Solid pours in a genuinely historic room
West End · Albany · British Pub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 13, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Olde English Pub’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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.
· Albany · Italian, Steakhouse, Seafood
Choose by budget, check bottle size, and confirm the current menu. We haven't independently assessed service, glassware or storage.
Downtown Albany · Albany · Steakhouse
Order by the glass and explore: the posted menu gives you Riesling, Chablis, Cahors and Rioja without a bottle commitment. Pentimento at $16 is our price-conscious red starting point. Check the current list before ordering; the complete cellar, service and storage haven't been independently verified.
West Albany · Albany · Italian
Grappa ’72 gives you several ways into Italian wine without committing to a prestige bottle. Our move is Nozzole Chianti Classico Riserva at $47/bottle for the table, or Bigi Orvietto at $9/glass if you want your own white. Confirm the current vintage and price when ordering.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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
Northwest Rockford · Rockford · British Pub
Hope & Anchor isn't a wine destination and it's not trying to be — but the prices are fair, the glass program covers all nine bottles, and there's a Riesling hiding in there for the curious. Come for the pint, stay for the shepherd's pie, and don't overthink the wine list.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Norcross · Atlanta · British Pub
Iron Horse Tavern is one of the best pubs in Gwinnett County: 130-year-old brick, darts, a fireplace, live music, and proper British pub food. But the wine offering is effectively nonexistent. Stick with the draft beer and the Scotch. You will have a great night.
Grocery Store
Fair
Red Flag
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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