Good Deals Hide Behind Steep Markups
Downtown Albany · Albany · American Fusion · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 23, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Ninety labels in a historic brewery building sounds promising, and the room itself — all industrial bones and live music — sets a mood that makes you want to order a bottle. The list arrives and holds its own, with enough range to satisfy most tables without sending anyone into a spiral of indecision. But flip to the prices and the warm glow dims a little.
The list leans on recognizable, crowd-friendly names with some genuine quality in the mix — Ridge Lytton Springs and Catena Alta aren't filler, they're bottles worth seeking out. The Washington State presence, anchored by Columbia Valley producers, gives the list a regional identity that not many Albany spots bother with. That said, gaps exist: we'd love to see more Old World depth and some natural or small-producer options to match the craft cocktail ambition of the room. At 90 labels, there's bulk here, but it trends toward safe crowd-pleasers rather than anything that would make a wine-focused diner reroute their evening.
Fifteen by-the-glass options is a respectable spread for Downtown Albany, and Wednesday's $7 flat pour pricing makes working through them genuinely fun. The Tattoo Girl Rosé from Columbia Valley shows up as the approachable anchor of the glass list — easy, sessionable, and priced to move. We'd like to see more rotation and a few higher-ambition pours in the mix, but for a weeknight glass of wine before the band starts, this does the job.
Ridge Lytton Springs Zinfandel 2020 — $68
Yes, 70% over retail stings. But on a Tuesday, this bottle drops to $34 — and at that price, Ridge Lytton Springs is a flat-out steal. One of California's benchmark Zinfandels for under forty bucks is the move.
Tattoo Girl Rosé, Columbia Valley, WA
Most people walk past Washington State Rosé without a second glance, defaulting to Provence out of habit. This one earns its spot on the list — fruit-forward but with enough structure to drink alongside actual food, not just as a patio sipper.
Altos Las Hormigas Malbec 2021
At $42, you're paying 163% over a $16 retail bottle. Altos Las Hormigas is a perfectly fine entry-level Malbec, but at that price you're well into Catena Alta territory — which is actually worth it. Don't get roped in by a familiar label.
Catena Alta Malbec 2019 + Braised Short Ribs
Catena Alta has the structure and dark fruit density to stand up to rich, slow-cooked beef without getting steamrolled. The wine's Mendoza backbone cuts through the fat just enough to keep every bite interesting. On a Tuesday, the bottle hits $27.50 — which borders on absurd for this quality.
Tuesday — Half-price bottles under $50. Wednesday features $7 glass pours across the list.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Copper Crow has the bones of a genuinely good wine program — solid list, real specials, a few quality producers — but the everyday markups are hard to ignore when you know what these bottles cost at retail. Come on a Tuesday, drink Ridge, eat short ribs, and you'll leave happy.
Downtown/Clinton Square · Albany · Modern Mexican / Latin-inspired
Ama Cocina isn't a destination wine bar, but it's a Wild Card worth respecting — a food-forward Latin spot that actually thought about its wine list instead of phoning it in. Come for the tacos, order the Albariño, and be pleasantly surprised.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Warehouse District/Riverfront · Albany · Wine Bar / American Small Plates
The Shaker & Vine is Albany's best argument for the self-pour wine bar format — the markup is shockingly fair, the riverside setting earns its keep, and the list is approachable without being embarrassing. Don't come hunting for rare producers, but do come for a relaxed pour with a view.
Solid Range
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Colonie · Albany · Classic Italian-American
Lombardo's wine list is the culinary equivalent of a comfortable booth — nothing revelatory, but nothing offensive, and it gets the job done alongside a plate of baked ziti. Send a friend here for the food and tell them to order the Barolo if they want to feel like they tried.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Albany · Albany · Steakhouse / Lounge
677 Prime Lounge is the wine list equivalent of a perfectly cooked strip steak — nothing surprising, nothing wrong, everything exactly where you expect it to be. If you're in Albany and someone else is buying, order the Silver Oak and enjoy the room; if you're watching your tab, lean on Jordan and don't let them upsell you to Caymus.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Albany · Albany · Traditional Greek and Mediterranean
Athos isn't trying to build the most ambitious wine program in New York State — it's trying to give you an honest Greek wine experience to go with honest Greek food, and it largely delivers. If you're eating moussaka and lamb in Albany, this is where your glass should be.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Albany · Albany · Modern American fine dining with Indonesian accents
Yono's is the best wine program in Albany and it's not particularly close — a thousand-label cellar, a sommelier who knows it, and a room built for the occasion. The markups are real and the by-the-glass list plays it safer than the cellar deserves, but if you're willing to lean on the staff and spend a little, this is one of the more serious wine experiences in upstate New York.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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