Bentonville's Surprisingly Thoughtful Wine Destination
· Bentonville · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 13, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Hive’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Opening the beverage menu at The Hive, you don't expect 66 labels in Bentonville, Arkansas — and yet here we are. The list is organized with real intention: bubbles get their own section by the glass, whites and reds are poured by the quartino, and the bottle list reaches into Champagne territory without losing its mind on pricing. This isn't a wine list that fell off a distributor truck.
The list covers solid ground across Europe and California without trying to be everything to everyone. You've got Italian representation from Jermann's Pinot Grigio and Baracchi's Tuscan blend, French bones via Louis Latour and an Oraison GSM from the south, and Spain showing up with the Montecillo Rioja Reserva 2019 — a Tempranillo with actual age on it. The Champagne bottle section punches above its weight, with H. Goutorbe Premier Cru and Gaston Chicquet sitting alongside Piper-Heidsieck — that's a legitimate grower presence in a state where most restaurants think Moët is the top shelf. The one gap is a lack of domestic depth beyond California, and the list skews safe on the red side.
Fourteen pours by the glass is generous, and the quartino format for whites and reds is a smart move — you get about a third of a bottle, which is the right amount for two people sharing a starter. The range runs from $15 Cava to $22 Jermann Pinot Grigio, which is fair across the board. The Onward Pétillant Naturel of Malvasia Bianca is the one wildcard on the bottle list that shows someone at this restaurant is paying attention.
Montecillo Rioja Reserva Tempranillo 2019 — $20/glass
A proper Rioja Reserva with actual bottle age at $20 a glass is the kind of find that makes you feel smart. Montecillo is a reliable name in Rioja, and the 2019 vintage gives you structure and some development — not a young, fruit-bomb pour but a real wine with a story. Worth every dollar.
Onward Petillant Naturel of Malvasia Bianca 2021
Most people are going to scroll right past a pet-nat made from Malvasia Bianca and order the Prosecco. Don't. Onward makes thoughtful, low-intervention wines out of California, and this bottle at $54 is the most interesting thing on the list by a wide margin. It's funky, it's alive, and it rewards curiosity.
Jermann Pinot Grigio 2024
Jermann is a serious producer — no argument there — but $22 a glass for Pinot Grigio is the ceiling of what this category should ever cost, and most people ordering it here aren't going to know why it costs more than the Chardonnay next to it. For $3 less you can pour a Louis Latour Chardonnay that offers more interest. Save the Jermann for a bottle situation.
Oraison Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre 2020 + Roasted Chicken
A southern Rhône blend at $17 a glass is built for roasted poultry — the Grenache brings warmth, the Syrah adds a little pepper and structure, and the whole thing has enough body to stand up to crispy skin without overwhelming white meat. It's a classic match that works every time.
The Bottom Line
The Hive is doing more with a wine list than most restaurants in markets twice the size of Bentonville — fair prices, genuine range, and a Champagne section that earns respect. If you're in NW Arkansas and care about what's in your glass, this is your spot.
· Bentonville · New American / Seasonal
Conifer is doing something genuinely unusual for Arkansas: a tightly curated, white-wine-forward list with real range and fair pricing. If you're used to restaurants treating wine as an afterthought, this one will catch you off guard in the best way.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bentonville · New American / Wine Bar
Bar Cleeta is the kind of wine bar that shouldn't exist in Bentonville, Arkansas — and yet here it is, pouring Silvaner and Catarratto by the glass at prices that don't insult you. Send your adventurous friends here without hesitation.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bentonville · Gastropub / New American
Tusk & Trotter isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it's doing the honest work of keeping the glass full at fair prices with a by-the-glass program that almost any table can navigate. Send a friend here for dinner without worrying about the wine — just tell them to skip the Castellani.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Walnut / Retail corridor · Bentonville · Seafood and American
Bonefish Grill Rogers is not a wine destination, but it's not a disaster either — the list is safe, the glass pours are plentiful, and you won't feel cheated if you stick to the by-the-glass options. Send a friend here for the Bang Bang Shrimp; tell them to manage their wine expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Rainbow Curve / I-49 Corridor · Bentonville · Italian
The Bertani Amarone and Col d'Orcia Brunello sitting on this list are like finding a Rolex in a vending machine — impressive that they exist, but the surrounding context makes the whole thing feel absurd. Come for the pasta, drink the Chianti Classico, and lower your expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Northwest Bentonville · Bentonville · Steakhouse / BBQ
Fred's Hickory Inn is worth the trip for the smoke and the history — the wine list is not the reason you come. Order the barbecue, drink whatever's cold, and save the serious bottle for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · Coeur d'Alene · New American
Midtown Bluebird isn't going to win any wine destination awards, but it earns its keep as a reliable neighborhood pour in a town that doesn't have a lot of competition. If you're in Coeur d'Alene and want something decent from the Northwest without getting gouged, this is a solid call.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Corvallis · New American
Castor is a reliable dinner-out wine experience in a college town that doesn't always deliver that — Oregon-focused, reasonably priced, and backed by a kitchen worth drinking alongside. Send a friend here for date night; just don't expect them to geek out on the list.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· St. Paul · New American
Cafe Lurcat is a reliable anchor for a Minneapolis date night, and the wine list won't embarrass you — but at these prices, you'd want it to thrill you a little more than it does. Go for the atmosphere and the food; treat the wine list as a solid supporting cast, not the headline act.
Solid Range
Steep
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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