Napa Darlings and Burgundy Backups Done Right
Palm Beach · Palm Beach · American Fine Dining · Visit Website ↗
Updated March 2026
Reviewed February 23, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The Blackbird's 150-bottle list reads like a Palm Beach country club wine auction catalog—Silver Oak, Caymus, Rombauer. It's the kind of lineup where you know exactly what you're getting, which is both comforting and a little predictable. Eighteen by-the-glass options suggest they're at least trying to keep things moving.
This is Napa's greatest hits collection with French backup singers. The Cab section is dominated by the usual suspects—Silver Oak, Caymus, Joseph Phelps, Chateau Montelena—all crowd-pleasers that deliver but rarely surprise. There's some Burgundy and Rhône depth to balance the California worship, plus a nod to Alsace with Trimbach Gewürztraminer and Loire Valley offerings. The Willamette Valley gets representation through Domaine Serene, which shows some geographic awareness beyond Napa-or-bust. It's a safe list for a wealthy beach town—nothing adventurous, but nothing offensive either.
Eighteen glass pours at $10-$18 is respectable range for Palm Beach, where everything costs more just for having an ocean view. The selection likely mirrors the bottle list philosophy—recognizable names that won't scare anyone. Rotation seems limited based on the 'Set & Forget' special situation, so expect the same lineup visit after visit.
Trimbach Gewürztraminer — $58
Alsace quality at a price point where most bottles here are generic Napa Cabs—lychee, spice, and actual character
Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon
Everyone orders Silver Oak and Caymus, but Montelena has more structure and aging potential for similar money—it's the thinking person's Napa Cab
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
At likely $180+, you're paying $80 for the name recognition; drink the Montelena and pocket the difference
Domaine Serene Chardonnay + Pan-Seared Sea Bass
Oregon Chard brings minerality and restraint that won't bulldoze delicate fish—better balance than butter-bomb Rombauer
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Blackbird plays it safe with a wine list built for expense accounts and second-home owners who want familiar names. You'll drink well if you know where to look, but you're paying Palm Beach taxes on every pour.
Palm Beach · Palm Beach · French
La Goulue is a reliable, well-curated French wine list with real sommelier care behind it — just go in knowing the prices reflect the zip code. If you're here for classic Bordeaux and Burgundy with your duck confit, you're in exactly the right place.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Palm Beach · Palm Beach · Mediterranean
Florie's is a reliable, well-run wine program with a knowledgeable sommelier and a list that knows its strengths — just don't expect adventure or aggressive pricing. If you're in Palm Beach and want a glass of something good with excellent food, Sam Scales has your back.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Palm Beach · Palm Beach · Italian
Sant Ambroeus Palm Beach is the real deal — a focused, deeply stocked Italian and French list with producers serious enough to justify the Best of Award of Excellence on the wall. The pricing is steep, as you'd expect in Palm Beach, but the quality of what's in the cellar earns it.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Palm Beach · Palm Beach · Italian
Renato's is the kind of Italian wine list that reminds you why Italy is the greatest wine country on earth — Biondi-Santi, Gaja, Sassicaia, and Ornellaia in one room is not an accident, it's a program. Bring an expense account or a very good reason to celebrate.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Palm Beach · Palm Beach · Steak House
Flagler Steakhouse is exactly what it promises — a serious, well-stocked wine program built for the Palm Beach crowd, with a sommelier who can guide you through it and enough bottle depth to reward the curious. The markups run steep, but the credentials are real and the execution is tight.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Palm Beach · Palm Beach · French, European
Café l'Europe is one of the most serious wine programs in South Florida, full stop — the cellar depth alone justifies the trip, even if the pricing reflects its zip code. Send your friends here if they want to drink well in Palm Beach; just tell them to skip the Caymus.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
West Side · Charleston · American Fine Dining
High Thyme is the best wine list in the room by a wide margin — the room being Charleston, West Virginia, but still, credit where it's due. Come on a Monday, grab the En Route Pinot at half price, and order the duck.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Crown Center · Kansas City · American Fine Dining
The American Restaurant is the real deal — a Kansas City institution with a wine program that could hold its own in any major dining city. Markups are what you'd expect at this level, but the depth of the Guigal collection alone makes it worth the trip if you care about serious Rhône.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Midtown · Detroit · American Fine Dining
The Whitney's wine list is like the building itself — impressive on the surface, with some genuine highlights underneath, but you're paying a premium for the atmosphere. Go in eyes open on the markups, stick to the better bottles, and the experience absolutely delivers.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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