The Cellar

Hermann J. Wiemer Riesling — $35

Wiemer is one of the most respected Riesling producers in the entire country, and at the lower end of this list's price range, you're getting a world-class wine at a price that makes sense. Ordering anything else while sitting this close to the Finger Lakes feels like a missed opportunity.

Bedell Cellars (North Fork of Long Island)

Most people sleep on Long Island wine entirely, which means Bedell almost always gets overlooked in favor of the Finger Lakes or the French bottles. That's a mistake — Bedell makes serious, food-friendly reds that hold their own at the table, and on a list like this, they tend to be quietly underpriced relative to their quality.

Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon

Jordan is a perfectly fine Cabernet, but it's also one of the most widely distributed, heavily marketed bottles in American restaurants — you've seen it on a hundred lists. At whatever premium a Best of Award restaurant charges for it, you're paying for the label recognition more than anything surprising. The list has better stories to tell.

Ridge Vineyards California Zinfandel + Filet Mignon

Ridge brings enough structure and dark fruit intensity to stand up to a well-seared filet without bulldozing it the way a big Napa Cab sometimes does. It's a smart, slightly left-of-center call that rewards anyone willing to step off the obvious Cabernet path.