Come for the beer, skip the wine
Downtown · Appleton · Brewpub / American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 14, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Stone Arch Brewpub’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Stone Arch is a genuinely charming brewpub — exposed brick, warm light, the smell of something fermenting nearby — and the wine list feels like an afterthought stapled to the back of a menu that really just wants to talk about beer. Ten wines, all by the glass, and you've seen every single one of them at a gas station.
The list reads like someone grabbed the nearest box wine display and called it a program. Bota Box dominates with four entries — Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and their Redvolution blend — which is fine for what it is but not something you'd brag about. There's a Giesen Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand that shows at least one person glanced at a wine import catalog, and Washington Hills Riesling rounds out the whites with mild respectability. Beyond that, a mini bottle of Freixenet sparkler and a Barefoot Moscato round out a list that covers the crowd-pleaser bases and exactly none of the interesting ones.
Everything on the list is available by the glass, which sounds generous until you realize the entire list is ten bottles deep. Prices run $6–$8, which is honestly hard to argue with given the zip code and the context. Rotation appears nonexistent — this list has the energy of something that hasn't changed since the Obama administration.
Giesen Sauvignon Blanc — $8
Giesen is a legitimate New Zealand producer making bright, grassy Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc that punches well above box-wine territory. At $8 a glass in a Wisconsin brewpub, it's the one pick here that feels like an actual wine recommendation rather than damage control.
Washington Hills Riesling
Nobody orders Riesling at a brewpub, which is a shame because a well-made Washington Riesling — with its balance of fruit and acidity — actually holds its own at a table full of fried food. Most people will walk right past it for a Bota box pour. Their loss.
Barefoot Moscato
Barefoot Moscato is the wine equivalent of a participation trophy. It's sweet, it's simple, and it has no business being the impression anyone forms of wine here. Order a house beer instead — you're at a brewpub.
Giesen Sauvignon Blanc + Wisconsin Beer Cheese Soup
It sounds like a contradiction, but the sharp acidity in the Giesen cuts right through the richness of a heavy cheese soup and resets your palate between spoonfuls. It's the most functional wine pairing this list can produce, and it actually works.
❌ The Bottom Line
Stone Arch earns its reputation on craft beer, full stop — the wine list is a courtesy offering for whoever at the table doesn't drink beer, not a reason to come in thirsty for something from a bottle. Order a pint, enjoy the atmosphere, and save your wine ambitions for another night.
Unknown · Appleton · Brazilian Steakhouse (Churrascaria)
Texas de Brazil is about the meat, full stop — and the wine list makes no effort to pretend otherwise. Come for the endless churrasco, but don't come here expecting the wine to keep up with the kitchen.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Greater Appleton / Fox Cities · Appleton · Winery Bistro
LaBelle Winery Fox Cities is a genuine Wild Card in the Appleton dining scene — a focused, single-producer list of cold-hardy grapes you won't find anywhere else in town. Send a friend who's curious and open-minded; skip it if they need a Cabernet.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Appleton · Appleton · Italian
Carmella's is the kind of place that has no business having this good a wine list — and that's meant as a compliment. The markups on the top-shelf bottles sting, but the depth and seriousness of the Italian selection alone make it worth a visit for anyone who wants to drink well in Wisconsin.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Appleton · Appleton · Italian
Victoria's isn't a wine destination, but the prices are honest, the Italian picks are legitimate, and a $10 Chianti Riserva with a massive plate of pasta is a genuinely good night out. Send your friends here if they want comfort food and an easy bottle — just don't expect anyone to geek out over the list with you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Appleton · Appleton · Japanese
Katsu-Ya is a perfectly solid Japanese restaurant where the wine list exists as an obligation, not a feature. Come for the katsu and ramen, order sake or a Sapporo, and if you must have wine, grab the Koshu and move on.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Appleton area · Appleton · Steakhouse
Wissota Chophouse is a reliable stop for a well-poured glass of something familiar alongside a good steak — just don't expect the wine list to be the reason you drove here. Stick to the mid-tier bottles, avoid the trophy wines, and you'll leave satisfied.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Historic Downtown · Bethlehem · Brewpub / American
Fegley's Bethlehem Brew Works is a genuinely great brewpub doing a lot of things right — wine just isn't one of them. Come for the craft beer, skip the wine list, and nobody gets hurt.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Riverfront / Downtown Ogden · Ogden · Brewpub / American
Ogden Beer Company is a genuinely fun riverfront spot — just order a Cougar Juice wheat and call it a day. The wine list exists, technically, but it's not trying to impress anyone and you shouldn't let it impress you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Billings · Brewpub / American
Montana Brewing Company is a great brewpub that happens to sell wine out of obligation, not passion. Order the beer, enjoy the burger, and if someone at your table insists on wine, the H3 Cab will get them through the night.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.