Lake Views, Greek Wines, and a Solid Pour
Lakeshore Drive / Hotel Canandaigua · Canandaigua · Contemporary American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 26, 2026 · How we review
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 →
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 · 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
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
Downtown Canandaigua · Canandaigua · Bar / Pub / Pizza / American
Wally's has no business having a 91-bottle wine list, and yet here we are. It's not a wine destination, but if you're grabbing a late slice and want something better than house red in a tumbler, this place will surprise you.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Canandaigua · Canandaigua · Bistro / Italian
Il Posto is doing honest, focused work on a wine list that respects its Italian menu without overcrowding the table. The markups lean steep at the top end and we want more Finger Lakes on a list that's literally in the Finger Lakes — but for a neighborhood bistro in downtown Canandaigua, this is a solid night out.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Vinings · Atlanta · Contemporary American
So has a wine list built to please a suburban dinner crowd without ruffling any feathers, and it largely succeeds at that narrow goal. The markup is real — most bottles sit at 3–4x retail — but the by-the-glass breadth gives you options to keep the tab reasonable. If you're a wine-first diner, this isn't your destination; if you're here for the scene and the food, you'll find something perfectly fine to drink.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Toledo · Contemporary American
Sabira has built something genuinely worth noticing for Toledo: a compact, mostly European list that takes real swings with appellations like Grasparossa di Castelvetro and Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Pricing data isn't available to us, and the BTG program is unclear — so call ahead or ask on arrival. If the staff knows this list as well as whoever curated it seems to, this is an easy recommendation for anyone tired of the same regional Chardonnay-and-Cab circuit.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Sarasota · Sarasota · Contemporary American
A one-page list that mixes Greek, Italian and French bottles with Cristal, Taittinger and Laurent-Perrier Champagnes, and posts many prices as two unlabeled numbers. Start with the Gai'a Assyrtiko (70 / 17) alongside the wood-fired octopus, or take the Les Girelles Picpoul (48 / 12) on a Tuesday, when the list says bottles at $99 and less are half off (bubbles and Champagne excluded). This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups, and the list carries no printed date, so confirm current availability and ask which number is the glass.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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