Shires' Rooftop

The wine list at Shires' Rooftop reads like a globe-trotting happy hour menu — approachable, international, and built for groups who want options without stress. Nothing here is going to make a serious collector sit up straight, but that's not the point. This is a rooftop with a panoramic view of Cincinnati, and the list knows its room.

The list pulls from a solid spread of regions — Spain, Italy, New Zealand, Argentina, Oregon, California, and even a local nod with the Revel OTR Pinot Gris from Cincinnati. You're not going to find obscure grower Champagne or aged Barolo hiding in the corners, but the breadth is respectable for a rooftop program. La Spinetta Sangiovese and Elouan Oregon Pinot Noir are legitimate picks that punch above their rooftop-bar-on-a-Tuesday context. The gaps are on the red side — depth thins out quickly once you move past the approachable crowd-pleasers.

Ten-plus options by the glass is a solid count, and the range spans sparkling, white, and red without leaning too hard in any one direction. The Dos Minas Torrontés and the Kentia Albariño are the kind of pours you don't usually see on a rooftop program, which earns points. Happy hour brings those pours down to $10, which changes the math considerably.