Great Views, Safe Pours, No Surprises
Waterfront · Albany · Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 15, 2026
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
Highland Street · Worcester · Seafood
The Sole Proprietor is a reliable, crowd-pleasing list that does exactly what a classic seafood institution should — it just won't thrill anyone looking for adventure or a fair deal on the big names. Order the oysters, pick the DuMol, and leave the Opus One for someone else's expense account.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Riverside · Riverside · Seafood
Red Lobster Riverside isn't a wine destination — it's a seafood chain with a wine list that exists because it has to. If you're here, drink the Riesling or the Prosecco, enjoy your biscuits, and keep your expectations calibrated accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Canyon Crest / Riverside Plaza area · Riverside · Seafood
Market Broiler Riverside is a dependable night out for seafood — the wine list won't excite anyone who's been paying attention, but it won't embarrass you either. Send a friend here for dinner without hesitation; just don't tell them to geek out on the wine program.
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.