Akron's neighborhood gem hiding real bottle range
Fairlawn / Montrose · Akron · Wine Bar & Retail Shop · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 29, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Regency, you immediately get the sense that someone here actually cares — this isn't a liquor store that stapled a few wine labels to a shelf. The list is compact at 26 labels, but it spans France, Italy, California, Argentina, and New Zealand, which is ambitious for a neighborhood shop in Fairlawn. It's the kind of place where you show up for one bottle and end up staying for a pour.
The list punches above its size. On the French side, you've got a solid Domaine Jean-Louis Mothe Chablis sitting alongside a Domaine De La Choupette Bourgogne Blanc — that's a real commitment to white Burgundy in a market where most shops just stock Kendall-Jackson. Italy shows up with a Giuseppe Campagnola Valpolicella Ripasso, which suggests someone here knows their way around Veneto. California gets representation across multiple tiers, from the accessible Michel-Schlumberger Cab out of Sonoma to the crowd-pleasing Caymus Emmolo Sauv Blanc, and they cap it off with a Gibbs Chardonnay from Napa that you won't find at every corner shop. The Chateau Bellevue Peycharneau Bordeaux 2020 and Graham's Tawny Port round out the European depth nicely — the Port especially signals that someone here is thinking beyond the obvious.
Specific by-the-glass counts weren't confirmed, but the retail-plus-bar setup suggests most bottles are available by the glass as pours in the bar area. Estimated glass prices run $10–$18, which is fair for this market. We'd love to see a formal rotating BTG menu posted clearly — right now it feels like the pour selection depends on what conversation you start with the person behind the counter.
Domaine Jean-Louis Mothe Chablis France 2022 — $18 est./glass
Chablis at a neighborhood wine bar in Akron is already a minor miracle. This is a serious, mineral-driven white from a solid producer — the kind of bottle that retails around $20-25 and drinks well above its price point. Order it before someone else does.
Graham's 10/40 Year Tawny Port
Nobody orders Port at a casual wine bar, which is exactly why you should. Graham's makes benchmark Tawny — nutty, dried fig, a little caramel — and it's a genuine conversation-ender in the best way. Skip dessert and order a pour of this instead.
Veuve Cliquot Brut Champagne NV
Veuve is fine Champagne, but it's the most marked-up bottle in any wine program anywhere. You're paying for the yellow label recognition, not for value in the glass. If you want bubbles, ask what else they have — or put the money toward a second bottle of that Chablis.
Giuseppe Campagnola Valpolicella Ripasso Italy 2023 + Charcuterie board
Ripasso has the weight and dried-fruit richness to stand up to cured meats and aged cheese without overwhelming them — it's a natural fit for grazing. In a wine bar setting where charcuterie is likely your main food play, this is the bottle you want in the middle of the table.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Regency is the kind of wine shop Akron deserves more of — small, specific, and clearly curated by someone with a point of view. It's not a destination list, but if you're in Fairlawn and want a proper glass of white Burgundy or a bottle of Ripasso to take home, this is exactly where you go.
Montrose / Fairlawn · Akron · Seafood
Come for the seafood — the Shrimp & Grits and Crab Cake have genuine fans — but come on a Tuesday when the bottles are half off, because that's the only time the wine program makes financial sense. Any other night, order a cocktail.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
East Akron · Akron · Japanese / Hibachi
Hibachi Japan's wine list isn't going to make anyone's bucket list, but it's priced fairly, covers the basics, and won't embarrass you on date night. Order the Riesling or Pinot Gris, enjoy the show, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Montrose / Fairlawn · Akron · Seafood
Bonefish Grill Fairlawn won't give you a wine moment worth texting about, but it won't rip you off either — and in the chain restaurant landscape, that clears the bar. Show up during Social Hour, grab a Kim Crawford, and focus on the fish.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Montrose / Fairlawn · Akron · Family American
Yours Truly is a solid diner doing diner things — the wine list is an afterthought, and that's fine, because you're probably here for the eggs anyway. Order the Prosecco or a Riesling, skip the red blends, and put your energy into the food.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Wadsworth · Akron · Steakhouse, American
Circle L is a genuine wine-list overachiever hiding in plain sight off I-76 — the Thursday bottle discount night alone is worth putting in your calendar. Send your wine-curious friends here; just make sure they don't show up on a Wednesday.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Wadsworth · Akron · American Upscale
Galaxy's Wine Room is the best wine program in the Akron orbit, and it's not particularly close — but the steep markups and thin by-the-glass selection hold it back from true destination status. Come with a budget, order a bottle, and skip the sticker shock on the Napa end of the list.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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