BBQ Joint Where the Wine List Suffers
Webster · Rochester · American
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 13, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Frog Pit’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 wine list at The Frog Pit reads like someone grabbed a case from the supermarket and doubled the price. We get it — you're here for burgers and wings — but that doesn't mean the wine program gets a pass. What's on offer is strictly recognizable-brand territory with nothing that earns its keep at these prices.
Fifteen to thirty bottles, almost entirely California commercial brands with a nod toward New York, sounds like a reasonable start until you actually look at what's on the list. Josh Cellars, Dark Horse, Beringer White Zinfandel, Robert Mondavi Private Selection, Ecco Domani, 19 Crimes — this is a greatest-hits collection of mass-market labels you can find at any gas station with a wine aisle. There's no depth, no regional interest, and no indication anyone gave the wine program a second thought beyond stocking names people recognize. The New York angle could have been interesting — a couple of Finger Lakes Rieslings or a local red — but that opportunity goes completely untouched.
Six to ten pours by the glass, which sounds decent until you realize it's basically the full list. When your entire wine program is grocery-store brands, offering most of it by the glass isn't a feature — it's just the whole story. There's no rotation, no seasonal interest, and no reason to think this lineup has changed since they printed the menus.
Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio 2023 — $30
Relative to the rest of this list, the Ecco Domani at $30 carries the lowest markup at 150% — still not good, but it's the least offensive option here. At least it's inoffensive and cold, which is about as much as you can ask from this lineup.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
We hesitate to call anything here a gem, but if you're set on red and eating a burger, the Josh Cab is at least built for exactly that moment. It's soft, fruit-forward, and won't fight the BBQ sauce. Just know you're paying $36 for a $13 bottle.
Beringer White Zinfandel NV
Twenty-eight dollars for Beringer White Zin is genuinely hard to justify. This bottle retails for $8, marking it up 250% — and that's before we get into the question of why White Zinfandel is on any restaurant list in 2024. Order a soda.
19 Crimes Chardonnay 2023 + BBQ Wings
The 19 Crimes Chardonnay is oaky, soft, and slightly sweet — not a serious wine by any measure, but the buttery weight and low acidity actually work against the smoky-sweet BBQ glaze on the wings without completely disappearing. It's the least bad option for the food they're serving.
The Bottom Line
The Frog Pit is a fine spot for wings and a cold beer — lean into that. The wine list is an afterthought built on supermarket brands with markups that insult the customer, and there's no evidence anyone on staff can help you navigate it. Save wine night for somewhere else.
Village Gate / NOTA · Rochester · Farm-to-Table / New American
Lento isn't trying to be a wine destination, but its list is thoughtful enough that it kind of becomes one by accident — especially if you care about Finger Lakes wines in their natural habitat. Send your friends here, let them order the Duck Confit, and point them toward the Cab Franc.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pittsford · Rochester · Refined Seasonal American with Wood-Fired Pizzas
jojo Pittsford is the kind of wine program that makes you want to cancel your dinner reservation somewhere else. For a bistro in suburban Rochester, this list is genuinely exciting — send your wine-curious friends here without hesitation.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
East Avenue / Winton · Rochester · Traditional Italian
Ristorante Lucano is a reliable Italian dinner with a wine list that doesn't embarrass itself — Italy-focused, anchored by classics, a bit overpriced but not offensively so. Send a friend here for a date night with the instruction to order the Barolo and not overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pittsford Plaza · Rochester · Sushi and Japanese-inspired contemporary dining
Next Door is a Wild Card in the best sense: a grocery chain's restaurant with genuine wine ambition and a beverage program that earns more than a dismissive eye-roll. The markups will sting and the by-the-glass program needs more visibility, but the bones are here — and the wine pairing dinners featuring Château d'Yquem prove someone in the building actually cares.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Corn Hill · Rochester · Wine Bar / New American
Flight is exactly what Rochester needed and didn't know it had — a real wine program in an unexpected zip code, with Wednesday half-price bottles that make an already fair list even easier to love. Send your wine-curious friends here before it gets too crowded to get a table.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Neighborhood of the Arts · Rochester · Urban winery tasting room with small plates and charcuterie
Living Roots is one of Rochester's more original wine experiences — a dual-continent estate poured by people who actually know what they're talking about, at prices that don't punish curiosity. If you want a broad global list, go somewhere else; if you want a focused, well-executed tasting room with a genuine story, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
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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