Napa-heavy comfort zone, executed without apology
· La Crosse · Upscale American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 14, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Pogreba Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Pogreba is short — 26 bottles — but it reads like someone made deliberate choices rather than just calling a distributor and saying 'send whatever.' The price range opens at a very reasonable $28 and tops out at $124, which for an upscale American restaurant in La Crosse is refreshingly grounded. This isn't a list trying to impress wine nerds; it's a list trying to not embarrass itself, and mostly it succeeds.
Whites lead with Dutcher Crossing and Duckhorn holding down Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, and a Marqués Casa Concha Limari Valley Chardonnay that shows someone at least glanced beyond California. The fun stuff — a Dr. Loosen Mosel Riesling at $28 and a Cascinetta Vietti Moscato d'Asti — feels a little stranded on a list otherwise dominated by Napa Cabernet. And there is a lot of Cabernet: Sanctuary, Paul Hobbs, Stags Leap, Frank Family, Joseph Phelps, Caymus — six Napa Cabs in a row, plus the Mollydooker from McLaren Vale for the person who wants 'bold' but resists California zip codes. Pinot Noir gets a solid nod via Rex Hill and Big Farm Table from Willamette and the Belle Glos Dairyman from Russian River, and the Duckhorn Merlot rounds things out. There are zero sparkling options beyond the Marqués de Caceres Cava, and the absence of any Rhône, Italian reds, or anything from South America south of Chile is a gap that keeps this from reaching the next level.
By-the-glass data isn't available from the sourced wine list, which only documents bottles. Based on the list's structure and price points, it's a reasonable assumption that a handful of the entry-level bottles — the Cavaliere d'Oro Pinot Grigio, the Dr. Loosen Riesling, and possibly the Marqués de Caceres Cava — rotate into pours, but we can't confirm specifics. If you're not splitting a bottle, ask your server what's open.
Dr. Loosen Mosel Riesling — $28
At $28 a bottle, this is the obvious move for anyone who doesn't need to order a Cab to feel validated. Dr. Loosen is a legit producer, Mosel Riesling is criminally underordered at restaurants, and this drinks well above its price point on a list where most bottles hover around $50-$90.
Cascinetta Vietti Piedmont Moscato d'Asti
Moscato gets dismissed by anyone who thinks they have serious taste, but Cascinetta Vietti is the real thing — a top-tier Piedmontese producer making a low-alcohol, gently fizzy, peach-and-apricot stunner. At $38, it's the most interesting thing on the white side of this list and most people will walk right past it.
Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet
At $124, Caymus is the most expensive bottle on the list and also the most overrated Cabernet in America. It's been a restaurant list staple for so long it's basically furniture. The Paul Hobbs at $72 is a far better wine for far less money, and nobody will think less of you for ordering it.
Belle Glos Dairyman Russian River Valley Pinot Noir + Filet Mignon
Belle Glos Dairyman is a big, fruit-forward Russian River Pinot — not delicate, not shy — which means it can actually hold its ground against a beef tenderloin without the tannins overwhelming the cut. It's the move when you want red with steak but aren't in the mood for a full Cabernet.
The Bottom Line
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.
· La Crosse · Italian
Ciatti's isn't going to make anyone's wine pilgrimage list, but it's a genuinely solid neighborhood Italian with fair prices, a thoughtful white wine program, and a local Wisconsin producer on the list. Send a friend here for dinner and they won't be stuck drinking swill.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· La Crosse · Bar & American Fare
The Old Crow is a bar first, and the wine list is an afterthought — a short, safe, supermarket-shelf lineup that'll do the job if you absolutely need a glass of something. Order a beer or a cocktail instead; this is not your wine destination.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· La Crosse · Coffee House & Wine Bar
JavaVino is La Crosse's most charming low-stakes wine stop — not because the list is ambitious, but because the pricing is honest and the whole thing feels genuinely unpretentious. Send a friend here for an afternoon glass and a coffee chaser, not a serious bottle-list deep dive.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Cass Street Historic District · La Crosse · French and European Fine Dining
Le Chateau is a genuinely lovely place to eat, and the wine list has flashes of good instinct — the Ott Rosé, the Vouvray, the Loire focus. But unnamed producers, punishing markups on the house selections, and a static list hold it back from being a real wine destination. Order the Domaines Ott, skip the Malbec, and let the room do most of the heavy lifting.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · La Crosse · Cocktail & Wine Lounge
Come for the live music, come for the cocktails — but don't come for the wine list. The pricing is fair enough that ordering a glass won't sting, but the selection gives you almost nothing to get excited about.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown/Riverside · La Crosse · Steakhouse and Seafood, American Fine Dining
The Freighthouse won't blow any wine geeks away, but it's a fair, unpretentious list that does its job well in the context of a classic American steakhouse — and that port selection is a genuine reason to linger. If you're in La Crosse and want something reliable with your prime rib, you could do a lot worse.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Big Cedar / Ridgedale Area · Branson · Upscale American
Osage Restaurant is a reliable wine stop, not a destination for it — the list is safe, the markups are real, and the views are doing a lot of heavy lifting. Come for the bison and the scenery; treat the wine list as background music, not the main act.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fitger's / Waterfront · Duluth · Upscale American
Boat Club is a reliable wine room for Duluth — a sommelier on staff, a genuinely broad glass pour program, and a Monday half-price bottle deal that should be on every local's calendar. The markups keep it from being a Rager, but if you play the specials and lean into the European selections, you'll drink well with a great view.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Bluff Street / West St. George · St. George · Upscale American
Cliffside is a great place to eat in St. George, and a fine place to drink if you manage your expectations — the wine list won't excite you, but it won't embarrass you either. Order the Riesling, watch the sunset, and save the serious wine hunting for somewhere else.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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