zinfandel and smoked pork is one of the few wine-and-food combos that actually lives up to the hype — the dark fruit and peppery backbone in Seghesio's wine cuts right through the fat and char without getting lost in the smoke.
The Bottom Line
Piggy's isn't trying to be a wine destination, and that's fine — but for a smokehouse in La Crosse, the list is fair, the pricing doesn't embarrass itself, and there are a couple of genuinely solid bottles if you know where to look. Order the Seghesio, eat the ribs, and leave happy.
· La Crosse · Hotel Restaurant / American
This is a wine list that exists because the hotel felt obligated to have one, not because anyone thought carefully about it. Order a beer or a cocktail and move on.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · La Crosse · French-Influenced New American
For a hotel restaurant in La Crosse, The Charmant's wine list is a genuine surprise — thoughtfully assembled, fairly priced, and hiding at least two or three bottles that serious wine drinkers would seek out anywhere. Send a friend here and tell them to order the Radikon.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· La Crosse · Steakhouse / American
Freight House is a dependable steakhouse wine list — fair prices, familiar names, no nasty surprises. If you're looking for discovery, look elsewhere; if you're looking for a solid bottle to go with a good cut of meat in La Crosse, you'll leave satisfied.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Onalaska · La Crosse · American / Supper-Club Style
Blue Moon is a dependable neighborhood spot that takes its wine list seriously enough to give you real options without overcomplicating things. Send a friend here if they want a lake view, a fair pour of Chianti, and no stress — just don't send them expecting adventure.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· La Crosse · Italian / New American
SAGRA is doing something genuinely surprising for its geography: a tight, intentional natural wine list at fair prices in a mid-sized Wisconsin city. If you're passing through La Crosse and care about what's in your glass, this is not a place to walk past.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· La Crosse · Upscale American
Pogreba's wine list is a well-intentioned, Napa-centric lineup that serves its room without taking many risks — and in La Crosse, Wisconsin, that's probably the right call. Send a friend here if they want a reliable bottle at a fair price; tell the adventurous drinker to order the Riesling and stop overthinking it.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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