The Metropolitan
Cleveland's Most Grown-Up Wine List
Downtown Cleveland · Cleveland · Contemporary American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 22, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The Metropolitan's wine list arrives looking like it was put together by someone who actually drinks wine — not just someone who called a distributor and said yes to everything. At 100-plus bottles spanning four continents with a genuine half-bottle program, it signals that this kitchen takes the full dining experience seriously. The Pacific Northwest presence alone would make some Seattle restaurants jealous.
Selection Deep Dive
The list leans hard into Washington and Oregon, and that's a flex worth owning — two Cadence Red Mountain bottlings, Cristom and Domaine Drouhin in half-bottles, and Love & Squalor Willamette Pinot Noir anchor a PNW section with real conviction. Europe holds its own with Jermann Pinot Grigio from Friuli, a Valdubón Reserva from Ribera del Duero with actual age on it (2017), and a Voliero Rosso di Montalcino that shows somebody here knows Italy beyond Tuscany's greatest hits. The Champagne section leans on the holy trinity of Moët, Veuve, and Ruinart — all in half-bottles only, which is either thoughtful or a margin play depending on your mood. What's missing is any serious Burgundy presence and a deeper Rhône or Southern Italian showing.
By the Glass
Twelve to eighteen pours is a respectable range for a hotel restaurant, and the by-the-glass program covers the expected bases — Craggy Range 'Te Muna' Sauvignon Blanc from Martinborough is a smart, above-average call that most Cleveland spots wouldn't bother sourcing. The J. Lohr 'Arroyo Vista' Chardonnay skews safe but it's a serious single-vineyard pour that earns its spot. No obvious signs of a dedicated rotation program, so don't expect a lot of seasonal surprises.
Valdubón Reserva, Ribera del Duero 2017 — null
A 2017 Ribera del Duero Reserva with real bottle age is the kind of wine that costs real money at retail and shows up on hotel lists at painful markups — but the vintage depth here makes it worth hunting the price before you order. Spanish Tempranillo with this kind of age is almost always the best value move on a list like this.
Voliero, Rosso di Montalcino 2021
Everyone skips Rosso di Montalcino for the Brunello they can't afford or the Chianti they always order. That's a mistake. Voliero's Rosso is the same Sangiovese DNA as Brunello at a fraction of the price and the 2021 vintage in Montalcino was excellent — this is the table's secret weapon.
Moët & Chandon 'Impérial' Brut Réserve NV 375ml
A 375ml of Moët at a hotel restaurant is going to be priced at a level that makes your eyes water for what is, at the end of the day, entry-level Champagne. Step up to the Ruinart Blanc de Blancs half-bottle if you're going sparkling — the quality gap is significant and the price gap won't be.
Cadence 'Coda', Red Mountain 2022 + Prime Ribeye
Red Mountain Cabernet-dominant blends are built for exactly this moment — the volcanic basalt soils push tannin structure and dark fruit that cuts through the fat on a well-marbled ribeye the way few other American reds can. Cadence is one of Red Mountain's most focused producers and 'Coda' is their most food-forward bottling.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Metropolitan is doing real work on its wine list for a Cleveland hotel restaurant — the Pacific Northwest depth is legitimately impressive and the half-bottle program shows genuine hospitality instincts. Markups will sting if you're paying attention, but the staff knows what they're pouring and that matters more than most people admit.
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