The Kittle House Inn
A Hudson Valley Cellar Worth the Drive
Chappaqua · Chappaqua · American, Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 5, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
When a wine list runs 1,200 to 1,800 selections out of a renovated 1790 carriage house in Westchester County, you stop and pay attention. The Kittle House has been holding a Wine Spectator Grand Award since 1994 — which means this isn't a restaurant that stumbled into a good cellar. Someone here has been doing serious work for decades.
Selection Deep Dive
The geographic sweep is genuinely impressive: Burgundy anchored by Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Leroy, Bordeaux with Château Pétrus and Château Margaux, Piedmont covered by Gaja and Bruno Giacosa, and Rhône represented through E. Guigal. California gets its due with Harlan Estate, Screaming Eagle, Opus One, Ridge Vineyards, and Kistler — not just the trophy names but some actual substance. Washington (Cayuse), Australia (Penfolds Grange), and Tuscany (Sassicaia) round out a list that spans the globe without feeling scattered. The depth in Burgundy and Bordeaux alone would justify a special trip.
By the Glass
With 20 to 35 options by the glass, the pour program is more robust than most places in this zip code could dream of. We'd love to see more rotation and a natural wine presence in this lineup, but the sheer volume of options means you can explore meaningfully before committing to a bottle. Don't just default to something familiar here — ask what's open.
Ridge Vineyards (California) — $60–$90 range
Ridge consistently punches above its price point on lists like this one. Against a backdrop of four-figure Burgundies and cult Napa bottles, a Ridge California red is the rare chance to drink something genuinely great without wrecking your evening's budget.
Cayuse Vineyards (Washington)
Most tables here are scanning for the Burgundy and Napa heavyweights, and that means the Washington section gets ignored. Cayuse makes some of the most compelling Syrah and Grenache in the country from Walla Walla basalt soils — and in a room full of Bordeaux drinkers, your glass will be the most interesting one at the table.
Opus One (Napa Valley)
Opus One is a perfectly fine wine that has been marked up to its cultural reputation rather than its contents for about 40 years now. On a list with Harlan, Screaming Eagle, and legitimate Bordeaux, the money spent here is better redirected almost anywhere else.
E. Guigal (RhĂ´ne) + Lobster Bisque
A white Rhône from Guigal — Condrieu or a white Côtes du Rhône with Viognier — brings enough richness and aromatic lift to meet a lobster bisque without drowning in it. It's the kind of pairing that makes you wonder why you ever default to Chardonnay.
🔥 The Bottom Line
The Kittle House is the real deal — a legitimately deep, well-kept cellar in a beautiful historic setting that most people outside Westchester County have no idea exists. Markup is steep in places and there's no dedicated sommelier on the floor, but the list itself is worth every mile of the drive up from the city.
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