Great Ribs, Forgotten Wine List
Oyster Point / Jefferson Avenue · Newport News · Barbecue, American · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 30, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Smoke BBQ Restaurant & Bar’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You open the menu expecting a token wine section and that's exactly what you get — four bottles, all from the same producer, all from the same grocery store shelf. This is a beer-and-bourbon spot that added wine because the printer had room. At least the prices won't hurt.
The entire wine program is Blossom Hill, full stop — White Zinfandel, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and Merlot. That's four labels, one brand, zero ambition. Blossom Hill is a mass-market California label you can grab at any Kroger for around eight bucks a bottle, which makes the $16 bottle price here feel like a wash rather than a rip-off. There are no regions to explore, no producers to discover, no surprises hiding anywhere on this list. If wine matters to you even a little, you're better off cracking a craft beer from their bar instead.
All four wines are available by the glass at $4.50 each, which is genuinely cheap and hard to argue with on a pure math level. The rotation is nonexistent — what you see is what you get, and what you get is the same four pours indefinitely. On Wine Down Wednesday, bottles drop to $8, which is essentially below retail and the only reason to think about wine here at all.
Blossom Hill Merlot — $16/bottle ($8 on Wednesdays)
If you're committed to ordering wine at a BBQ joint, at least the Merlot has enough body to stand up to smoked meat. On Wine Down Wednesday at $8 a bottle, it's a round of drinks, not a wine experience — and that's fine.
Blossom Hill White Zinfandel
Nobody orders White Zin at a BBQ restaurant and admits it, but a cold, slightly sweet rosé-adjacent pour actually works against spicy ribs and vinegary sauce. It's not a gem so much as a guilty secret that makes sense.
Blossom Hill Pinot Grigio
Light, neutral, and completely steamrolled by any smoked meat on the table. There's no scenario where a delicate Pinot Grigio belongs next to brisket. Order a beer.
Blossom Hill Merlot + Smoked Pork Barbecue Platter
The soft fruit and low tannins in the Merlot won't fight the smoky, sweet pork the way a bigger red would. It's not a revelation, but it's the one combo on this list that actually makes sense together.
Wednesday — Wine Down Wednesday: half off all bottles of house wine, all day.
The Bottom Line
Smoke BBQ is here for the brisket and the beer, and you should be too. The wine list is an afterthought dressed up in a single brand — come back on a Wednesday if you want cheap bottles to share, otherwise skip it entirely.
· Newport News · American Bistro
This isn't a wine list in the traditional sense — it's a producer showcase, and Second Street leans into it with a multi-course dinner format. If you're into Napa and trust the Spoto brand, it's a worthwhile evening; if you wanted options, you're out of luck.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Newport News · Italian
Carrabba's wine list does exactly what a chain wine list does: it keeps people comfortable and keeps margins high. If you're here for a business dinner or a family birthday, order the TerraMare house pour and move on — but don't come here expecting wine to be part of the experience.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · American
Cheddar's is a casual comfort-food chain, and the wine list reflects exactly that level of ambition — none. Order a beer or a cocktail and save the wine conversation for somewhere that wants to have it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · Steakhouse / Cocktail Bar
Steak & Tonic is a genuinely surprising find for Newport News — the wine ambitions outpace most steakhouses in its weight class, even if the execution can wobble and the pricing likely skews steep. It earns the Wild Card badge because it's the kind of place you walk into expecting a cocktail and walk out talking about the wine list.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · Wine Bar
Vino Noir Social isn't trying to be a Burgundy deep-dive — it's trying to be a good time in Newport News, and at these prices with a fully by-the-glass list, it mostly delivers. Send a friend who's still exploring wine and wants a low-stakes, affordable night out.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · Japanese / Sushi
Hayashi's wine list is exactly what it needs to be for a neighborhood sushi spot — fair prices, nothing weird, nothing special. Grab the Kung Fu Girl Riesling and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
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.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
