Beachfront Views, Boardroom Wine List
· Key West · Seafood / Resort dining · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · October 10, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Restaurant at Southernmost Beach Resort’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Ten wines. That's the whole list. For a resort property sitting at the literal southernmost point of the continental United States, the ambition here stops well short of the horizon. What you get is a tightly curated — if that word can be applied this generously — selection of grocery-store staples dressed up in a beachfront setting.
The list reads like someone grabbed the top-ten best-sellers from a Costco wine aisle and called it a day. You've got your Whispering Angel Rosé for the Instagram crowd, Matua Sauvignon Blanc for the safe-bet drinkers, and a Terrazas Malbec that has no real business being on a seafood-forward resort menu in the Florida Keys. There's no regional identity, no nod to the Caribbean surroundings, and zero adventurousness — not a single skin-contact wine, sparkling option beyond the Prosecco, or anything that signals someone actually thought about this list. The geographic spread technically covers multiple regions but it's New World mainstream all the way, with France represented only by Whispering Angel.
The by-the-glass program is actually the whole program — all ten bottles are also available by the glass, which is either genius or a confession that turnover is slow. Prices run $12–$15 per glass, which is reasonable for a resort setting but doesn't make the selection any more exciting. The Sangria at $15/glass is the only thing that doesn't have a bottle option listed, making it the one wild card on an otherwise flat deck.
The Bottom Line
The Resort at Southernmost Beach is selling the view, and the wine list knows it — there's no reason to put in effort when the sunset does all the heavy lifting. If you're ordering wine here, stick to the Ste. Michelle Riesling or just pop the Prosecco and enjoy where you are. Don't come here for the wine program; come here despite it.
Duval Street · Key West · Wine bar
For Key West, a wine bar with a genuine Champagne focus and a mid-week deal is a minor miracle. We'd send a friend here for a pre-dinner glass on a Wednesday without hesitation — just know that we're working from strong vibes and limited menu data, so go in curious rather than with a specific bottle in mind. When we get the full list, this one could move up the rankings fast.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Key West · Cocktail & Wine Bar
Virgilio's is a cocktail bar that quietly keeps a wine list worth paying attention to — fair prices, a genuine Italian white program, and 13 pours by the glass that won't embarrass anyone. The Monday martini specials are the headliner, but the Albariño and Pecorino are the supporting cast worth showing up for. If you're on Duval Street and want a glass of wine that doesn't taste like an afterthought, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
· Key West · American
Caroline's Café is not a wine destination, and it's not trying to be — the identical pricing across all five house labels makes that abundantly clear. If you're in Key West looking for something interesting in your glass, keep walking; if you just need a cold pour of Chardonnay with your lunch and aren't asking questions, $8 gets you there without drama.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Old Town · Key West · Winery tasting room
Key West Winery is a Wild Card because the concept itself is the draw — tropical fruit wines in the Florida Keys is exactly as niche and fun as it sounds, and it earns its badge on novelty alone. We wouldn't send a serious wine drinker here as a primary destination, but if you're already in Old Town and curious about what local winemaking looks like when grapes aren't the star, it's worth a tasting flight. Go in with the right expectations and you'll leave entertained; go in looking for a Côte de Nuits and you'll leave confused.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Key West · New American / Bistro
Nine One Five is a perfectly pleasant place to pop Champagne in Key West — and if that's your move, the selection is genuinely good. But the list doesn't push itself beyond a solid, safe crowd-pleaser lineup, and without pricing transparency or confirmed by-the-glass options, it's hard to know whether you're getting value or just paying for the ocean air. Go for the bubbles, ask about the Raventós, and temper your expectations for anything beyond that.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Key West · European / German
Martin's Key West is running a micro-list of prestige bottles in a paradise setting — which is either charming or maddening depending on your mood and your budget. There's no flexibility here, no white wine for the heat, no by-the-glass safety net. If you're committed to a big red and happy to spend for it, Pontet-Canet or Les Pagodes are your best bets. Everyone else should ask what's on tap.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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