Vermont's Quiet Overachiever Hiding in Plain Sight
Ferrisburgh · American, Seasonal · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed September 14, 2026 · How we review
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.
Hudson Yards · New York · American, Seasonal
A hotel restaurant whose list opens with a 13-pour glass page and then moves through Champagne, Burgundy, Austria and other regions. Start with the $29 Prager Grüner Veltliner or the $24 Do Ferreiro Albariño by the glass alongside the chilled oysters, and confirm current pricing since the list is dated 09.30.26. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Lovejoy Wharf · Boston · American, Seasonal
A compact glass list and a bottle list sorted by mood instead of grape, with a $55 floor and a few real splurges at the top. Start with the $55 Jean Foillard Beaujolais-Villages or the $63 Domaine de la Noblaie Chinon, and confirm availability because the bottle list is dated 4.19.26. This unrated guide covers the posted wine and drinks lists, not service, storage or markups.
Millcreek Canyon · Salt Lake City · American, Seasonal
A wide-ranging list that posts names and vintages but almost no prices. Try the Kranso Belo by the glass, or the Longoria "Lovely Rita" Pinot Noir with the elk loin, and ask your server what each costs. The page is undated apart from the 1998 - 2024 award badge, so confirm availability. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
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