Classic Cellar Confidence in a Victorian Shell
Downtown · Raleigh · Contemporary American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 16, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Second Empire arrives with the same quiet confidence as the dining room itself — a restored Victorian mansion that knows exactly what it is. You're not getting surprises here; you're getting a curated, classically-minded cellar that skews heavily toward the power regions. It's the kind of list that makes a certain diner very happy and makes the adventurous wine drinker wish there were a few more curveballs.
The 200-350 bottle list leans hard on Napa, Burgundy, Bordeaux, and the Rhône — the holy quadrant of fine dining wine programs circa 2005, and one that still lands well in a room like this. Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon and Kistler Chardonnay anchor the California side, while Louis Jadot handles the Burgundy duties with reliable authority. The Rhône representation adds some welcome texture to what might otherwise feel like a greatest-hits anthology. What's missing is any meaningful exploration of emerging regions, natural producers, or value-oriented appellations — this list was built to impress a corporate expense account, not to educate.
With 15-25 by-the-glass options, there's enough range to navigate a full meal without committing to a bottle. The selections mirror the bottle list's classical bent, so expect Napa Cabernet, white Burgundy-adjacent Chardonnay, and perhaps a Rhône red in rotation. Don't expect anything poured by the glass to represent strong value at this price point — but the quality of what's in the glass tends to justify the pour.
Louis Jadot Burgundy (Bourgogne Rouge or Mâcon-Villages) — null
In a list tilted toward Napa trophy bottles, the Louis Jadot entry-level Burgundy selections offer the most honest drink for the dollar — proper terroir, reliable quality, and a price point that won't send you into sticker shock the way the California side of the list will.
Rhône Valley selections
Most tables in a room like this gravitate toward the Napa Cabs and the Burgundies. The Rhône Valley bottles — likely Grenache-based reds from the southern Rhône or Syrah-driven wines from the north — are where the kitchen's duck breast finds its best match and where you're least likely to pay a trophy-wine premium.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
Stag's Leap is a perfectly good Napa Cab — but it's also one of the most over-ordered, over-marked-up bottles in American fine dining. At a $$$$ restaurant with steep markups, you're likely paying 3-4x retail for a wine you could find at any well-stocked bottle shop. The name does a lot of work here that the wine itself doesn't need to.
Kistler Chardonnay + Seared Scallops
Kistler's Chardonnay brings enough weight and restrained oak to stand up to the richness of seared scallops without overwhelming the delicate brine. It's a textbook match — which, in a room this classical, is exactly what you want.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Second Empire is a reliable, professionally managed wine program that delivers what it promises — classical regions, proper storage, knowledgeable staff, and serious glassware. Just know going in that you're paying a fine dining premium throughout, and the list won't reward adventurous drinkers looking to wander off the beaten path.
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