Roanoke's quiet overachiever, glass by glass
· Roanoke · Fine Dining / New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 3, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Table 50’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The list at Table 50 opens with a sense of purpose — 68 labels isn't enormous, but it's not trying to be. What catches your eye immediately is the by-the-glass program: 15 options spanning reds, whites, sparkling, and even fortified wines, all priced between $8 and $13. For a fine dining room in Roanoke, that's a genuinely thoughtful spread.
The bottle list covers a respectable amount of ground — California cabs, Argentine Malbec, a Spanish Castilla y León red, a Côtes du Rhône, and a South African Chenin Blanc all share real estate here. It's not a deep cellar, but it's curated with more intention than most rooms at this price point. The fortified wine section is the sleeper — Alvear Pedro Ximénez Solera 1927, Marques de Poley Oloroso Sherry, and Warre's Warrior Ruby Porto give the list genuine character that you wouldn't expect in a mid-size Virginia city. Gaps exist in natural wine and old-world depth, but the bones are solid.
Fifteen pours by the glass is an above-average offering, and the price ceiling of $13 (for the Twenty Bench Cab) keeps things accessible. The range hits whites, reds, rosé, sparkling, and even a Tawny Port, which means you can drink your way through the whole meal without touching a bottle. Rotation doesn't appear to be active — this reads more like a fixed program — but the selections are diverse enough that you won't feel stuck.
Fair Valley Chenin Blanc Western Cape 2022 — $9/glass
South African Chenin Blanc at $9 a glass is one of wine's great value propositions anywhere. Fair Valley delivers texture and energy at a price that feels almost accidental — this should be on every table.
Alvear Pedro Ximenez Solera 1927
Most diners will scroll right past this $50 bottle of PX Sherry without a second glance. That's a mistake. A solera started in 1927 means this wine has been evolving for nearly a century — concentrated, raisined, and unlike anything else on the list. Order it with dessert and thank us later.
Poquito Moscato Valencia
At $16 a bottle it's not a rip-off, but it's the list's least interesting corner. If you want something sweet and low-stakes, the Sourgal Moscato d'Asti at $18 has actual complexity and fizz to back it up. Skip the Valencia.
Quinta Sardonia Sardon Castilla Y Leon 2022 + Chef's featured meat dish
Castilla y León reds are built for roasted and braised proteins — structured tannins, dark fruit, earthy backbone. At $12 a glass, the Quinta Sardonia is the most serious red on the by-the-glass list and deserves to be matched with something equally substantial off the menu.
The Bottom Line
Table 50 does more with 68 labels than most fine dining rooms do with twice as many — the fortified wine section alone earns it a second look. If you're eating in Roanoke and care about what's in your glass, this is where you go.
Downtown Roanoke · Roanoke · Cocktail Bar with Neapolitan-style Pizza
Stellina is a cocktail bar that happens to have a thoughtful four-bottle wine list, which is more than most cocktail bars can say. If you're there for the vibe and the pizza, the wine program will take care of you just fine — don't show up expecting a deep cellar.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hollins / North Roanoke · Roanoke · Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi
Tokyo is a hibachi restaurant that happens to have wine, not the other way around — and that's fine, but don't make the wine the reason you come. Stick to the sake options, keep your glass price low, and enjoy the show.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Valley View / North Roanoke · Roanoke · American Chain
TGI Friday's Roanoke is a fine place to grab a beer or a Jack and Coke, but the wine program is a corporate afterthought with steep markups on bottom-shelf bottles. Order a cocktail, save the wine for somewhere that gives a damn.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
South Roanoke / Franklin Road · Roanoke · American
Shakers isn't a wine destination — it's a reliable neighborhood spot where the wine program does its job without drama. If you're here for ribs and a casual pour, you'll leave satisfied; just don't show up expecting discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Valley View / North Roanoke · Roanoke · Mexican
Abuelo's wine list exists to check a box, not to enhance your dinner — stick to the cocktails and revisit this list never. If someone at your table insists on wine, go Joel Gott and call it a night.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Southern Hills / Franklin Road · Roanoke · Steakhouse Chain
The markups are honest and the Mollydooker pour is a genuine saving grace, but this list exists to check a corporate box, not to help you drink well. Order the Mollydooker with your steak, skip any bottle over $40, and keep your expectations calibrated to the Bloomin' Onion energy of the room.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bent Street / Historic District · Taos · Fine Dining / New American
Lambert's is a reliable dinner destination in Taos, and the wine list won't ruin your night — but it won't make it either. Send a friend here for the elk tenderloin; tell them to order the Duckhorn and not overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Healdsburg Plaza · Sonoma · Fine Dining / New American
Dry Creek Kitchen is the rare restaurant where the wine list is genuinely worth the trip on its own merits — deep, local, curated by someone with taste and access. If you're in Sonoma and you care about wine, this is a must.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Emerald Bay Road (near The Y) · South Lake Tahoe · Fine Dining / New American
Evan's is the right place for a proper Tahoe date night, and the wine list won't let you down — as long as you go in knowing it's built for comfort, not discovery. Stick to the Kistler or Flowers and you'll drink well; chase the obvious names and you'll overpay for the privilege.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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