Lake Town's Scrappy Little Wine List Surprises
· Duluth · Cocktail Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 6, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Rathskeller’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Walking into a cocktail bar in Duluth and finding a Beaujolais Villages and a Cabernet Franc on the list is not something we expected. The wine program is compact — nine bottles total — but whoever curated it clearly has opinions, and that counts for a lot in a city where the default bar wine is often a mystery Merlot from a three-liter box.
Nine wines sounds thin, but this list punches above its weight class. You've got a Vinho Verde from Pavao for the lighter-is-better crowd, a Roche-Guillon Beaujolais Villages for anyone who wants something food-friendly and not boring, and a Scaia Corvina Rosso pulling from the Veneto for a bit of Italian character. The Cararet Franc is the most interesting pick on the board — Loire-leaning, probably under the radar for most Rathskeller regulars. The gaps are real: no white Burgundy, no aged anything, and the overall depth tops out fast — but for a cocktail bar in northern Minnesota, this is a genuinely considered effort.
We don't have confirmed by-the-glass counts from the menu, so we can't tell you how many of these nine are pourable by the stem. Given the bar's cocktail-first identity, it's a reasonable assumption that most of the list is available by the glass — but verify with the staff before you get your heart set on the Corvina. A cocktail bar that rotates its glass pours regularly would be a nice next step for this program.
The Bottom Line
This is a cocktail bar that slipped a legitimately interesting nine-bottle wine list into the corner without making a big deal about it — and we respect the quiet confidence. Don't come here for a deep cellar experience, but do come here knowing you have real options beyond the well liquor.
· Duluth · Italian
Va Bene is presumably doing something right in the kitchen, but the wine list is a two-item afterthought that tells you this place doesn't take wine seriously. Order a glass, enjoy your pasta, and don't expect anything more.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Duluth · European / Hotel Restaurant
Midi is doing more with 38 labels than most hotel restaurants do with 80. The aromatic white selection alone makes it worth a serious look, and the pricing won't leave you feeling robbed on the way out.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Duluth · Italian-American and Pizza
Sammy's is a Duluth institution and the pizza earns its reputation — the wine list is just not the point, and the restaurant isn't pretending otherwise. Order a beer or grab the cheapest glass pour, eat the pizza, and be happy.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Canal Park · Duluth · American, Bar, Pizza
Old Chicago Duluth isn't a wine destination and doesn't pretend to be — it's a reliable fallback for the table member who wants a glass of something decent while everyone else works through the tap list. If you stick to the Ste. Michelle Riesling, you'll leave satisfied; just don't come here expecting anything that will make you put down your pizza.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Duluth · Duluth · American, bar & grill
Grandma's Saloon is a genuinely fun West Duluth institution, but the wine list is an afterthought and everyone involved knows it. Order a local beer, enjoy the ribs, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that shares it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Miller Hill · Duluth · American, bar & grill
Grandma's Miller Hill is a beloved Duluth institution, but the wine list has never been the reason to show up — and with the location closing in May 2026, it's not getting better. Order a beer, enjoy the nostalgia, and save the wine for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Aurora · Cocktail Bar
Sorry Gorgeous isn't a wine destination, but it's a cocktail bar that actually tried — and that counts for something. Come for the rooftop, order the Pinot Blanc or the orange wine, and leave the Dom on the menu for someone else's bachelorette party.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / State Street · Ithaca · Cocktail Bar
The Watershed is a cocktail bar that accidentally has a decent wine list, and we mean that as a compliment. If you're in Ithaca and want a low-key glass of something thoughtfully chosen without paying downtown Manhattan prices, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Mill Avenue · Tempe · Cocktail Bar
Filthy Animal is the last place you'd expect to find a real wine list, which is precisely what makes it a Wild Card — the selection punches above the bar's party-school energy, and if you know what to order, you can drink well while everyone else is doing kamikazes. Just don't come here for the value; come for the vibe and the pleasant surprise.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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