Ballpark Views, Benchwarmer Bottles
Rochester · American
Updated October 2026
Reviewed April 12, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed The Grill at 1st Base’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You open the wine list at The Grill at 1st Base and it reads like a grocery store endcap — Josh Cellars, Kim Crawford, Meiomi, all the greatest hits from the bottom shelf of your local Wegmans. It's a stadium restaurant, so the bar isn't exactly set high, but the markup tells you exactly how much they're banking on that captive audience.
Seventy-five labels sounds respectable until you realize the list is essentially a rotation of recognizable brand names anchored in California, New Zealand, and Washington. There's no real range here — no Old World representation worth noting, no regional producers, nothing that suggests anyone with genuine wine curiosity built this list. It's engineered for fast decisions by people who just want a glass of something familiar before the first pitch. That's fine as a strategy, but it's not a wine program — it's a wine vending machine.
Twelve by-the-glass options is a reasonable number, but the lineup leans entirely on mass-market brands with wide recognition and thin complexity. Prices run $9–$15 a glass, which feels manageable until you remember these bottles retail for $13–$20 and the margins are doing heavy lifting. There's no indication the pour list rotates with any intention or seasonality.
Meiomi Pinot Noir 2022 — $42
Still a steep markup at 110% over retail, but Meiomi is at least a crowd-pleasing, fruit-forward Pinot with enough going on to hold up through a full meal. Relative to the rest of this list, it's the least egregious bottle and drinks better than its reputation suggests.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Nobody comes here looking for it, but on a warm afternoon watching the Red Wings, a cold pour of Kim Crawford's zippy New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc actually works. It's bright, citrusy, and cuts right through stadium heat. It's not a gem by any stretch — but by the glass, it's the most honest drink on this list.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
At $36 a bottle — 157% over its $14 retail price — Josh Cellars Cab is the single worst value proposition on this list. You're paying a premium for a wine that's genuinely ubiquitous and unremarkable. Order a beer. Seriously.
Meiomi Pinot Noir 2022 + BBQ Ribs
Meiomi's soft tannins and jammy fruit don't fight the smokiness of the BBQ Ribs — they lean into it. It's not a sophisticated pairing, but it's the most coherent one you can build from what's available here, and that counts for something.
The Bottom Line
The Grill at 1st Base is a stadium restaurant that treats wine as an afterthought and prices it accordingly — you're here for baseball and burgers, and the wine list knows it. Grab a beer or a cocktail, save the bottle for dinner somewhere else.
Downtown · Rochester · Spanish & Mediterranean
A list of 14 wines posted with paired, unlabeled numbers and 14 bottles from $40 to $100, two of them from the Finger Lakes. Start with the Columna Albariño alongside the patatas bravas, or order the $40 Mille Reves Vouvray if you want a bottle for the table, and ask what the paired numbers in the Wine section stand for. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Park Ave · Rochester · Gastro-pub
A short, familiar 11-wine list for a gastro pub, with every price between $10 and $13 and no unit posted. Pair the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling or The Show Malbec with the Jumbo Chicken Wings, and ask whether those prices are per glass. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks selection, not service, storage or markups.
South Wedge · Rochester · Italian
A one-page, Italy-first list of 31 wines where the two-price house pours run $10 to $12 and $36 to $42, and the top price is $90 for The Prisoner Cabernet. Start with the $40 Brancher Valdobbiadene Prosecco, and ask which price on the slash entries is the pour. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups, and the list is undated.
Woodcliff Hotel & Spa · Rochester · New American
A broad online list with a real Finger Lakes section and a few friendly glass pours. Order the $10 Hahn Pinot Noir or the $15 Apollo's Praise Scheurebe by the glass, or pick a New York bottle like the $35 Thirsty Owl Dry Riesling, and confirm current prices because the list is a live online menu. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Pittsford / Monroe Ave Corridor · Rochester · Upscale Steakhouse and Seafood
A steakhouse list built on familiar names, with a few surprises like a Finger Lakes Riesling, and no prices posted online. Order the 14 oz ribeye with the Jordan Cabernet from the Coravin list, or open with the Riesling, and ask for prices before you order. This unrated guide covers the posted wine program, not service, storage or retail markups.
Pittsford Plaza · Rochester · Sushi and Japanese-inspired contemporary dining
Start with the $15 glass of Bandol rosé or Green Rows Pinot Noir, and keep the $55 Green Rows bottle in mind if the table wants red. Confirm current availability and prices, since the menu is stamped 8-14-26. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks selection, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown Roswell · Roswell · American
Canton St. Social is a solid neighborhood restaurant in historic downtown Roswell, and the wine program appears to be built for exactly that — supporting a good night out without overcomplicating things. We don't have enough sourced wine data to tell you what to order, which means your best move is to ask your server what's pouring well that night and go from there. Worth a visit for the food and atmosphere; the wine list is a work in progress as far as our research goes.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Worcester · American
The Boynton is a great neighborhood spot for a cold beer, a burger, and a game — and that's exactly what it should be. The wine program is along for the ride, not driving the car. If wine matters to you tonight, this isn't your destination; if you're here for the food and the vibe, order a beer and enjoy it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Atlanta · Atlanta · American
Hard Rock Cafe Atlanta's wine list is a Lazy List by every measure — grocery store brands, steep markups, no specials, and a rotating staff with little incentive to know what's in the glass. If you're here for the memorabilia and the atmosphere, lean into a cocktail or a beer. If wine is non-negotiable, the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling or Columbia Crest Cab will get you through the night without regret.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
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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