Virginia Wine Done Right, Victorian Style
Ghent · Norfolk · Tapas and Small Plates · Visit Website ↗
Updated July 2026
Reviewed March 27, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into a 1906 Victorian house to find a 450-bottle wine list is not something we expected from Norfolk, but here we are. The room does exactly what a wine bar should — it makes you want to slow down and order another glass. This isn't a list someone threw together; there's clearly a point of view behind every page.
Four hundred and fifty bottles is serious real estate, and Press 626 doesn't waste it. Virginia gets its rightful spotlight here — Michael Shaps and Early Mountain Vineyards anchor the local section, and the inclusion of Tannat and Chenin Blanc signals that whoever built this list isn't just defaulting to Cab and Chard. With 75% of bottles priced under $100, the list skews accessible without dumbing down. The gaps are minor — we'd love to see more depth in older-world regions to balance the Virginia pride — but this is one of the strongest regional wine programs we've seen in the mid-Atlantic.
Twenty to thirty-five options by the glass is generous — most places top out at a dozen and call it a day. The rotation leans into the restaurant's Virginia focus, so expect pours of local Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc alongside more familiar international options. If you're working through a small plates meal, this by-the-glass range gives you real flexibility to match pours to plates.
Early Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Franc — Under $100
Early Mountain is one of Virginia's most consistent producers, and Cab Franc is the state's strongest suit. Getting it here at a fair markup on a list this well-curated is exactly why you come to a place like Press 626.
Michael Shaps Chenin Blanc
Most people walk past Virginia Chenin Blanc without a second look — their loss. Michael Shaps is one of the most technically precise winemakers working in the state, and Chenin Blanc shows real texture and longevity. Order it before everyone else figures it out.
Generic International Red by the Glass
When you're sitting on a list that includes Virginia Tannat and Cab Franc from producers who actually care, defaulting to a safe international pour feels like ordering a cheeseburger at a sushi counter. Trust the local stuff — that's the whole point of being here.
Early Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Franc + Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Duck
Virginia Cab Franc has the earthy depth and soft tannins to stand up to rich duck without steamrolling it, and enough acidity to cut through the fat in that grilled cheese. It's the kind of pairing that makes you text someone about it.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Press 626 is the kind of wine bar that makes you reconsider your assumptions about where great wine programs live — Norfolk just moved up the list. If you care about Virginia wine specifically, or just want a deep, fairly priced list in a room that earns it, this is worth the drive.
Downtown Norfolk · Norfolk · American
Mermaid Winery is a genuine wine destination that happens to be in Norfolk — and yes, that still surprises us a little. The pricing leans steep and the staff isn't running a Master Sommelier class, but the list is deep where it counts and Wednesday half-price night is one of the better wine deals in the region.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Virginia Beach · Norfolk · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Virginia Beach won't surprise you on wine, and a few markups are hard to forgive, but the depth is real and the by-the-glass program is better than most steakhouses at this price point. If you're here for a special occasion steak and want a bottle that won't embarrass the meal, you'll find it — just avoid the house pours and do a little homework first.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Norfolk · Norfolk · Gourmet Market & Wine Shop
Taste Unlimited is a gourmet market that quietly outclasses most sit-down restaurants on wine curation and blows them out completely on price. If you're in Norfolk and haven't figured out that this is also a wine stop, you've been leaving money on the table.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Governors Pointe · Norfolk · Southern American
Vintage Tavern has no business having a wine list this serious in a suburb of Norfolk — and we mean that as a high compliment. The markups take some of the shine off, but a sommelier on staff, 400 bottles, and a genuine Virginia section make this the best wine destination for miles around.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Norfolk · French
Todd Jurich's Bistro is the most serious wine list in Norfolk, full stop — but you'll pay for that seriousness, especially on the French side. Go for the sommelier's guidance, order the Barboursville, and enjoy the fact that a room this focused on wine exists in downtown Norfolk at all.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Ghent · Norfolk · New American
Varia is doing something genuinely rare in a mid-sized market — building a wine program that would hold its own in Chicago or D.C. The markup isn't always charitable, but the depth, the cruvinet by-the-glass program, and the evident expertise on staff make this one worth the trip across town.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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