Vermont's Quiet Overachiever Hiding in Plain Sight
Ferrisburgh · American, Seasonal · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 14, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Starry Night Cafe’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're driving up Route 7 through Ferrisburgh, Vermont — a town that doesn't exactly scream wine destination — and then this cozy, candlelit room hands you a list of 80-plus bottles anchored by Ridge, Fattoi, and Robert Sinskey. It earns its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, and that's not something we say lightly about a spot that doubles as a romantic countryside hideaway. The gap between expectation and reality here is legitimately fun.
California and France anchor the list, which tracks with the WS credential, but there are some genuinely thoughtful detours — a Bussola Valpolicella Ripasso from Verona, a Fattoi Brunello di Montalcino, and d'Arenberg from McLaren Vale all signal someone actually curated this thing. The price range runs $50 to $156, which for a 80-120 bottle list in rural Vermont is ambitious but not delusional. There are no obvious filler brands — even the entry-level Rabble Zinfandel at $56 is a real wine, not a placeholder. The California focus runs deep enough that Zin fans specifically will feel at home.
Twelve to eighteen options by the glass is genuinely strong for this corner of Vermont, and it means you can explore without committing to a full bottle on a Tuesday night. We don't have a confirmed rotation schedule, but the program's overall seriousness suggests these aren't just whatever's leftover. If the by-the-glass list tracks the bottle list at all, you're in decent shape.
d'Arenberg 'The Footbolt' Shiraz 2021 — $50
The Footbolt is a reliably expressive McLaren Vale Shiraz from one of Australia's most respected producers, and at $50 it's the most accessible entry point on a list that climbs quickly. Dark fruit, savory earthiness, and enough structure to handle the kitchen's heavier dishes — this is the bottle you order when you want to drink well without overthinking it.
Bussola 'Ca'del Laito' Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore 2020
Most people at a Vermont country restaurant are going to reach for California Cab or Zin and never look back. That's a miss. Bussola is a serious Valpolicella producer and the Ripasso method — refermented over Amarone skins — gives you a wine that drinks much bigger than its price implies. It's brooding, earthy, and complex in a way that tends to surprise people who've only ever had watery Valpolicella from a grocery shelf.
Fattoi 'Brunello di Montalcino' D.O.C.G. 2019
Look, Fattoi makes a fine Brunello and the 2019 vintage is strong — this isn't a knock on the wine. But at $156 on a restaurant list, you're paying a steep premium for a bottle that needs years of additional cellaring to show its best. Drink it now and you're fighting tannins all night. Unless you've specifically planned a Brunello splurge, your money works harder elsewhere on this list.
Robert Sinskey Vineyards 'POV' Merlot · Cabernet Sauvignon · Cabernet Franc 2018 + High-End Steak Entrée
Sinskey's POV is a Napa-adjacent blend built for exactly this moment — enough Cabernet Franc lift to cut through fat, enough Merlot softness to not bully the plate. Against a serious steak at this price point, it's the kind of pairing that makes the whole table go quiet for a second.
The Bottom Line
Starry Night Cafe is the wine list you don't expect to find in Ferrisburgh, Vermont — and that's precisely the point. Send your friends here, tell them to skip the Brunello, and let the Ripasso do the talking.
Decorah · Decorah · American, Seasonal
Rubaiyat has held a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2009, and the list earns it — not by being adventurous, but by being well-chosen, fairly priced, and genuinely cared for in a town where that's not a given. If you're in Decorah and want a proper bottle with dinner, this is your place.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Phoenix · Phoenix · American, Seasonal
Flour & Thyme earned its Wine Spectator credential, and the Tuesday half-price night makes this one of the better wine value plays in downtown Phoenix. Steer clear of the Caymus, order the Jordan, and let the wood-fired kitchen do the rest.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Lower East Side · Milwaukee · American, Seasonal
Sanford is quietly one of the most serious wine lists in the Midwest, and its three-decade Wine Spectator track record is no accident. Send your friends here when they think Milwaukee can't do fine dining — then watch them stop talking halfway through the first glass.
Solid Range
Fair
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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