Sushi Blues
Half-Price Wednesdays Make This Worth It
Unknown · Raleigh · Japanese-American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 17, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Sushi Blues is short, familiar, and entirely unambitious — 18 labels that read like the shelf at a mid-tier grocery store. That's not a dealbreaker at a casual sushi spot, but it does set expectations. You're not here to geek out on wine; you're here to drink something cold while eating a spicy tuna roll.
Selection Deep Dive
Eighteen labels covers California, Italy, New Zealand, and Argentina, which sounds broad until you realize it's just the greatest hits: Joel Gott Chardonnay, Matua Sauvignon Blanc, Los Cardos Malbec, BOEN Pinot Noir. These are airport-lounge staples, not hidden discoveries. There's no real old-world depth, no interesting outliers, and the Italian representation tops out at Risata Red Moscato — a sweet sparkling red that's more dessert than dinner. The list does its job without trying very hard.
By the Glass
Nine whites and eight reds by the glass is actually a decent pour count for a restaurant this size, and the $7–$10 glass pricing is genuinely accessible. The problem is that every glass option maps directly to a mass-market bottle you've seen a hundred times, so rotation and discovery aren't really part of the equation here. What you see is what you get, every time.
Joel Gott Chardonnay — $40/bottle
At a 100% markup it's the most fairly priced bottle on the list — retails around $20, and Joel Gott is a reliably clean, unoaked-leaning Chardonnay that actually works with sushi. Come on a Wednesday or Sunday and you're getting it for $20, which is basically retail.
Matua Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with sushi is genuinely one of the better casual pairings out there — the grapefruit and grassy bite cut through soy sauce and fatty fish better than most whites on this list. Most people reach for red out of habit; don't.
Woodbridge Pinot Grigio
A 180% markup on a $10 Woodbridge is a tough ask. This is a Costco-tier wine being priced like it has somewhere to be. At $28 a bottle, you can do better almost anywhere else on the list.
Matua Sauvignon Blanc + Spicy Tuna Roll
The bright citrus and herbal snap of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc cuts right through the heat and richness of spicy tuna. It's a no-brainer combination that a lot of diners walk right past on their way to ordering a Malbec.
Wednesday and Sunday — Half-price bottles of wine on both Wednesday and Sunday nights
✔️ The Bottom Line
Sushi Blues isn't a wine destination, but the half-price bottle nights on Wednesday and Sunday change the math entirely — a steep list becomes a reasonable one fast. Show up on a weeknight, order the Matua, eat your rolls, and don't overthink it.
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