Old Hollywood Glamour, Solid Pours Included
Downtown Albany · Albany · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 23, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at The Hollywood Brown Derby arrives looking like it was designed to reassure, not challenge. Familiar California labels, a few Italian standbys, and some international fill-ins — it's the kind of list that won't confuse your uncle but won't excite your wine-nerd friend either. That said, the pricing is noticeably reasonable for a downtown steakhouse, which earns some goodwill right away.
The list spans California, Italy, France, Australia, Chile, and Argentina, but California is clearly running the show here. You'll find crowd-pleasers like Honig Sauvignon Blanc and Chappellet Mountain Cuvée Cabernet anchoring the domestic side, while Sartori Pinot Grigio and Castello Banfi Brunello hold down the Italian flank. The Brunello is a legitimate bottle in the lineup — it's not a common sight on Albany steakhouse lists — but the overall selection leans heavily toward safe, recognizable names rather than anything adventurous. There are no real deep dives into Burgundy, Rhône, or anything that would make a serious wine drinker linger over the list.
Ten-plus options by the glass with a price range of $10 to $29 gives you real room to explore without committing to a bottle. The Hitching Post Cork Dancer Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara is the most interesting pour on the glass list — a label with genuine credibility that punches above its weight class. The program feels static though; there's no sense that the glass list rotates with any intention or seasonality.
Jarvis Finch Hollow Chardonnay Napa — $28
At $28 a glass against a $40 retail price, this is one of the tighter markups on the list. Jarvis is a serious Napa producer — cave-aged, estate fruit, the real deal — and getting it at this price in a downtown steakhouse is a genuine win.
Inniskillin Vidal Icewine, Okanagan Valley
Most people scroll past the dessert wine section without a second look, and that's a mistake here. Inniskillin is one of the benchmark names in Canadian icewine, and the Okanagan Vidal is intensely sweet without being cloying. Most diners at a steakhouse will never order it, which just means more for the rest of us.
Sartori Pinot Grigio, Veneto
Nothing wrong with Sartori as a producer, but Pinot Grigio at steakhouse markups is rarely the move. This is a grocery-store-tier bottle that costs you convenience pricing without the convenience. Order the Honig Sauvignon Blanc instead and put the difference toward dessert.
Chappellet Mountain Cuvée Cabernet, Napa + Prime Rib
Mountain Cuvée is built for exactly this — it's a structured, tannic Napa Cab that needs something fatty and rich to show its best side. Prime rib delivers. The fat softens the tannins, the wine cuts through the richness, and suddenly you're having a very good evening in Albany.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Hollywood Brown Derby won't blow any wine minds, but it prices fairly, stocks a few genuine bottles worth ordering, and doesn't embarrass itself. Send a friend here for a steakhouse dinner and tell them to skip the Pinot Grigio.
Downtown/Clinton Square · Albany · Modern Mexican / Latin-inspired
Ama Cocina isn't a destination wine bar, but it's a Wild Card worth respecting — a food-forward Latin spot that actually thought about its wine list instead of phoning it in. Come for the tacos, order the Albariño, and be pleasantly surprised.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Warehouse District/Riverfront · Albany · Wine Bar / American Small Plates
The Shaker & Vine is Albany's best argument for the self-pour wine bar format — the markup is shockingly fair, the riverside setting earns its keep, and the list is approachable without being embarrassing. Don't come hunting for rare producers, but do come for a relaxed pour with a view.
Solid Range
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Colonie · Albany · Classic Italian-American
Lombardo's wine list is the culinary equivalent of a comfortable booth — nothing revelatory, but nothing offensive, and it gets the job done alongside a plate of baked ziti. Send a friend here for the food and tell them to order the Barolo if they want to feel like they tried.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Albany · Albany · Steakhouse / Lounge
677 Prime Lounge is the wine list equivalent of a perfectly cooked strip steak — nothing surprising, nothing wrong, everything exactly where you expect it to be. If you're in Albany and someone else is buying, order the Silver Oak and enjoy the room; if you're watching your tab, lean on Jordan and don't let them upsell you to Caymus.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Albany · Albany · Traditional Greek and Mediterranean
Athos isn't trying to build the most ambitious wine program in New York State — it's trying to give you an honest Greek wine experience to go with honest Greek food, and it largely delivers. If you're eating moussaka and lamb in Albany, this is where your glass should be.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Albany · Albany · Modern American fine dining with Indonesian accents
Yono's is the best wine program in Albany and it's not particularly close — a thousand-label cellar, a sommelier who knows it, and a room built for the occasion. The markups are real and the by-the-glass list plays it safer than the cellar deserves, but if you're willing to lean on the staff and spend a little, this is one of the more serious wine experiences in upstate New York.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
CityPlace · West Palm Beach · American
RH Rooftop is a great place to drink wine you already know in a room that photographs extremely well — just don't come expecting to discover anything. If you're a guest who wants reliability and a gorgeous sunset view, this delivers; if you're chasing depth or value, this list isn't going to find you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Northwood / near downtown · West Palm Beach · American
Table 26 punches above its neighborhood weight with a list that has real ambition and a happy hour program that's one of the best deals in South Florida. The markup on the trophy tier is aggressive, but if you drink smart — and especially if you show up before 6 PM — this place absolutely delivers.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
South End / near The Breakers · West Palm Beach · American
Henry's isn't a wine destination, but it's not pretending to be one either — the list is familiar, the markups are fairer than you'd expect from a Breakers property, and the flight program gives you a reason to explore. Send your friends here for dinner without worrying they'll get gouged on wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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