Safe Landing for a Solid Bottle
Colonie · Albany · American
Updated October 2026
Reviewed April 8, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed The Aviator’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The Aviator's wine list reads like a greatest hits album you've heard a thousand times — Rombauer, Caymus, Meiomi, front and center. It's not offensive, but it's not trying very hard either. For an upscale pub near the airport, it gets the job done without asking too many interesting questions.
Eighty labels sounds like room to stretch, but the list leans hard on California and Napa with a nod to Tuscany via the Antinori Chianti Classico. You're not going to stumble onto a Jura Poulsard or an underdog Ribera del Duero here — this is a list built for guests who want something familiar and comforting, like the aviation-themed decor around them. The Tuscan entry from Antinori is genuinely the most interesting thing on the list, and it still feels like a crowd play. Gaps in Burgundy, Rhône, Spain, and anything remotely natural are wide enough to fly a plane through.
Ten by-the-glass options is a reasonable count for this format, and the $11–$18 range is accessible. Don't expect a rotating program or anything that'll make you put your phone down — these pours are static and predictable, but at least they're properly stemmed and not served in a mason jar.
Antinori Chianti Classico — $48
Without confirmed retail pricing in the data, we can't do the math — but Antinori Chianti Classico is the lone bottle on this list with actual regional character and producer credibility. In a sea of California staples, it's the most honest drink for your money and cuts through the Short Rib Mac & Cheese like it was born to.
Antinori Chianti Classico
Most people at this bar are ordering Meiomi or Rombauer without a second glance, which means this Tuscan bottle from one of Italy's most respected houses just sits there waiting. It's the only wine on the list with any real story behind it — and most tables will walk right past it.
Meiomi Pinot Noir 2022
At $48 a bottle, you're paying more than double what this wines fetches at any decent wine shop. Meiomi is a $22 retail bottle that lives on grocery store shelves — a 118% markup on something this ubiquitous is a hard pass. Order it by the glass if you must, or skip it entirely.
Antinori Chianti Classico + Short Rib Mac & Cheese
Chianti Classico's bright acidity and Sangiovese grip cut through the richness of braised short rib and cheesy pasta without drowning either one. It's the kind of contrast that makes both the food and the wine taste more interesting than they would alone.
The Bottom Line
The Aviator is a reliable neighborhood spot where the wine list does its job without embarrassing anyone — but the markups on recognizable labels sting, and there's zero adventure here. Send your friends if they're ordering Caymus anyway; steer them toward the Antinori if they'll listen.
Loudonville · Albany · New American Steakhouse
A steakhouse wine page with a long glass list and a Coravin group for bigger names, but no prices online, so judge it by phone or at the table. For a steak, try the Jordan Cabernet or the Caymus from the Sommelier Selections; for something different, the Hermann J. Wiemer Dry Riesling. Confirm what is pouring and the prices before you order, since the page is undated and says selections may vary. This unrated guide covers the posted wine page, not service, storage or markups.
West End · Albany · British Pub
A short pub wine list where every one of the 15 wines has both a glass and a bottle price. Order the $27 Gionelli Pinot Grigio, or the $45 Tarani Malbec for a red; both are also poured by the glass, at $9 and $13. Confirm current availability and prices. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Delmar · Albany · American
Normanside's posted drink menu is short and glass-friendly, with 23 wines carrying a glass price from $9 to $15. Order The Wine for Pizza with the $16 pepperoni Detroit-style pie, or take the $12 Pessimist by Daou for a darker red. Confirm current availability and prices before you go; this unrated guide covers the posted drink menu, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Albany · Seafood
Jack's is an oyster house first, and its wine lists back that up with French whites by the glass and the bottle. Start with a half dozen oysters and a glass of the Antoine de la Farge Menetou-Salon at 18, or go for the bottle of Reverdy Ducroux Sancerre at 84; for red, the $14 Catena Malbec is the lowest-priced glass. Confirm current lists and prices when you book; this unrated guide covers the posted wine lists, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown Albany · Albany · Italian
Cafe Capriccio's glass list is short and Italian-led. Try the Scaia Corvina or the Castello di Bossi Chianti before the usual Pinot Grigio, and put the Barolo with the Pork Osso Buco. The posted list shows no prices, so ask what each glass costs and confirm what is open. This unrated guide covers the posted glass list, not service, storage or markups.
Western Ave · Albany · Mediterranean
Barcelona's bar menu posts more Spanish and Italian range than you might expect, from Rioja Crianza to a $125 Brunello. Try the Albariño at $9 $35 with seafood, or the Juan Gil red blend at $11 $40 if you want something fuller. Most wines show two prices with no unit labels and the page is undated, so confirm which is glass and which is bottle, and today's availability, when you order. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown Roswell · Roswell · American
Canton St. Social is a solid neighborhood restaurant in historic downtown Roswell, and the wine program appears to be built for exactly that — supporting a good night out without overcomplicating things. We don't have enough sourced wine data to tell you what to order, which means your best move is to ask your server what's pouring well that night and go from there. Worth a visit for the food and atmosphere; the wine list is a work in progress as far as our research goes.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Worcester · American
The Boynton is a great neighborhood spot for a cold beer, a burger, and a game — and that's exactly what it should be. The wine program is along for the ride, not driving the car. If wine matters to you tonight, this isn't your destination; if you're here for the food and the vibe, order a beer and enjoy it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Atlanta · Atlanta · American
Hard Rock Cafe Atlanta's wine list is a Lazy List by every measure — grocery store brands, steep markups, no specials, and a rotating staff with little incentive to know what's in the glass. If you're here for the memorabilia and the atmosphere, lean into a cocktail or a beer. If wine is non-negotiable, the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling or Columbia Crest Cab will get you through the night without regret.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
