Long Island's Napa-and-Bordeaux Power Move
Melville · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 8, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Halston’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
You open the list at The Halston and the California heavyweights come swinging — Opus One, Insignia, Dominus, Chateau Margaux. This is not a restaurant that's playing around with wine. Sommelier Paul D'Amelio has built something serious for suburban Long Island, and Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence since 2024 is well-earned.
The 300-500 bottle list leans hard into California Cabernet and French classics, and it delivers on both fronts with real depth. You've got the full Napa hierarchy represented — Jordan for the crowd, Silver Oak and Caymus as reliable workhorses, and Chateau Montelena and Far Niente adding some credibility beyond the cult-cab circuit. France gets respect too, with Chateau Margaux anchoring the Bordeaux section and Louis Jadot holding it down for Burgundy. If you're hunting for natural wine or off-the-beaten-path producers, look elsewhere — this list is unapologetically classic and proud of it.
Twenty to thirty-five options by the glass is an ambitious pour program, with pricing running $12-$25. The range means there's something for the table-splitting crowd and the solo diner who just wants one good glass of Chardonnay without committing to a bottle. We'd love to see more rotation and adventurous pours at the glass level, but the selection covers the bases competently.
Jordan Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $60+
Jordan is the smartest entry point on a list that quickly escalates into triple digits. It's a consistent, food-friendly Alexander Valley Cab that punches well above its price point on a list with this much prestige pressure around it.
Chateau Montelena Chardonnay
Everyone's eyes go straight to the Cabs on a list like this, but Montelena's Chardonnay — the wine that won the Judgment of Paris — gets criminally overlooked. It's restrained, structured, and ages well. Order it before someone else at the table talks you into another Cabernet.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is everywhere, and restaurant markups on this bottle are almost never kind. It's a fine wine, but you're paying a premium for name recognition at the expense of discovery. The list has better Cabs at a similar or lower markup — use them.
Far Niente Chardonnay + Bacon & Burrata
Far Niente's Chardonnay has the richness and oak structure to stand up to burrata's creaminess and the smoky salt hit of bacon without getting swallowed. It's a richer pour that earns its place at the appetizer course.
The Bottom Line
The Halston is the kind of wine program you don't expect to find anchored in a Melville office park — deep, well-curated, and staffed by someone who actually knows the list. Markups will test your wallet, but if California and France are your compass points, this one's worth the drive.
Melville · Melville · Italian
One10 is punching well above its suburban Long Island expectations with a wine list that earns its Wine Spectator recognition — the depth is real, the top-end collectibles are legit, and there's something here for every budget above entry level. Markups run steep as you climb toward the prestige bottles, so stay sharp on your picks and this is a genuinely satisfying wine dinner.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Melville · Melville · Steak house, Sushi
Blackstone is the real deal — a Long Island steakhouse with a wine program that belongs in the same conversation as Manhattan's serious rooms, anchored by a knowledgeable sommelier and a cellar that can satisfy everyone from the Caymus-by-default crowd to the collector hunting a back-vintage Petrus. The markups aren't charitable, but the depth and care on display earn the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence without question.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
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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