Solid pours in a genuinely historic room
West End · Albany · British Pub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 13, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into a 1730s Quackenbush House, you're not expecting a wine destination — and the list confirms that immediately. What you get is a short, approachable lineup of familiar names at prices that won't make you wince. It's a pub list built for pub drinkers, and it knows exactly what it is.
The bottle list runs from $27 to $65, which is genuinely reasonable for a sit-down spot in Albany's downtown. The selections lean heavily on recognizable grocery-aisle producers — Francis Coppola, Decoy, Trumpeter, Starborough — with a light nod to Italy via Gionelli Pinot Grigio and Prego Montepulciano. There's no real regional depth here, no grower Champagne lurking in the corner, no interesting natural wines hiding behind the Guinness taps. But if you want something drinkable with your Pub Burger without overthinking it, you'll find it.
Nine options by the glass, ranging from $9 to $18, which is a solid spread for a neighborhood pub. You've got your Prosecco, your Sauvignon Blanc, your Pinot Grigio, and a handful of reds covering Malbec, Cab, and Pinot Noir territory. The rotation doesn't appear to change much, but at least the pricing keeps it accessible.
Prego Montepulciano D'Abruzzo Reserve — $27
If this is sitting at the lower end of the bottle list, it's the move — Montepulciano D'Abruzzo is a consistently food-friendly red that overdelivers for the price, and at $27 a bottle in a restaurant setting, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better deal on the list.
Tarani Malbec
Most people in a British pub are reaching for the Cab or the Pinot, which means the Malbec gets overlooked. Tarani is a solid, fruit-forward Argentine producer that punches above its price point — order it and look smarter than everyone else at the table.
Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon
Decoy is a fine wine, but it's widely available at retail for $15-$20 a bottle, so the restaurant markup stings more than usual. With Francis Coppola Cab also on the list, you're paying a premium for a label you can grab at any supermarket on the drive home.
Starborough Sauvignon Blanc + Grazing Board
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and a spread of charcuterie, cheese, and pickled things is basically a cheat code — the bright citrus and herbal snap of the Starborough cuts through fat and salt and keeps everything lively across the board.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Olde English Pub isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — and the fair pricing and recognizable pours make it a perfectly decent place to have a glass alongside a pint and some bar food. Send your friend here for the atmosphere and the beer; the wine is just a bonus that won't embarrass anyone.
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
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