Bentonville's Surprisingly Thoughtful Wine Destination
· Bentonville · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed September 13, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed The Hive’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
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 · Brazilian steakhouse
If you're coming to Texas de Brazil Bentonville for wine, recalibrate your expectations before you walk in. Three labels — two of which are bubbles — is not a wine program, it's a placeholder. Order the Cristal if you're celebrating something and don't mind the price, otherwise stick to whatever cocktails they're pouring and save your wine night for somewhere that's actually thought about it.
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· Bentonville · Champagne & wine bar
Muselet is a genuine anomaly — a focused, knowledgeable Champagne bar in northwest Arkansas with grower producers, subregion organization, and pricing that doesn't punish you for caring about wine. If you're anywhere near Bentonville, this is the stop. If you're not near Bentonville, it might be worth reconsidering your route.
Small but Thoughtful
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· Bentonville · Cafe & Wine Bar
The Meteor is exactly the kind of wine-forward wild card that Bentonville didn't know it needed — it's not trying to be a serious wine destination, but it's trying harder than most places its size, and that counts for something. Send a friend here for a casual glass before dinner, not for a deep-dive cellar experience.
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· 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.
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· 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.
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· 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.
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· Round Rock · New American
Whiskey Cake Round Rock isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — the all-by-the-glass format keeps things approachable, the pricing is honest, and there are a couple of genuinely good pours hiding in a short list. If wine is your priority tonight, look elsewhere; if you're here for the vibe and want something decent in your glass, Chehalem and Altocedro have you covered.
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· Columbia · New American
Motor Supply Co. Bistro appears to put its energy into the kitchen, and that may be the right call — but three wines is not a wine program. Until this list gets a serious rethink, order a cocktail or call ahead to ask about corkage.
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· Atlanta · New American
THREE isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list makes that abundantly clear. If you're here for cocktails or the bar scene, you're probably in the right place — but if wine matters to you even a little, this four-item lineup isn't going to do much for you. Order the House Champagne at $5, accept the situation for what it is, and move on.
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One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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