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 →
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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
Eagle Ranch · Vail · American
The Wild Sage is your dependable neighborhood spot in Eagle Ranch — the wine list won't blow your mind, but it won't embarrass you at dinner either. Watch the markups on the top-shelf Napa bottles and stick to the mid-range, and you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront · Traverse City · American
Warehouse Kitchen + Cork won't win any awards for depth or ambition, but it plays its hand honestly — fair prices, solid local representation, and a full by-the-glass program that respects your wallet. If you're in Traverse City and want a glass of something local with a water view, this works.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Truckee · Truckee · American
Sunnyside is a casual lodge restaurant wearing a serious wine list under its flannel — the markup is steep and it won't win any awards for staff expertise, but the producer lineup is legitimately impressive for where you're sitting. If you're already at the lake, this is absolutely worth ordering a real bottle.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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