Great Ramen, Forgotten Wine List
Downtown · Ann Arbor · Japanese-inspired ramen, noodle dishes, and izakaya-style small plates · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 4, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Slurping Turtle is exactly what you'd expect when a restaurant's identity is fully built around ramen and izakaya plates — wine is an afterthought, handed over in nine labels like someone Googled 'wine list template' and called it a day. It's not offensive, but it's not trying either. If you came here hoping to find something interesting to drink with your Tan Tan Men, adjust your expectations now.
Nine labels. That's the whole show. You've got your Italy box checked with Placido Pinot Grigio, a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc from Kono, a Washington Riesling from Chateau Ste. Michelle, and a smattering of California reds that feel like they were pulled from a grocery store end cap. The Gassac Chardonnay from Languedoc-Roussillon is the one label that hints at someone caring, even briefly, about where wine actually comes from. The rest — Light Horse Cab, Parducci Pinot Noir, Tinto Negro Malbec — are perfectly fine brands that you've seen at every mid-tier chain restaurant in America. There are no regional producers, no nods to Japan's natural wine scene, no sake even attempting to anchor the list to the cuisine. A missed opportunity at every turn.
Eight of the nine bottles are available by the glass, which is genuinely the one win here — you're not forced into a full bottle of something mediocre. Pours run $7.50 to $13.00, which sounds reasonable until you realize these are supermarket-tier wines at restaurant prices. There's no rotation, no seasonal additions, and no sense that anyone is looking at this list more than once a quarter.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling Columbia Valley — $7.50/gl, $28/btl
Ste. Michelle Riesling is a reliable, food-friendly bottle that actually makes sense with the spicy ramen menu. At $28 a bottle it's the most defensible price on the list, and off-dry Riesling is one of the better calls you can make against a bowl of Tan Tan Men.
Terra D'Oro Zinfandel Amador County CA
Nobody is ordering Zinfandel at a ramen bar, which is kind of the point. Amador County Zin runs bigger and bolder than most people expect, and if you're going heavy on the duck fat fried chicken, this is the one red on the list with enough personality to hold its own. Most tables will ignore it completely.
Light Horse Cabernet Sauvignon Napa CA
At $50 a bottle, you're paying Napa prices for a label that retails around $12–$15 at most wine shops. Cabernet Sauvignon has no business being the most expensive bottle at a noodle bar, and this one isn't close to worth it. Order the Riesling and move on.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling Columbia Valley + Tan Tan Men spicy ramen
Off-dry Riesling is one of the most reliable heat tamers in the glass — the residual sugar and bright acidity cut through chili oil and rich sesame broth without fighting the bowl for attention. It's the most logical wine decision you can make at this restaurant.
❌ The Bottom Line
Slurping Turtle is a genuinely fun spot to eat, and the ramen deserves your full attention — but the wine list is on cruise control and nobody seems to mind. Stick to a glass of Riesling or grab a beer, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that reciprocates it.
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