Hotel rooftop wine that actually earns it
Downtown Durham · Raleigh · American · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 17, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Durham’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at The Durham feels like the hotel itself — curated, a little boutique, trying harder than it has to. It's not sprawling, but it's not lazy either, and the by-the-glass prices are genuinely reasonable for a rooftop bar with this much ambient good taste.
The list leans on familiar geography — California, France, Pacific Northwest — but makes some interesting calls within those lanes. You've got a Willamette Valley Pinot Gris from Greetings Wine Co sitting next to a Loire Sauvignon Blanc and a proper 2016 Bordeaux Merlot, which suggests someone at least glanced at a map before placing orders. The Argentina Malbec rosé from Salta is a genuine surprise in a good way. Gaps exist — no serious reds beyond approachable everyday bottles, and depth disappears fast if you start asking questions.
The glass program covers the bases competently: bubbles, whites, a rosé, and a few reds all in the $10–$13 range. That's a rooftop miracle in 2024. Rotation appears limited — this reads more like a set list than one that changes with the seasons.
DMN Jean Aubron Sauvignon Blanc Loire Valley France 2023 — $12
A Loire Sauvignon Blanc at $12 a glass is genuinely good value — this style punches crisp and citrusy, retails around $22, and you're getting it poured fresh on a rooftop. Easy yes.
Domingo Hermanos Malbec Rosé Salta Argentina 2024
Most people walk right past Argentinian rosé and grab the Provence bottle on reflex. Don't. High-altitude Salta Malbec makes a rosé with actual spine and dark fruit character — this one's worth a detour from the usual pink.
Fable Cabernet Sauvignon Central Coast California 2023
At $12 a glass it's not highway robbery, but Central Coast Cab at this tier is the most predictable pour on the list. You're not getting anything interesting here — it's fine, forgettable, and you could do better with nearly anything else on the menu.
Colline aux Fossiles Chardonnay Roussillon France 2021 + Oysters
A southern French Chardonnay — leaner and more mineral than your typical California butter bomb — is exactly what you want against briny oysters. The $12 glass price makes this a no-brainer opener.
The Bottom Line
The Durham's wine list is the rare hotel bar program that doesn't embarrass itself — fair pours, fair prices, and a few genuinely curious bottles scattered in. We'd send a friend here without hesitation, especially if that friend likes drinking on a rooftop.
Glenwood South · Raleigh · Mediterranean
Vidrio isn't trying to reinvent wine lists, and it doesn't need to — solid French selections, fair pricing, and a by-the-glass program that actually gives you options make this a dependable wine destination in Raleigh. Send a friend here and they won't come back disappointed.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Raleigh · Raleigh · American, Seafood
The Players Retreat is the Wild Card because nobody walks in expecting a legitimate wine program at a beloved Raleigh neighborhood bar — and yet, here we are. Matt Fern keeps things credible, the California and French anchors are well-chosen, and as long as you steer past the grocery-store staples, you're drinking better than the room suggests.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Raleigh · Raleigh · Italian
Cucciolo Terrazza is a genuine surprise in Raleigh's dining scene — a neighborhood Italian with a wine list that earns its Wine Spectator badge and actually makes you want to explore beyond the first familiar name you recognize. Send your friends here and tell them to skip the Napa Cab.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Brier Creek · Raleigh · Indian
Azitra is doing something genuinely unusual — running a Wine Spectator-caliber list at an upscale Indian restaurant in Raleigh — and largely pulling it off. The Wednesday half-price program alone makes it worth putting in your rotation; the Bollinger and the Drouhin make it worth telling your friends about.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Unknown · Raleigh · Pizza
Ruckus Pizza is a solid spot for a casual pizza night — just don't come for the wine. Order a beer or a cocktail, or grab a bottle from the shop next door if they'll let you bring it in.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Apex · Raleigh · Winery (BYOF or charcuterie)
Cloer is a Wild Card in the best sense: it's a real working vineyard producing honest North Carolina wine at fair prices, and the vibe alone is worth the trip out of Raleigh. Bring food, bring friends, and give the Muscadine a real shot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bakersfield · American
Yard House Bakersfield is a beer hall that happens to sell wine, and the list makes no effort to hide that. Markups are aggressive, selections are safe to the point of being anonymous, and the only reason to open a bottle here is if your table voted against another round of IPAs. If you're wine-focused, redirect your budget to the Jean-Luc Colombo Rosé by the glass and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Yountville · American
The Kitchen at Priest Ranch is a one-winery show, and that's exactly the point. If you want to spend an evening exploring what a single Napa estate produces across whites, rosé, Zinfandel, Merlot, and multiple Cabernet expressions — including older large-format bottles — this is a genuinely interesting way to do it. Just don't come expecting breadth or outside discovery. Send a friend here if they love Priest Ranch or want to.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Baltimore · American
Give the international and local sections a look before defaulting to Burgundy. Sula at $70 and Old Westminster at $90 offer different budget options. These are posted bottle prices, not guaranteed stock; confirm availability. This menu guide doesn't rate service or cellar conditions.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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