Cheap Pours, Legit Thai, No Complaints
Lincoln Park · Duluth · Thai · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 12, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Thai by Thai’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Eight wines, all available by the glass, priced between $7 and $8 a pour — Thai by Thai is not trying to be a wine destination, and it knows it. What it is doing is keeping things cheap, approachable, and honest, which is more than you can say for plenty of spots with twice the bottle count. The list fits on a napkin, and at these prices, you're not going to stress about it.
This is an all-California lineup with zero pretense: Dark Horse, Mark West, McManis, Hess Select — these are grocery-store staples, not cellar finds. The eight labels cover the obvious bases (Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cab, Zinfandel) without any regional surprises or producer deep-cuts. There's no old world, no skin-contact curiosity, no esoteric Rhône blend hiding in the corner. What's here is exactly what a casual downtown Thai joint's clientele will recognize and order without blinking.
Every bottle on the list is also available by the glass, which keeps things simple and low-commitment. At $7–$8 a pour, this is some of the most affordable restaurant wine in Duluth, full stop. Don't expect rotation or discovery — these pours have probably been the same since opening day.
Kung Fu Girl Riesling — $27/bottle
Kung Fu Girl is a genuinely solid Washington Riesling that retails around $12–$14, and at $27 a bottle it's barely marked up at all. It's also the smartest match for spicy Thai food on this entire list — off-dry, bright with stone fruit and citrus, and built to take the heat out of a bowl of Drunken Noodles.
McManis Zinfandel
Nobody orders Zinfandel at a Thai restaurant, and that's exactly why you should consider it. McManis is a reliable, fruit-forward Zin that overdelivers for its price point, and at $29 a bottle it's a low-stakes way to go a little sideways from the usual Pinot Grigio crowd.
Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon
Hess Select Cab is a fine wine in the right context, but it's the wrong call here — big, tannic red wine and spicy Thai food fight each other, and there's no winning that battle. Order the Riesling and save yourself the trouble.
Kung Fu Girl Riesling + Drunken Noodle
The off-dry character of Kung Fu Girl gives you a touch of sweetness to soften the heat from the chilies, while the wine's acidity cuts through the savory, soy-forward sauce. It's the most food-friendly bottle on the list matched with the kitchen's most assertive dish — a genuinely good call.
The Bottom Line
Thai by Thai isn't here to impress a wine crowd, and that's completely fine — at $7 a glass and $27 a bottle, this is a no-stress, just-drink-something spot where the food is the reason you came anyway. Order the Kung Fu Girl Riesling, get the Drunken Noodle, and stop overthinking it.
Downtown · Duluth · Italian-American and Pizza
Sammy's is a Duluth institution and the pizza earns its reputation — the wine list is just not the point, and the restaurant isn't pretending otherwise. Order a beer or grab the cheapest glass pour, eat the pizza, and be happy.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Canal Park · Duluth · American, Bar, Pizza
Old Chicago Duluth isn't a wine destination and doesn't pretend to be — it's a reliable fallback for the table member who wants a glass of something decent while everyone else works through the tap list. If you stick to the Ste. Michelle Riesling, you'll leave satisfied; just don't come here expecting anything that will make you put down your pizza.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Duluth · Duluth · American, bar & grill
Grandma's Saloon is a genuinely fun West Duluth institution, but the wine list is an afterthought and everyone involved knows it. Order a local beer, enjoy the ribs, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that shares it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Miller Hill · Duluth · American, bar & grill
Grandma's Miller Hill is a beloved Duluth institution, but the wine list has never been the reason to show up — and with the location closing in May 2026, it's not getting better. Order a beer, enjoy the nostalgia, and save the wine for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Miller Hill · Duluth · Casual American steakhouse with Australian-themed branding
Outback Duluth is a perfectly fine place to eat a steak; it is not a place to think about wine. Order the Alamos Malbec, enjoy your sirloin, and save the wine exploration for somewhere that's doing the work.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fitger's / Waterfront · Duluth · Upscale American
Boat Club is a reliable wine room for Duluth — a sommelier on staff, a genuinely broad glass pour program, and a Monday half-price bottle deal that should be on every local's calendar. The markups keep it from being a Rager, but if you play the specials and lean into the European selections, you'll drink well with a great view.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Santa Ynez Valley · Solvang · Thai
Na Na Thai is a genuinely surprising wine program hiding inside a casual Thai spot in Buellton — fair prices, smart curation, and a clear point of view about what wines belong with spice-driven food. If you're driving through wine country and want something that earns its own kind of credibility, this list is worth the detour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
The Y / Emerald Bay Road · South Lake Tahoe · Thai
My Thai is a genuine Wild Card — a family Thai joint that somehow assembled a Napa Cab-heavy wine list with real bottles on it, even if the pairing logic is questionable and the markups climb fast. Come for the green curry, order the Santadi, and marvel at the fact that Heitz Trailside exists on this menu at all.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Southgate · Missoula · Thai
Zoo Thai has no business having a wine list this interesting, and that's meant as a compliment. If you're eating Thai in Missoula and you care at all about what's in your glass, this is the move.
Small but Thoughtful
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.
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