Sushi spot that actually thought about wine
Riverwalk · Milwaukee · Japanese sushi and Asian fusion · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 9, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Screaming Tuna Milwaukee’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Screaming Tuna, you expect the wine list to be an afterthought stapled onto a sake menu — and then it isn't. Someone here clearly put in the work to match the list to the food, leaning into aromatic whites and cool-climate reds that actually make sense next to raw fish. It's not a deep list, but it's a considered one.
The list runs 30-60 bottles and shows a clear point of view: Alsace, Oregon, Burgundy, and New Zealand anchor the selections, with dry Alsatian Riesling and Gewürztraminer doing the heavy lifting on the white side. Oregon and Burgundian Pinot Noir cover the red column without straying into overripe, tannic territory that would bulldoze delicate sushi. Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc shows up as the crowd-pleaser option, and it earns its spot here. The sake program adds genuine depth and gives the list a personality most Milwaukee restaurant wine lists completely lack.
The by-the-glass program runs 8-15 options, which is respectable for a sushi spot of this size. We'd want to see the Alsatian whites featured prominently by the glass — that's where this list shines and where most tables will be best served. Rotation appears limited, so don't expect a lot of movement on the BTG list between visits.
Dry Alsatian Riesling — $12–$15
Alsatian Riesling at a sushi restaurant is exactly the right call — bright acidity, zero residual sugar, and a mineral edge that plays off raw fish and rice vinegar without missing a beat. If it's on the glass list, order it immediately.
Junmai Daiginjo Sake
Most tables skip past the sake section and go straight for the Pinot Noir. That's a mistake. A junmai daiginjo — made with highly polished rice and no added alcohol — is as close to a fine wine experience as sake gets, and it bridges the gap between the kitchen and the glass in a way no Pinot Noir can.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
It's fine. It's just not interesting. Marlborough Sauv Blanc is the safe airport-wine pick on a list that has better options. With Alsatian whites available, there's no reason to default to grapefruit water.
Dry Alsatian Gewürztraminer + Dragon Roll
Gewürztraminer's lychee and rose notes and off-dry-leaning aromatics cut right through the richness of the Dragon Roll's avocado and tempura shrimp without overpowering the delicate fish underneath. It's the kind of pairing that makes you feel like you figured something out.
The Bottom Line
Screaming Tuna isn't a wine destination, but it's a sushi spot with a wine list that actually respects the food it's serving — and in Milwaukee, that's worth calling out. Take a chance on the Alsatian whites or the sake program and you'll leave happy.
Story Hill · Milwaukee · American, Regional
A compact 12-wine list with glass and bottle prices posted, half-glass portions, and a bottle shop run by the same business. Order the $11 Famille Perrin Côtes du Rhône or the $11 Anjou Chenin Blanc by the glass and confirm current availability, since the menu is linked as 8-22-26. This unrated guide covers the posted beverage menu, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Milwaukee · American, Steakhouse, Seafood, Contemporary
A very large list with no by-the-glass section posted: 657 priced wines from $30 to $4,450, and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is the biggest group at 93 entries. For a starting point, the $50 Jean Marc Martin Haut-Médoc Merlot 2015 is the lowest-priced wine in the "Sommelier's Favorites Reds", and the $70 Thorne & Daughters Rocking Horse White Blend 2023 is the South African pick. Prices carry no unit and the page is undated, so confirm both. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Brady Street · Milwaukee · American
A short, varied list: 35 wines, from Lambrusco and Mourvèdre to Napa Cabernet, with paired numbers from 11 to 15 and a Cruvinet box at 11 to 22. Try the 11 | 43 Pirates del Ebro Tempranillo, or the Selbach Riesling with the scallops, and ask which number is the glass price. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Riverwest · Milwaukee · Pub fare and brewery food
Lakefront is a beer hall with a one-line wine list: three Wollersheim wines at $9. If you want wine, start with the Prairie Fumé alongside the cheese curds and ask about pour size, since the menu does not say. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks selection, not service, storage or markups.
Brady Street · Milwaukee · Italian-American
A friendly, easy list for a pasta-and-pizza room: 19 pours by the glass from $7 to $13, plus bottles from $36 to $90. Start with the $7 Wollersheim Prairie Fumé, or get the $10 Banfi Chianti Superiore with a bowl of Pomodoro, and confirm prices because the page is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Historic Third Ward · Milwaukee · Italian-Mediterranean
A bottle list with Greek, Sicilian and Lebanese bottles alongside Napa Cabernet, and Dom Perignon at $550. Start with the $40 Oenops 'Apla' or the $65 Château Musar 'Jeune', and plan around Wine Wednesday, when the restaurant says select bottles are half price from 5pm to 9pm. Confirm vintages and which bottles qualify before you order. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
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