Great Beer, Forgot Wine Was a Thing
South Burlington · Burlington · Southern-inspired BBQ and Smokehouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 24, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You open the menu at Switchback and the wine list is three lines long — and honestly, those three lines feel like an afterthought someone added at the last minute to avoid the question. This is a brewery, full stop, and the wine program exists the way a spare tire exists: technically there, not something anyone's excited about.
Three wines. That's the list. A Copper Moon Malbec from Argentina, a Heron Sauvignon Blanc from California, and a Peller Estates Rosé from Canada that is explicitly labeled sweet. There's no depth to analyze, no regional story to unpack, no producer worth getting excited about — these are grocery store shelf staples that cost less than a six-pack wholesale. If you're hoping for something that complements the smokehouse menu in an interesting way, you're not finding it here.
Everything on the list is available by the glass, which sounds generous until you realize the list is only three bottles deep. Prices run $7–$10 a glass, which is fair for what they are, but the rotation appears to be permanent — there's no evidence anything on this list has changed recently or will anytime soon.
Copper Moon Malbec — $10
It's the most food-friendly option on a three-wine list, and at $10 a glass it won't hurt. Not exciting, but it can hang with smoked pork better than the other two.
Heron Sauvignon Blanc
Nobody comes to a BBQ joint looking for Sauvignon Blanc, but if you're skipping meat and ordering something lighter, this is the only option that won't feel completely out of place. Low bar, but it clears it.
Peller Estates Rose (Sweet)
A sweet Canadian rosé is a hard sell alongside smoked brisket and pulled pork. Unless dessert wine with your SwitchBrat Sandwich is your thing, leave this one alone.
Copper Moon Malbec + Pork
Malbec and smoked pork is a classic enough pairing that even a grocery-tier bottle can get the job done. The fruit-forward weight of the Copper Moon at least echoes the richness of the smoke without getting completely lost.
❌ The Bottom Line
Switchback is a brewery first, second, and third — the wine list is purely ceremonial. Order a beer, it's what they do, and they do it well.
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Foam is a brewery first, but the wine program punches way above its weight class — it's small, local, and priced like they actually want you to drink it. If you're on Burlington's waterfront and want something interesting in your glass that isn't a hazy IPA, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Burlington · New American with Vegan Options
The Daily Planet isn't a wine destination, but it has the instincts of one — a thoughtful natural wine pick, Monday half-price bottles, and fair pricing in a casual room that doesn't take itself too seriously. Send a friend here on a Monday and tell them to ask about the orange wine.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Burlington · New American Bistro
The Gryphon is a reliable neighborhood bistro with a wine list that matches its ambitions exactly: familiar, functional, and forgettable. Come for the burgers and brick walls, but don't expect the wine to be the highlight of your night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Burlington · Neapolitan wood-fired pizza and Italian cuisine
Pizzeria Verità isn't trying to be a wine destination and it doesn't need to be — it's a smart, Italy-focused list with honest markups and a few genuinely interesting bottles tucked in among the crowd-pleasers. Go for the pizza, order the Nebbiolo or the Cirò, and leave happy.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Church Street Marketplace · Burlington · Upscale American Steakhouse
EB Strong's has a wine list that does the job well and occasionally surprises you — especially if you look past the Caymus and dig into the European picks. Wednesday's half-price bottle program makes it one of the better wine-value nights in Burlington, full stop.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront · Burlington · Seasonal New American, farm-to-table
Hen of the Wood Burlington is the rare restaurant where the wine list is as considered as the food, and that's saying something when the kitchen is this good. If you're driving through Vermont and care about what's in your glass, this is worth a reservation.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
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