Wednesday's Deal Can't Save This List
Norfolk · Norfolk · Greek · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 25, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at The Parthenon reads like someone grabbed a clipboard at Total Wine and wrote down whatever was on sale. For a restaurant anchored in Greek cuisine — a culture with thousands of years of winemaking history — this list has almost nothing to say about the actual wine world those dishes come from.
What's here is a murderers' row of grocery-store staples: Josh Cellars, Meiomi, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Robert Mondavi Private Selection. The list gestures at a Greek and Italian regional focus, but the actual bottles on offer are squarely California commercial. There's no Assyrtiko, no Agiorgitiko, no Xinomavro — nothing that would make the lamb or moussaka feel at home. It's a missed opportunity so obvious it almost feels intentional.
We don't have confirmed by-the-glass details, but based on what's on the bottle list, expect the usual suspects poured in whatever comes out of the rack. If the glass pours mirror the bottle list, you're looking at the same mass-market labels at per-glass prices that make the margins even harder to stomach.
La Crema Pinot Noir 2022 — $38
Still a 111% markup over retail, but La Crema is at least a recognizable step up in quality from the rest of the list. If you're going to drink here, this is where the pain hurts least.
Meiomi Pinot Noir 2022
Nobody's calling Meiomi a hidden gem in real life, but at $42 it's actually the best markup ratio on the list at 91% over retail. In a list full of worse deals, that makes it the closest thing to a find.
Robert Mondavi Private Selection Merlot 2021
A 136% markup on an $11 retail bottle is genuinely insulting. This is a wine that lives in the clearance bin, and The Parthenon is charging $26 for it. Hard pass.
La Crema Pinot Noir 2022 + Lamb dishes
Pinot Noir's lighter body and bright acidity won't bulldoze the seasoned lamb the way a bigger red would. It's not an ideal pairing by any stretch, but on this list it's the best tool for the job.
Wednesday — Half-price bottles of wine all day Wednesday
❌ The Bottom Line
Wednesday's half-price bottle deal is the only real reason to engage with this wine list — at 50% off, the steep markups become almost fair. Any other night, order a beer or a cocktail and save yourself the math.
Downtown Norfolk · Norfolk · American
Mermaid Winery is a genuine wine destination that happens to be in Norfolk — and yes, that still surprises us a little. The pricing leans steep and the staff isn't running a Master Sommelier class, but the list is deep where it counts and Wednesday half-price night is one of the better wine deals in the region.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Virginia Beach · Norfolk · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Virginia Beach won't surprise you on wine, and a few markups are hard to forgive, but the depth is real and the by-the-glass program is better than most steakhouses at this price point. If you're here for a special occasion steak and want a bottle that won't embarrass the meal, you'll find it — just avoid the house pours and do a little homework first.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Norfolk · Norfolk · Gourmet Market & Wine Shop
Taste Unlimited is a gourmet market that quietly outclasses most sit-down restaurants on wine curation and blows them out completely on price. If you're in Norfolk and haven't figured out that this is also a wine stop, you've been leaving money on the table.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Governors Pointe · Norfolk · Southern American
Vintage Tavern has no business having a wine list this serious in a suburb of Norfolk — and we mean that as a high compliment. The markups take some of the shine off, but a sommelier on staff, 400 bottles, and a genuine Virginia section make this the best wine destination for miles around.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Norfolk · French
Todd Jurich's Bistro is the most serious wine list in Norfolk, full stop — but you'll pay for that seriousness, especially on the French side. Go for the sommelier's guidance, order the Barboursville, and enjoy the fact that a room this focused on wine exists in downtown Norfolk at all.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Ghent · Norfolk · New American
Varia is doing something genuinely rare in a mid-sized market — building a wine program that would hold its own in Chicago or D.C. The markup isn't always charitable, but the depth, the cruvinet by-the-glass program, and the evident expertise on staff make this one worth the trip across town.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Stamford · Greek
Kouzina is doing the right things with Greek wine in a city that doesn't ask for it, and that's worth something. Pricing runs a little hot, but if you stick to the Greek producers and let the Assyrtiko do its thing, you'll eat and drink well.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Central City · Salt Lake City · Greek
Manoli's wine list is doing something most restaurants in Salt Lake City won't bother trying — it's actually teaching you something about Greek wine without making you feel like you're in a classroom. If you're even mildly curious about Old World grapes beyond the usual suspects, this is worth your time.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Greenpoint · Brooklyn · Greek
Nerina is doing something genuinely rare in New York: building a focused, serious Greek wine program in a neighborhood that could coast on vibes alone. If you've ever wanted a guided tour of Greek wine without booking a flight to Athens, this is your table.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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