Lake Views, Greek Wines, and a Solid Pour
Lakeshore Drive / Hotel Canandaigua · Canandaigua · Contemporary American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 26, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Cove Restaurant and Bar’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
You're sitting lakeside at Hotel Canandaigua, the water's right there, and the wine list actually shows some ambition — this isn't the predictable Kendall-Jackson lineup you'd expect from a resort restaurant. There's genuine geographic curiosity here, with stops in Greece, the Loire, Argentina, and yes, local Finger Lakes producers getting a nod.
The list punches above its resort-hotel weight class. Highlights include Domaine Skouras Assyrtiko from Greece, a Domaine Bel Air Muscadet from the Loire, and a Zeni 'Mr. Lake' Bardolino from the Veneto — a light red meant to be served chilled, which is a legitimately fun call for a lakefront setting. The Finger Lakes representation is frustratingly vague (we're told local wines are featured but specifics are elusive), which is a missed opportunity given you're essentially sitting in wine country. A stronger Seneca Lake or Cayuga section would elevate this list considerably.
Sixteen by-the-glass options is a real commitment for a hotel restaurant, spanning sparkling through red with stops in Greece, New Zealand, Provence, and California. The $13–$17 price window is reasonable for the area and the setting. The Gerard Bertrand Crémant de Limoux as a sparkling option instead of just Prosecco shows someone was paying attention.
Gerard Bertrand Crémant de Limoux — $14
Crémant at this price point on a lakefront patio is almost always a better call than the Prosecco sitting next to it — more complexity, similar bubbles, and it signals you know what you're doing.
Zeni 'Mr. Lake' Bardolino
Most people walk past Bardolino for a Pinot Noir or Malbec without thinking twice. This light, cherry-driven red from the Veneto is served chilled, which makes it genuinely refreshing on a warm evening by the water — and it won't fight with anything on the menu.
446 Noble Vines Chardonnay
A California Chardonnay at this tier is the wine list equivalent of ordering a chain restaurant burger in a city with great local spots. You're in the Finger Lakes. There are better options on this very list.
Domaine Skouras Assyrtiko + Ahi Tuna
Assyrtiko has the kind of bright acidity and saline minerality that cuts right through seared tuna without stepping on it — it's the same reason it works so well with seafood on the Aegean coast. This is the move.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Cove is doing more than its hotel-restaurant status requires, and the Greek and Loire picks alone are worth a second look. It's not a destination wine list, but for Canandaigua lakefront dining, you'll drink well here.
South Main Street / lakefront · Canandaigua · Steakhouse and seafood with American fine dining
Nolan's is a dependable lakeside wine list that does right by its guests without taking any real risks — the Finger Lakes locals are a genuine highlight worth seeking out. Send a friend here for the view and the steak; tell them to order the Heron Hill.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Canandaigua · Canandaigua · Spanish tapas and wine bar
Pintxo is punching well above its weight class for a small-city wine bar, and the Spanish regional focus gives it a genuine identity that most places never find. If you're anywhere near the Finger Lakes and care even a little about wine, this one's worth the detour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Canandaigua Lake waterfront · Canandaigua · Hotel Restaurant / American
Rose Tavern is a perfectly pleasant place to drink wine if you're already staying at The Lake House — the setting does a lot of the work. But if you're driving in specifically for the wine list, you'd do better hitting a dedicated Finger Lakes tasting room down the road.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Canandaigua Lake waterfront · Canandaigua · Upscale Contemporary American / Event Dining
The Lake House is a beautiful place to get married or host a corporate dinner, but the wine program is clearly an afterthought — a functional, inoffensive list designed to move bottles at events, not to excite anyone. If you're eating here, drink the Finger Lakes options and leave the Meomi alone.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Canandaigua Lake waterfront · Canandaigua · Hotel Restaurant / American
Rose Tavern isn't trying to be a destination wine bar, but it's got the bones of one — a sommelier, a thoughtful local-first list, and a glass program that lets you actually explore it. Markups on the name brands are punishing, but stick to the Finger Lakes section and you're drinking well at a lake view that most wine lists couldn't dream of.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Lafayette Street · Canandaigua · Indian
Flavors isn't a wine destination, but it's not pretending to be one either — the list is honest, the prices are fair, and the Fox Run Riesling alone justifies ordering a bottle. Come for the food, drink the Riesling, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Sedona · Sedona · Contemporary American
The Hudson isn't going to make any wine lists for its wine list, but it's a solid, competent program for what this place is — a lively upscale-casual spot where the views are doing a lot of the work. Send your friends here for dinner and tell them to stick to the bottles under $70.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Truckee · Truckee · Contemporary American
The Lodge surprises — in the best way — with a wine list that has no business being this considered at a neighborhood golf course restaurant in the Sierra. Markups creep toward steep on the prestige bottles, but the depth and range here beat 90% of similarly-priced mountain dining rooms. Worth the detour if you're in Truckee and want something more than a grocery store Cabernet with your ribeye.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Easton · Easton · Contemporary American
Out of the Fire is a dependable wine stop in a town that doesn't have many — the California-focused list is a little one-note, but the pricing is honest and there are a few genuinely interesting bottles hiding in the lineup. Send a friend here for dinner, point them to the Cab Franc, and tell them to skip the bourbon barrel novelty act.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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