Great Views, Safe Pours, No Surprises
Waterfront · Albany · Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 15, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Sea Smoke Waterfront Grill’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
The Hudson River is doing most of the heavy lifting here, and honestly, we get it — when your dining room looks out over water like that, the wine list doesn't need to work as hard. But it doesn't even try. What you get is a familiar roster of approachable crowd-pleasers that read more like a mid-tier chain than a contemporary waterfront restaurant charging fine-dining prices.
Fifty to eighty bottles sounds like room to roam, but the list stays firmly inside its comfort zone: California, Pacific Northwest, and New Zealand dominate, with a light nod to Burgundy. The producers named — Mer Soleil, Kim Crawford, Meiomi — are supermarket staples with restaurant markups attached. There's no real adventure here, no small-production finds, nothing that suggests anyone spent serious time curating this. It's a list built to avoid complaints, not to inspire orders.
Eight to fourteen glass pours is a reasonable count, and for a seafood-heavy menu there's at least logic to the lineup — Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay make obvious sense with the kitchen's output. The problem is that the glass program leans on the same recognizable brands you'd find anywhere, with no real rotation or discovery built in. Expect your options to look identical on every visit.
Mer Soleil Chardonnay — null
Without confirmed pricing we can't call it a steal, but if you're going to order something here, this is the most honest choice — it's a well-made, unoaked Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay that actually suits the seafood menu and won't embarrass anyone at the table.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc
It's everywhere, yes, but there's a reason — it's crisp, high-acid, and legitimately good with oysters or the pan-seared scallops. Most people overlook it because it feels too obvious. Order it anyway.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
Sweet, soft, and aggressively commercial, Meiomi is engineered to be inoffensive — which is fine at retail, less fine at whatever markup this place is charging. At a seafood-forward restaurant with better options, this one just doesn't earn its price tag.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc + Pan-Seared Scallops
The wine's citrus-driven acidity cuts through the richness of the sear while amplifying whatever brightness is in the dish. It's a classic match that actually works, and one of the few moments where the list and the kitchen feel like they're talking to each other.
The Bottom Line
Sea Smoke is a genuinely lovely spot to eat next to the Hudson, but the wine list is content to coast on that view. Come for the scallops and the scenery — just don't expect the bottle list to add much to the evening.
Downtown/Clinton Square · Albany · Modern Mexican / Latin-inspired
Ama Cocina isn't a destination wine bar, but it's a Wild Card worth respecting — a food-forward Latin spot that actually thought about its wine list instead of phoning it in. Come for the tacos, order the Albariño, and be pleasantly surprised.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Warehouse District/Riverfront · Albany · Wine Bar / American Small Plates
The Shaker & Vine is Albany's best argument for the self-pour wine bar format — the markup is shockingly fair, the riverside setting earns its keep, and the list is approachable without being embarrassing. Don't come hunting for rare producers, but do come for a relaxed pour with a view.
Solid Range
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Colonie · Albany · Classic Italian-American
Lombardo's wine list is the culinary equivalent of a comfortable booth — nothing revelatory, but nothing offensive, and it gets the job done alongside a plate of baked ziti. Send a friend here for the food and tell them to order the Barolo if they want to feel like they tried.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Albany · Albany · Steakhouse / Lounge
677 Prime Lounge is the wine list equivalent of a perfectly cooked strip steak — nothing surprising, nothing wrong, everything exactly where you expect it to be. If you're in Albany and someone else is buying, order the Silver Oak and enjoy the room; if you're watching your tab, lean on Jordan and don't let them upsell you to Caymus.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Albany · Albany · Traditional Greek and Mediterranean
Athos isn't trying to build the most ambitious wine program in New York State — it's trying to give you an honest Greek wine experience to go with honest Greek food, and it largely delivers. If you're eating moussaka and lamb in Albany, this is where your glass should be.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Albany · Albany · Modern American fine dining with Indonesian accents
Yono's is the best wine program in Albany and it's not particularly close — a thousand-label cellar, a sommelier who knows it, and a room built for the occasion. The markups are real and the by-the-glass list plays it safer than the cellar deserves, but if you're willing to lean on the staff and spend a little, this is one of the more serious wine experiences in upstate New York.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Carmel · Carmel By The Sea · Seafood
Catch is a dependable wine stop for a seafood dinner in Carmel — nothing here will disappoint you, but nothing will surprise you either. If you go in with calibrated expectations and order the Schramsberg with your crab, you'll leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Hood River · Hood River · Seafood
Votum is operating a world-class wine program in a town most people only stop through on the way to a hike — the depth of this cellar belongs in a major city restaurant, and the sommelier presence means you're not navigating it alone. The markups on the prestige bottles will sting, but find your entry point and this list rewards serious attention.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Bowen's Wharf · Newport · Seafood
The Lobster Bar isn't a wine destination, but it's a perfectly competent list for what the restaurant is — a casual waterfront spot where the lobster is the star. Order the Sancerre, eat the oysters, watch the boats.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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