Vegan-Friendly Downtown Spot Hiding Natural Wine Cred
Downtown Β· Burlington Β· New American with Vegan Options Β· Visit Website β
Reviewed June 18, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You walk into what looks like a classic Burlington neighborhood bar β exposed brick, a lively crowd, menu full of vegan-friendly comfort food β and the wine list surprises you. It's not trying to be a wine bar, but someone clearly gave a damn when putting this together. The Spanish natural wine on special is the first sign you're not just dealing with a Meiomi-and-move-on situation.
The list runs 30 to 50 bottles with a leaning toward eclectic and internationally sourced picks, which is more than most casual downtown spots bother with. The presence of Gulp Hablo Orange Wine from Casas Altas in Spain signals a real interest in the natural and organic wine world β that's not a bottle you stock by accident. Regional depth is limited, and there are likely some safe crowd-pleasers rounding out the list, but the direction is clearly more curious than corporate. For Burlington, this is punching above its weight.
Eight to fourteen options by the glass keeps things accessible without overwhelming a table that came here for nachos and a Buffalo seitan sandwich. Rotation appears to happen, with Instagram-promoted bottle specials suggesting the by-the-glass program gets some active curation. Nothing here screams 'wine bar,' but you'll find something worth drinking.
Gulp Hablo Orange Wine (Casas Altas, Spain) β Ask at service β featured as bottle special
A Spanish orange wine from a producer that takes natural winemaking seriously. At a casual New American spot with fair markups and a Monday half-price bottle program, this is the move β especially if you're splitting a bottle on a Monday night.
Gulp Hablo Orange Wine (Casas Altas, Spain)
Most people at this bar are ordering cocktails or IPAs, which means the Gulp Hablo orange wine is flying under the radar. It's an adventurous pour from a legitimate Spanish natural producer, and it genuinely works with the vegan-forward menu in ways a standard Chardonnay never would.
House red or white (unlisted generic)
The research doesn't surface specific house wine producers here, which is usually a sign they're unremarkable. At a place with Gulp Hablo on the list, defaulting to the unnamed house pour is a waste of the opportunity in front of you.
Gulp Hablo Orange Wine (Casas Altas, Spain) + Nachos with Vegan Cashew Cheese
Orange wine's oxidative, tannic edge cuts right through the richness of cashew cheese and holds its own against the salt and spice of loaded nachos. It's an unconventional call that actually works β and honestly, it's the kind of pairing that makes you feel like you figured something out.
Monday β Half-priced wine bottles every Monday, available during afternoon and evening service.
π² The Bottom Line
The Daily Planet isn't a wine destination, but it has the instincts of one β a thoughtful natural wine pick, Monday half-price bottles, and fair pricing in a casual room that doesn't take itself too seriously. Send a friend here on a Monday and tell them to ask about the orange wine.
Waterfront Β· Burlington Β· Craft Brewery with Bar Snacks
Foam is a brewery first, but the wine program punches way above its weight class β it's small, local, and priced like they actually want you to drink it. If you're on Burlington's waterfront and want something interesting in your glass that isn't a hazy IPA, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Β· Burlington Β· New American Bistro
The Gryphon is a reliable neighborhood bistro with a wine list that matches its ambitions exactly: familiar, functional, and forgettable. Come for the burgers and brick walls, but don't expect the wine to be the highlight of your night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Β· Burlington Β· Neapolitan wood-fired pizza and Italian cuisine
Pizzeria VeritΓ isn't trying to be a wine destination and it doesn't need to be β it's a smart, Italy-focused list with honest markups and a few genuinely interesting bottles tucked in among the crowd-pleasers. Go for the pizza, order the Nebbiolo or the CirΓ², and leave happy.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Church Street Marketplace Β· Burlington Β· Upscale American Steakhouse
EB Strong's has a wine list that does the job well and occasionally surprises you β especially if you look past the Caymus and dig into the European picks. Wednesday's half-price bottle program makes it one of the better wine-value nights in Burlington, full stop.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront Β· Burlington Β· Seasonal New American, farm-to-table
Hen of the Wood Burlington is the rare restaurant where the wine list is as considered as the food, and that's saying something when the kitchen is this good. If you're driving through Vermont and care about what's in your glass, this is worth a reservation.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Church Street Marketplace Β· Burlington Β· Italian
Pascolo's wine list won't win any awards for ambition, but it's curated with more care than most Italian spots bother to show. If you're eating house-made pasta in Burlington and want to drink something Italian that actually means something, this gets the job done.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.