Pacific Northwest rarities hiding in Kentucky
Unknown · Lexington · Wine Bar · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 28, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Remy's Wine Bar’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The list at Remy's doesn't try to be everything — it tries to be something specific, and mostly pulls it off. You're not getting a 200-bottle tome here; you're getting a tightly edited roster of small-production Pacific Northwest labels and Italian-leaning varietals that most Lexington restaurants wouldn't touch. That focus alone earns some attention.
The through-line here is the Three Wives and Remy Wines portfolio — an Oregon-centric operation leaning into grapes like Arneis, Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, and Pinot Gris that don't exactly dominate Kentucky wine lists. The 2019 Rosebud Nebbiolo Riserva and 2019 Jubilee Dolcetto signal someone here actually cares about Italian varietals grown in the Pacific Northwest, which is a niche worth exploring. The 2021 Three Wives Germaine Gabrielle Rosé of Pinot Noir and the 2020 Black Heart Blanc de Noir round out the range with some lighter-touch options. The list is short enough that gaps are visible — no real Old World depth, no Champagne, no Burgundy — but what's here has a clear point of view.
Six by-the-glass options in the $12–$17 range is lean but workable for a boutique spot. The pours skew toward the house portfolio, so expect Oregon-grown grapes rather than classic French or Spanish benchmarks. Rotation data is thin, but the tight selection suggests this list doesn't change often — what you see is probably what you're getting for a while.
2021 Three Wives Arneis — $12–$17
Arneis is an underappreciated Piedmontese white and getting it by the glass — likely in the $12–$14 range — from an Oregon producer at a boutique wine bar in Lexington is genuinely good value. Most people have never tried it, and that's exactly why you should order it.
2019 Jubilee Dolcetto
Dolcetto gets overshadowed by Nebbiolo and Barbera every time, but it's one of the more food-friendly reds in the Italian canon — medium-bodied, low acid, easy tannins. Finding it as a small-production Oregon bottling in the middle of Kentucky is the kind of thing that makes a wine list worth taking seriously.
2020 Tempranillo
A generic Tempranillo listing with no producer name attached is a yellow flag on any list. When the rest of the menu is so producer-specific, an anonymous Tempranillo feels like a filler pick — and without knowing the source, there's no way to evaluate whether it's worth the pour.
2019 Rosebud Nebbiolo Riserva + Charcuterie board
Nebbiolo's firm tannins and dried cherry character are built for cured meats. A riserva-level bottling needs something with enough fat and salt to meet it halfway, and a charcuterie spread does exactly that — the richness of the salumi softens the wine's edges while the wine cuts right through the fat.
The Bottom Line
Remy's is doing something genuinely unusual for Lexington — a focused, producer-driven list built around Oregon grapes that most of the state doesn't know exist. It's not a deep cellar, but it's an honest list with a real perspective, and that's worth the visit.
South Lexington / Harrodsburg Road · Lexington · Italian, Contemporary Italian, Seafood
Giuseppe's isn't a wine destination, but Monday night half-price bottles make it one of the better value plays in Lexington — show up then, lean on the seafood, and you'll leave happy. Any other night, the markups ask a lot and the list doesn't ask you to think very hard.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Lansdowne / Nicholasville Road · Lexington · Italian-American
Sutton's isn't a wine destination, but it's a perfectly reasonable place to drink a bottle of Chianti while someone else handles the cooking. The Tignanello alone earns this list a second look if you know to ask for it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Gratz Park · Lexington · New American / Southern
Jonathan at Gratz Park is the kind of reliable wine room you'd expect from a historic inn with a real sommelier — competent, well-stocked, and leaning safe. Pricing is on the steeper side and the list won't surprise you, but in Lexington, this is still one of the better places to order a full bottle with dinner.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Palomar / Harrodsburg Road · Lexington · Italian, Seasonal American-Influenced
Bella Notte isn't a wine destination, but it's a reliable neighborhood spot with one genuinely smart move: Thursday half-price bottles turn a steep list into a real value play. Go on a Thursday, order the Decoy Cab with a wood-grilled steak, and you'll leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Lexington · Italian
ItalX is a dependable Italian wine list for a night out downtown — not exciting, but not embarrassing either. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink well enough, as long as they steer toward the Italian reds and away from the obvious tourist traps.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Summit at Fritz Farm · Lexington · New American / Southern
33 Staves is a perfectly competent hotel wine list in a city where nobody's really coming for the wine. Drink it for what it is, keep your expectations calibrated, and save the serious bottle hunting for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Los Angeles · Wine Bar
Buvons is for people who already know what natural wine is and want nine well-chosen pours without a 50-page list getting in the way. If that's you, you'll feel right at home.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Jose · Wine Bar
Little Wine House is doing something genuinely rare: a small list that actually required thought, priced like someone who wants you to come back. If you're in San Jose and want a glass of something interesting without a lecture attached, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
John Wayne Airport – Terminal B · Santa Ana · Wine Bar
Vino Volo clears the airport bar bar by a comfortable margin — better-than-expected service, a list that at least tries, and a seat that makes a delay feel like less of a punishment. Just don't look too hard at the markup and you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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