Biscuits and Burgundy in the Suburbs
Arlington Heights · Arlington · Breakfast & Brunch / Southern-inspired all-day restaurant · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 27, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Ruthie's All-Day’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You walk into what looks like a cozy neighborhood brunch spot — wood-burning hearth, families, biscuits — and then the wine list arrives with Champagne Coutier Grand Cru Ambonnay and a 2016 Volnay Premier Cru. Nobody warned you about this. It's the kind of pleasant surprise that makes you immediately question your lunch plans.
Thirty-nine labels for an all-day Southern spot is ambitious, and Ruthie's earns the ambition. The list leans French — Chablis, Burgundy, Champagne, Loire — but there's real range with a Mosel Riesling from Saarstein, a Txakoli from Natural Wine Co, and Antinori's Guado al Tasso Vermentino from Bolgheri showing up alongside Illahe Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley. Half-bottle options for both Champagne Devaux and a Napa Cabernet from Mount Veeder suggest someone put actual thought into this. The one gap: the red wine side is thinner than the whites, and if you're looking for anything outside Europe and the U.S. West Coast, you're out of luck.
The glass program runs roughly 8-12 options with pour prices sitting between $10-$16, which is reasonable for the area. You can get the Gran Vinum Albariño from Rías Baixas or the Saarstein Riesling by the glass, which tells you the list isn't just dumping the cheap stuff into pours. Rotation appears limited — this feels more like a set-and-hold program than one that changes with the season.
Txakoli, Natural Wine Co 'Balea' 2025 — $10-$16/glass
Txakoli by the glass at a Southern brunch restaurant is genuinely rare, and Balea from Natural Wine Co is a lively, low-alcohol pour with that signature slight fizz and citrus snap. It cuts right through anything fried on the menu and at glass-pour pricing, it's the move.
Garganega, Roccolo Grassi 'Broia', Soave 2020
Roccolo Grassi is one of the serious names in Soave — their Broia bottling is rich, textural, and built to age, which is not what most people expect when they see 'Soave' on a menu. Most guests will scroll right past it looking for a Chardonnay. Don't be most guests.
Torre Oria Cava Brut NV
A 280% markup on a $10 retail bottle of Cava is a hard no. This is the kind of filler bottle that exists to anchor the bottom of a sparkling section and exploit anyone who just wants bubbles without a big commitment. Step up to the Roederer Estate sparkling Pinot Noir instead — you'll thank yourself.
Riesling, Saarstein, Mosel 2022 + Southern-style fried chicken
Mosel Riesling and fried chicken is a classic match for a reason — the wine's natural acidity and off-dry fruit cut the richness of the crust while the slight residual sugar plays against any heat or spice. Saarstein makes clean, precise Riesling that won't get lost next to bold Southern flavors.
The Bottom Line
Ruthie's has no business having a Volnay Premier Cru and a Grand Cru Champagne on the menu, but here we are, and we respect it. The markups are steep enough to sting on the lower end, but the overall curation punches well above its weight for a neighborhood all-day spot in Arlington.
Crystal City · Arlington · Wine Shop / Tasting Bar
Crystal City Wine Shop is the kind of low-key, staff-driven wine spot that most neighborhoods desperately want and rarely get — especially one with the nerve to stock Ukrainian bottles in the shadow of the Pentagon. We'd send a curious friend here without hesitation; just don't come in expecting a full restaurant experience.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Clarendon · Arlington · New American
CIRCA Clarendon isn't trying to be a wine destination and doesn't pretend otherwise — but the all-BTG format, fair prices, and a few genuinely interesting whites make it a solid call when you want wine that works without overthinking it. Send a friend here, just steer them away from the Unshackled.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Arlington · Wine Bar / Bottle Shop
Flight Wine Shop is doing something genuinely rare in the DC suburbs: a tightly curated, fairly priced bottle shop that treats obscure regions and natural producers as the main event, not a novelty section. If you're tired of the same ten wines and want a shop that will actually teach you something, this is your spot.
Deep & Eclectic
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Arlington · Wine Bar / Café
Oby Lee is not a destination for serious wine drinkers, but it is a genuinely fun, low-pressure spot where the prices are fair and the vibe is unapologetically playful. Send your friends who think they don't like wine — they'll order a mango slushy and have a great time.
Plays It Safe
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ballston · Arlington · Neapolitan Pizza
Pupatella isn't trying to be a destination wine program, and it doesn't need to be — it's a pizza place with a focused, fairly priced, Italian-centric list that actually makes sense with the food. Send a friend here for the pizza and tell them to order the Lambrusco.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Arlington · Arlington · Wine Bar
Screwtop is doing something genuinely unusual in the DC suburbs: a deep, eclectic by-the-glass list priced fairly and organized with actual personality. If you want to drink something you've never tried before in a low-pressure setting, this is exactly the place to send a friend.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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