Great Bourbon Bar, Wine List Forgot to Show Up
Downtown · La Crosse · American Gastropub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Crow’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The Crow is clearly a bourbon and craft beer bar that also happens to have wine — and it shows. The list reads like someone grabbed the most recognizable labels at a distributor meeting and called it done. Nothing offensive, nothing exciting.
Ten bottles, almost entirely California, with a token Riesling from Germany and a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand rounding things out. Josh Cellars appears twice, which tells you most of what you need to know about the ambition level here. The one genuinely interesting move is the inclusion of Elmaro Rosa, a rosé from Trempealeau, Wisconsin — a local producer that actually gives the list a reason to exist. Everything else is grocery store shelf real estate.
The entire list is by the glass, which at least means nothing is sitting around half-empty for a week. With 8–10 pours priced between $7 and $12, the damage is minimal. Rotation appears nonexistent — this list looks like it hasn't changed since the restaurant opened.
Elmaro Rosa — $9
A Wisconsin-made rosé from Trempealeau — about 60 miles up the river — that actually belongs on a local restaurant's list. Interesting, genuine, and probably the only glass here you can't find at every other bar in town.
J.J. Müller Riesling
Most people at a gastropub are reaching for the Cab or the Chardonnay. The Riesling gets ignored, which is a shame — it's the most food-versatile wine on the list and will make the spicy wings taste better than anything else here.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
Perfectly drinkable, totally unremarkable, and available at every gas station with a liquor license. You drove downtown for this?
J.J. Müller Riesling + Mac and Cheese
The Riesling's acidity and subtle sweetness cut through the richness of a heavy mac and cheese better than any red on this list. It's the move most people won't make, which is exactly why you should.
❌ The Bottom Line
The Crow is a legitimately fun bar — just come for the bourbon and craft beer, not the wine. If you need a glass, grab the Elmaro Rosa to support a local producer and call it a night.
Cass Street Historic District · La Crosse · French and European Fine Dining
Le Chateau is a genuinely lovely place to eat, and the wine list has flashes of good instinct — the Ott Rosé, the Vouvray, the Loire focus. But unnamed producers, punishing markups on the house selections, and a static list hold it back from being a real wine destination. Order the Domaines Ott, skip the Malbec, and let the room do most of the heavy lifting.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · La Crosse · Cocktail & Wine Lounge
Come for the live music, come for the cocktails — but don't come for the wine list. The pricing is fair enough that ordering a glass won't sting, but the selection gives you almost nothing to get excited about.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown/Riverside · La Crosse · Steakhouse and Seafood, American Fine Dining
The Freighthouse won't blow any wine geeks away, but it's a fair, unpretentious list that does its job well in the context of a classic American steakhouse — and that port selection is a genuine reason to linger. If you're in La Crosse and want something reliable with your prime rib, you could do a lot worse.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Riverside · La Crosse · Seasonal American
The Waterfront isn't trying to be a wine destination, and it knows it — but fair prices, a reasonable by-the-glass spread, and that Vignelaure Rosé make it more than fine for a river-view dinner. Send a friend here for the patio and the fish fry; just steer them toward the right glass.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
College Area / Mount Royal · Duluth · American Gastropub
Tavern on the Hill is not a destination wine spot, but it's a fair, unpretentious list that earns its keep in a fun room. If you're in the neighborhood and want a decent glass with your pizza, you won't leave disappointed — just don't come in expecting anything beyond the basics.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown Livermore · Livermore · American Gastropub
Beer Baron isn't trying to be a wine destination and it doesn't pretend to be — but the list is priced fairly, skewed toward decent producers, and has just enough personality to keep wine drinkers from ordering a beer instead. Send a friend here for wine? Sure, if they're also ordering food and keeping their expectations calibrated to the room.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown · Flagstaff · American Gastropub
The McMillan is a genuinely fun bar in a beautiful old building, and the cocktail program is probably where your money should go. If wine is your thing, this list will not be your night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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