Adriatic Wines Meet Chicago Ambition
West Loop · Chicago · Croatian-Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
This is what happens when a kitchen with Croatian roots meets a sommelier with serious European wine obsession. The 150+ bottle list reads like a love letter to the Adriatic and Northern Italy, with enough depth in Champagne and Burgundy to keep the Francophiles happy. You don't see Istrian Refošk and Slavonian wines on many Chicago lists — this is the exception.
The Italian section is where Rose Mary flexes hardest: deep cuts in Piedmont (Gaja Costa Russi at $900 if you're celebrating something major), Friuli skin-contact legends like Gravner Ribolla Gialla ($276), and serious Tuscany representation with Isole e Olena Cepparello ($280). The Croatian and Slovenian selections aren't token inclusions — they're thoughtfully curated with producers like Rodića showing the region's potential. California gets some play but takes a backseat to the Old World focus, and the Champagne selection punches above its weight with grower gems like Egly-Ouriet ($300). The only gap? No half-bottle options for indecisive duos.
Eighteen by-the-glass pours running $13-$25 is a solid spread, and they're not phoning it in with the usual suspects. You've got Lambrusco from Medici Ermete ($15), Istrian Refošk rosé from Rodića ($17), and even a Franciacorta from Le Machesine ($18) that shows they're serious about bubbles. The rotation seems static rather than seasonal, but the quality-to-price ratio on most pours makes up for the lack of turnover.
Bernard Coste 'Mont Rose' Zero Grenache NV — $13
A skin-contact Grenache for thirteen bucks by the glass with only 38% markup over retail? They're practically giving this away. Savory, textured, and weird in the best way.
Paolo Bea Sagrantino
Most people skip Sagrantino thinking it's too tannic and brooding, but Bea's natural approach softens the edges while keeping that dark fruit intensity. At $270-$338, it's not cheap, but it's a masterclass in Umbrian winemaking that pairs shockingly well with the wood-fired octopus.
Beckmen Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2023
A 172% markup on a $25 retail bottle to charge $68 is highway robbery, even if Beckmen makes good wine. There are better values all over this list.
Rodića Refošk 'Col Fondo' Rosé 2022 + Crudo
This cloudy, unfiltered Istrian rosé has the salinity and acidity to cut through raw fish while the col fondo texture adds just enough grip. It's like the wine version of the Adriatic coast.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Rose Mary isn't just serving Croatian food with Croatian wines as a gimmick — this is a legitimately excellent wine program that happens to specialize in a region most Americans ignore. Fair markups, knowledgeable staff, and a list that rewards curiosity make this a wine geek destination.
West Loop · Chicago · Californian
The Oakville Grill earns its Wine Spectator credential and the sommelier duo makes this list accessible, not intimidating. Wednesday half-price wine night alone is reason enough to get a reservation — just let go of the idea that anything other than California is on the agenda.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Lincoln Park · Chicago · American
John's is a neighborhood spot that punches well above its casual format — two sommeliers, a thoughtful France-and-California list, fair prices, and half-price bottles every Monday. Send your friends here, especially on a Monday.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
River North · Chicago · American, Seafood
Terrace 16 earns its Wine Spectator badge and delivers a respectable, California-and-France-focused list in one of Chicago's most dramatic dining rooms. Just don't expect to be surprised — the wine is as reliable as the skyline view, and nearly as expensive.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
River North · Chicago · French, Indian
Indienne is the Wild Card in the truest sense — a fusion kitchen with a genuinely considered wine program that earns its Wine Spectator nod. Yes, send a friend here for wine, but make sure they skip the Napa Cab and lead with Riesling.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
West Loop · Chicago · Steak house
BLVD Steakhouse doesn't reinvent the steakhouse wine list, but it executes the formula competently — solid producers, proper storage, and enough range to keep a table of Cab loyalists happy all night. Just go in with your eyes open on the markups and skip the trophy-bottle trap.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Magnificent Mile · Chicago · American
Adorn is a reliable, well-staffed wine program in a high-overhead setting — you're paying for the view and the address, but the list itself is legitimate. Send a friend here who wants solid French and California bottles without doing homework first.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.