Great Views, Safe Pours, No Surprises
Waterfront · Albany · Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
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 →
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.
· Albany · Italian, Steakhouse, Seafood
Choose by budget, check bottle size, and confirm the current menu. We haven't independently assessed service, glassware or storage.
Downtown Albany · Albany · Steakhouse
Order by the glass and explore: the posted menu gives you Riesling, Chablis, Cahors and Rioja without a bottle commitment. Pentimento at $16 is our price-conscious red starting point. Check the current list before ordering; the complete cellar, service and storage haven't been independently verified.
West Albany · Albany · Italian
Grappa ’72 gives you several ways into Italian wine without committing to a prestige bottle. Our move is Nozzole Chianti Classico Riserva at $47/bottle for the table, or Bigi Orvietto at $9/glass if you want your own white. Confirm the current vintage and price when ordering.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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
· Sonoma · Seafood
Willi's is a wild card in the best sense — a casual Sonoma seafood bar running a wine list that belongs in a much more serious room. The by-the-glass depth alone is worth showing up for, and the pricing is honest by the region's standards. If you're anywhere near Healdsburg, order the Assyrtiko and thank us later.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Healdsburg · Seafood
The Marshall Store earns its reputation as a low-key, scenic spot for fresh West Coast oysters and smoked salmon — and if that's your mission, it delivers. But the wine program is effectively an afterthought: undocumented, uncurated, and not a reason to visit. Bring a bottle from one of the Healdsburg producers down the road, check the corkage policy at the door, and spend your energy on the food.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Healdsburg · Seafood
Nick's Cove earns a Wild Card badge because it's doing something specific and doing it with conviction: a seafood restaurant on the Sonoma Coast that built its list around sparkling wine and Chardonnay is a confident, logical bet. The markups get steep as you climb the ladder — Cristal at $750 and Dom Pérignon at $650 are priced for occasion, not for value — but there are real finds at the $80-$155 range if you know where to look. Come for the Failla, stay for the Radio-Coteau.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
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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