Unpretentious Pours for a Burger Night
Grace Street · Wilmington · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 11, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Rum Cow is first and foremost a cocktail bar that happens to have wine, and the list doesn't try to pretend otherwise. You get a tight, approachable selection that leans on familiar California and Pacific Northwest names — nothing that'll make you reach for a notebook, but nothing offensive either. It's the kind of list that works for the room.
The list runs 20-35 bottles and sticks close to the rails: California Chardonnay, New Zealand Sauv Blanc, a little Italy for good measure. The region spread nods toward France and the Pacific Northwest, but don't expect anything that strays far from what you'd find at a well-stocked grocery store. There are no deep cuts or regional oddities here — this is a wine program built for ease, not exploration. That said, it does the job without gouging you, which puts it ahead of plenty of comparable spots.
Six to ten options by the glass is a reasonable spread for a neighborhood bar of this size. The glass pours skew toward lighter, crowd-friendly styles — think crisp whites and easy-drinking reds that make sense alongside burgers and small plates. Don't expect a rotating program; what's on the list today is probably what was on the list six months ago.
Crowded House Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand — $13
At just 38% over retail, this is the closest thing to a fair deal on the list. Bright, zippy, and completely at home with lighter small plates — you're not getting taken for a ride here.
Volio Emilia-Romagna
Most people at Rum Cow are ordering California or New Zealand without a second thought. The Volio from Emilia-Romagna is the one bottle that hints at a wider world — it's lightly priced, underordered, and a nice change of pace from the usual suspects.
Cambria Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley
A 150% markup on a $25 retail bottle is the steepest pour on the list. Cambria is perfectly decent wine, but at $10 a glass you can find better value elsewhere on the same menu.
Crowded House Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand + Seasonal small plates
The high-acid, citrus-forward profile of the Crowded House cuts through lighter bites and herb-driven preparations without competing — it keeps things clean and refreshing across a spread of small plates.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Rum Cow isn't a wine destination and it knows it — but the markup is mostly honest and the list covers the bases without embarrassing itself. Come for the cocktails, stay for a decent glass if that's what the table needs.
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
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Marina Grill is a perfectly solid spot to drink wine if you show up on a Wednesday and let the half-price deal do the heavy lifting. Any other night, the markups are hard to justify when the list is this unambitious.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
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Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Riverfront · Wilmington · Upscale Italian
Floriana isn't trying to be a wine destination, and that's fine — it's trying to be a great Italian restaurant with a wine list that doesn't let the food down. For a date night in Wilmington, it delivers exactly that.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Tarantelli's wine list is a solid, Italy-focused companion to food that deserves it — fair prices, logical pours, and no real duds. It won't blow your mind, but it'll make your Osso Buco taste better, and that's the whole job.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
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CraftWay Kitchen isn't trying to be a wine destination and doesn't pretend to be — but the markups are fair, the glass program is wide, and there's enough on the list to drink well with a solid meal. Send your friends here for dinner; just don't send them here for a wine education.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Clemmons · Winston Salem · New American
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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