Orlando's Mystery List — Verify Before You Visit
Downtown Orlando · Orlando · Contemporary American
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · February 27, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Courtesy’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
We're calling this one blind — minimal intel means we can't confidently assess The Courtesy's wine program. What we suspect: a midsize list leaning accessible, probably heavier on domestic producers, with standard markup patterns typical of downtown Orlando dining.
Without direct list access, we're working with educated assumptions here. Orlando restaurants at this tier typically run 40-80 bottles, weighted toward California and Washington with token international presence. Expect recognizable names like Prisoner, Butter Chardonnay, maybe a Malbec or two. If they're doing it right, there's a sleeper Spanish section or Oregon Pinot outpost. If they're phoning it in, it's all grocery store hits marked up 3x.
Glass programs in this market usually hover around 8-12 pours. We'd bet on a Prosecco, a safe Chardonnay, a Pinot Grigio, a couple reds in the Cab/Merlot lane. Rotation is likely slow — these aren't getting swapped weekly. Pour size matters here: if they're generous, it softens the markup sting.
Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon — $38
If they stock it, this Washington workhorse over-delivers at this price point — balanced fruit, food-friendly, drinks well above its modest pedigree
Bodegas Atteca Armas de Guerra Garnacha
Spanish Grenache flies under the radar in Florida — if it's on the list, it's your move for bold fruit without Napa tax
Prisoner Red Blend
Ubiquitous and overpriced everywhere — if they're charging $70+ for this, you're funding their rent, not drinking smart
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir + Pan-Seared Duck Breast
Oregon Pinot's earthy elegance cuts through rich poultry without overwhelming delicate gamey notes
✔️ The Bottom Line
We can't vouch for The Courtesy's wine game without boots on the ground. Call ahead, ask what's pouring, and check those markups before you commit. Until we get eyes on this list, consider it a question mark.
Winter Park · Orlando · Greek, Mediterranean
AVA MediterrAegean earns its Wine Spectator recognition by doing something genuinely rare in Florida: building a Greek-forward wine program with real depth and the staff to back it up. If you're eating here and not exploring the Greek section, you're missing the whole point.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Orlando · Orlando · French, Regional
The Boheme is the best wine list in the kind of restaurant Downtown Orlando needs more of — it's not groundbreaking, but it's honest, properly focused, and worthy of its Wine Spectator recognition. Send your friends here for a date night, order the Chablis to start, and resist the urge to default to Caymus.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
International Drive · Orlando · Brazilian Churrascaria
Texas de Brazil isn't a wine destination, but it's a smarter wine program than the I-Drive zip code would suggest, and Wednesday's half-price bottles make it a legitimate value play. Come for the meat, stay for the Achaval Ferrer.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Grande Lakes · Orlando · Italian, Mediterranean
Primo is a resort restaurant that takes its wine list seriously enough to back it up with a real sommelier and a WS credential — which puts it well ahead of most hotel dining rooms. Pricing is what it is in this zip code, but the Italian backbone and capable staff make it a genuinely good wine dinner if you pick smart.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Lake Nona · Orlando · Japanese
Nami is the kind of surprise that earns its Wine Spectator badge — a Japanese restaurant in Lake Nona that treats French wine with genuine seriousness, backed by a knowledgeable staff member who can actually guide you through it. Markups keep it from being a steal, but if you're eating omakase anyway, ordering from this list is the right call.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Orlando · Orlando · Brazilian Churrascaria
Chima's wine list does its job: it gives a celebratory crowd recognizable bottles that hold up to a carnivore's parade. If you're after discovery or value-hunting, look elsewhere — but if you want a solid Cab with your carved meats in a room that feels like a party, this delivers.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / A Street · Bentonville · Contemporary American
The Preacher's Son is the best wine list in Northwest Arkansas by a comfortable margin, and it would be a respectable list in most major cities. The markup keeps it from sainthood, but if you're eating here, you're already spending money — lean into the Rioja or the Rhône blanc and don't look back.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Riverfront · Oshkosh · Contemporary American
Come for the river views and the burgers, and seriously consider ordering a cocktail instead. The wine list here is an afterthought dressed up with familiar labels and steep markups, and no amount of good atmosphere fixes a $32 Mondavi Private Selection.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Monocacy River / Southeast Frederick Outskirts · Frederick · Contemporary American
Monocacy Crossing is a reliable date-night wine list in a genuinely charming setting — it won't dazzle you, but it won't embarrass you either. If you're driving out to Frederick for a special occasion, let the kitchen do the heavy lifting and pick something off the Cali reds without overthinking it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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