Island Fine Dining With a Serious Cellar
Block Island · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 9, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Restaurant 1879’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
You're on a small Rhode Island island, and the wine list lands on your table like it belongs in a Manhattan steakhouse. Over 200 bottles deep, anchored by California heavyweights and serious French names — this is not the laminated one-pager you were half-expecting. The Best of Award of Excellence going back to 2009 is not a fluke.
California and France carry this list on their shoulders, and they do it well. On the California side you've got the full prestige lineup — Caymus, Jordan, Stag's Leap, Duckhorn, Far Niente, and yes, Opus One if you're feeling bold. France holds its own with Louis Jadot, Joseph Drouhin, and the quietly excellent Domaine Leflaive anchoring the Burgundy section. The list skews classic and crowd-tested rather than adventurous, but when the classics are this well-sourced, that's not a complaint — it's a commitment.
Twelve to twenty options by the glass with prices running $12–$18 keeps things accessible for the sunset-on-the-porch crowd. The range appears to mirror the bottle list's California-France focus, which means your glass pour should be solid even if it won't surprise you. No evidence of regular rotation or a standout BTG program, but what's there is respectable.
Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $45–$65
Jordan consistently over-delivers for its price bracket — structured, food-friendly, and a natural match for the kitchen's prime beef. It's the bottle that drinks well above its weight on a list where prices climb fast.
Domaine Leflaive
Most tables are reaching for Caymus or Opus One, but Domaine Leflaive is one of Burgundy's most respected white wine names. It's quiet on a list like this, easy to overlook — which means you can snag it while your neighbor orders the obvious Napa Cab.
Opus One
A legend, sure, but Opus One is almost always marked up aggressively at resort-adjacent restaurants and you're paying a premium just for the name recognition. Save that money for multiple bottles of something equally good and far less theatrical.
Far Niente Chardonnay + Block Island Swordfish
Far Niente's Chardonnay brings enough richness and texture to stand up to a meaty local swordfish without bulldozing it. The wine's restrained oak and bright acidity keep the fish's ocean-fresh character front and center.
The Bottom Line
Restaurant 1879 earns its Wine Spectator hardware — a 200-plus bottle list with real depth in California and France is genuinely impressive for a remote island destination. Pricing runs on the steeper side, but you're on Block Island eating swordfish with a view, so calibrate expectations accordingly.
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
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
