Golf Resort Bar Wine That Plays It Very Safe
Downtown · State College · American, burgers and bar food · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 20, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed The Field Burger & Tap’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at The Field Burger & Tap is exactly what you'd expect from a golf resort sports bar in Central Pennsylvania — which is not a compliment. Eleven labels, all by the glass, heavy on familiar mass-market names that you've seen in every grocery store from here to Pittsburgh. It exists because a restaurant has to have wine, not because anyone here has strong feelings about it.
The list leans hard on approachable, inoffensive American pours — Aviary Cab, Waterbrook Merlot, Browne Family Heritage Pinot Noir on the red side — with a white lineup anchored by Torre di Luna Pinot Grigio and Washington Hills Riesling. There's a token Tilia Malbec from Argentina for variety, and La Marca Prosecco for anyone celebrating a birdie. The one genuinely interesting move is the inclusion of Hawstone Hollow Wine from Lewistown, PA, a local Pennsylvania producer that shows at least a passing interest in regional character. Everything else could have been sourced from a beverage distributor's introductory catalog.
All eleven bottles on the list are poured by the glass, which sounds generous until you realize the list itself is the whole program — no bottle service, no cellar, no depth to speak of. There's no rotation, no seasonal additions, and no sign that this lineup has changed in recent memory. If you want bubbles, La Marca Prosecco is your only shot.
Browne Family Heritage Pinot Noir — null
Browne Family Vineyards out of Washington State is a legitimate producer making wines that overdeliver for their price point — if the pour here is reasonably priced, it's the most defensible red on the list. It's a real wine in a sea of filler.
Hawstone Hollow Wine
A local Pennsylvania producer from Lewistown, PA, tucked onto the list almost as an afterthought. It's the one wine here that tells you something about where you are, and that alone makes it worth ordering. Support the locals.
Beringer White Zinfandel
Beringer White Zin at a sit-down restaurant in 2024 is a choice, and not a good one. There is no scenario in which this is the right call — the sweetness clashes with the burger-forward menu, and the price markup on what costs almost nothing to produce is quietly embarrassing.
Tilia Malbec + Signature gourmet burger
Tilia Malbec is soft, fruit-forward, and has enough body to hold its own against a properly built burger without fighting the toppings. It's the most food-friendly red on this list by a comfortable margin, and a classic beef-and-Malbec pairing doesn't require much convincing.
The Bottom Line
The Field's wine list is functional at best and forgettable at worst — it exists to serve people who want something other than a beer, not to make anyone excited about what's in their glass. Order the Hawstone Hollow out of regional solidarity, grab the Tilia Malbec with your burger, and let the cocktail menu do the heavy lifting the rest of the night.
· State College · American / Gastropub
American Ale House isn't a wine destination, but it's a fair and functional wine list for what it is — a well-run gastropub in a college town. The Graham's Port lineup alone earns it a pass, and the glass prices won't leave you feeling taken.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· State College · Italian-inspired Fine Dining
Grace at Carnegie House is doing more than the average Happy Valley fine dining room bothers to do with wine — the Karthäuserhof, the Cahors, and the Tua Rita prove that — but the list is still too short and too safe to be a destination for wine lovers. Come for the food; order carefully and you'll drink well enough.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· State College · New American / Distillery Restaurant
Barrel 21 is a distillery restaurant and the wine list knows its place — which is firmly in the backseat. Come here for the spirits, stay if you must for a J Lohr or the Trapiche Malbec, but don't expect anyone behind the bar to have an opinion about any of it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Atherton · State College · Steakhouse / American
Texas Roadhouse is not a wine destination and makes no pretense of being one — the food is the point, and the wine list is a legal obligation. Order a beer, enjoy the rolls, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that earned it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Atherton · State College · Italian Chain
Olive Garden's wine list exists to check a box, not to enhance a meal — it's corporate, static, and marked up past the point of good value. Order the Chianti Classico if you must, but honestly, grab the cocktail menu instead.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Boalsburg · State College · American
The Butter Churn is doing something genuinely surprising for central Pennsylvania — a thoughtful, well-sourced wine list that goes beyond the expected and rewards the curious drinker. If you're anywhere near State College and care about what's in your glass, this deserves a visit.
Solid Range
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.
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