Resort Wine Done Right, No Surprises
Woodstock · Burlington · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 24, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Red Rooster’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 Red Rooster feels exactly like the room it lives in — polished, dependable, and designed to please a broad audience. A Four Diamond resort restaurant with 150-plus bottles and a sommelier on staff signals that somebody cares, even if the list doesn't take many risks. You're not going to be surprised, but you're not going to be embarrassed either.
California leads the charge here, with France, Italy, and the Pacific Northwest rounding out the supporting cast — a classic American fine-casual spread that covers the table without venturing too far from the mainstream. Jordan and Stags' Leap anchor the list with recognizable, crowd-friendly names that land well with a resort clientele who wants quality without homework. There's enough depth across 150-plus bottles to find something interesting, but the list reads more like a greatest-hits compilation than a curated deep dive. Serious wine hunters won't find much to geek out over, but everyone else is in good hands.
Twelve pours by the glass at $14–$22 is a reasonable spread for a resort restaurant of this caliber, and the range covers white, red, and presumably sparkling without making you feel trapped. Meiomi Pinot Noir showing up as a by-the-glass anchor is a tell — this program is optimized for familiarity over discovery. That said, the sommelier's presence suggests the glass list gets at least occasional attention.
Stags' Leap Winery Chardonnay — $18
Stags' Leap Chardonnay is a well-made, restrained California white that regularly retails around $18-$20 a bottle — if this is priced anywhere near the lower end of the glass range, you're drinking well relative to what you're paying. It's the kind of wine that earns its spot on a list like this.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon
Jordan gets dismissed as 'safe' by wine nerds, but that reputation undersells a genuinely well-crafted Alexander Valley Cab that drinks above its profile. At a resort that could easily stock flashier but lesser bottles, Jordan holding a spot here is actually a quiet win worth ordering.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
Meiomi is a $14 retail bottle in a world where that $14 buys you a lot of mediocrity. At resort markup, you're paying a significant premium for a heavily sweetened, mass-produced Pinot that a sommelier-staffed list really has no business featuring as a flagship pour. Step up to something with an actual address.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon + Breakfast Buffet
Look — the menu data here skews heavily toward breakfast, so we're working with what we've got. But if you're catching Red Rooster at dinner and the egg dishes give way to something heartier off the main menu, Jordan Cab is the move: structured enough to handle red meat, smooth enough to not fight anything Vermont-sourced and simply prepared.
The Bottom Line
Red Rooster is resort wine done competently — a sommelier, a real list, and proper storage go a long way, even when the selections play it safe and the markup stings. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink fine, not that they'll drink memorably.
Waterfront · Burlington · Craft Brewery with Bar Snacks
Foam is a brewery first, but the wine program punches way above its weight class — it's small, local, and priced like they actually want you to drink it. If you're on Burlington's waterfront and want something interesting in your glass that isn't a hazy IPA, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Burlington · New American with Vegan Options
The Daily Planet isn't a wine destination, but it has the instincts of one — a thoughtful natural wine pick, Monday half-price bottles, and fair pricing in a casual room that doesn't take itself too seriously. Send a friend here on a Monday and tell them to ask about the orange wine.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Burlington · New American Bistro
The Gryphon is a reliable neighborhood bistro with a wine list that matches its ambitions exactly: familiar, functional, and forgettable. Come for the burgers and brick walls, but don't expect the wine to be the highlight of your night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Burlington · Neapolitan wood-fired pizza and Italian cuisine
Pizzeria Verità isn't trying to be a wine destination and it doesn't need to be — it's a smart, Italy-focused list with honest markups and a few genuinely interesting bottles tucked in among the crowd-pleasers. Go for the pizza, order the Nebbiolo or the Cirò, and leave happy.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Church Street Marketplace · Burlington · Upscale American Steakhouse
EB Strong's has a wine list that does the job well and occasionally surprises you — especially if you look past the Caymus and dig into the European picks. Wednesday's half-price bottle program makes it one of the better wine-value nights in Burlington, full stop.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront · Burlington · Seasonal New American, farm-to-table
Hen of the Wood Burlington is the rare restaurant where the wine list is as considered as the food, and that's saying something when the kitchen is this good. If you're driving through Vermont and care about what's in your glass, this is worth a reservation.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Eagle Ranch · Vail · American
The Wild Sage is your dependable neighborhood spot in Eagle Ranch — the wine list won't blow your mind, but it won't embarrass you at dinner either. Watch the markups on the top-shelf Napa bottles and stick to the mid-range, and you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront · Traverse City · American
Warehouse Kitchen + Cork won't win any awards for depth or ambition, but it plays its hand honestly — fair prices, solid local representation, and a full by-the-glass program that respects your wallet. If you're in Traverse City and want a glass of something local with a water view, this works.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Truckee · Truckee · American
Sunnyside is a casual lodge restaurant wearing a serious wine list under its flannel — the markup is steep and it won't win any awards for staff expertise, but the producer lineup is legitimately impressive for where you're sitting. If you're already at the lake, this is absolutely worth ordering a real bottle.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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