Permanently closed · Its website now carries a closure notice (checked Oct 2026)
Rochester's Best-Kept Natural Wine Secret
East End / Neighborhood of the Arts · Rochester · New American with Southern/Lowcountry Influence · Visit Website ↗
Updated October 2026
Reviewed June 19, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed The Revelry’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You walk into a buzzy, rustic-chic Southern spot on University Ave and the last thing you expect is a wine list that could hold its own in a Manhattan natural wine bar. The Revelry's list opens with grower Champagne and Txakolina before most Rochester restaurants have figured out that Pinot Grigio isn't the only white wine. This is a serious list wearing casual clothes.
The list runs 100-plus labels with a clear point of view: Old World-leaning, low-intervention-friendly, and built for people who actually want to drink something interesting. France anchors the whole thing — Loire Chenin Blanc (think Vouvray and Montlouis-style), Beaujolais crus from small producers, Northern Rhône Syrah from Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage, and Burgundy at both village and premier cru levels. Italy shows up with volcanic Etna Rosso and Piedmont alongside Tuscany, while Spain brings Basque Txakolina and Galician whites into the mix. Oregon Pinot Noir and California boutique producers round out the domestic side without leaning on the usual suspects. The gaps are minor — no deep Finger Lakes presence despite being right in New York wine country, which feels like a missed hometown opportunity.
Fifteen to twenty pours by the glass is genuinely impressive for a neighborhood New American in Rochester, and the range tracks with the bottle list — you can get a grower-style sparkling, a skin-contact white, or a Beaujolais cru without committing to a full bottle. Prices run $12–$18 a glass, which is honest for the quality tier. The glass program rotates enough to reward repeat visits.
Beaujolais Cru (Morgon or Fleurie, small producer) — $45–$55
Beaujolais cru from a small producer at this price range consistently over-delivers — you're drinking something with real terroir and age-worthiness at a fraction of what comparable Burgundy costs. With the Revelry's fried chicken on the table, it's the smartest $50 you'll spend in Rochester.
Txakolina (Basque white, Spain)
Most tables walk right past this and order a Chardonnay they already know. That's a mistake. Txakolina is bracingly dry, lightly effervescent, and built for seafood — it's the kind of wine that makes you feel like you discovered something, because in Rochester, you basically did.
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé
Tempier is a legitimately great wine, but it's also one of the most recognizable names in Provence rosé — meaning it's been marked up everywhere, including here. At $200 for a bottle of rosé at a Southern-influenced New American, the math stops working. Plenty of other interesting options on this list offer better QPR.
Loire Valley Chenin Blanc (Vouvray or Montlouis-style) + Shrimp and Grits
Chenin Blanc's bright acidity and slight honeyed texture cut right through the richness of the grits while lifting the brininess of the shrimp. It's the kind of pairing that feels obvious in hindsight but surprises everyone at the table.
The Bottom Line
The Revelry is the wine list Rochester didn't know it needed — a genuinely thoughtful, Old World-leaning, low-intervention-curious program tucked inside a buzzy Southern kitchen. Yes, send a friend here for wine. Send two friends.
Downtown · Rochester · Spanish & Mediterranean
A list of 14 wines posted with paired, unlabeled numbers and 14 bottles from $40 to $100, two of them from the Finger Lakes. Start with the Columna Albariño alongside the patatas bravas, or order the $40 Mille Reves Vouvray if you want a bottle for the table, and ask what the paired numbers in the Wine section stand for. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Park Ave · Rochester · Gastro-pub
A short, familiar 11-wine list for a gastro pub, with every price between $10 and $13 and no unit posted. Pair the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling or The Show Malbec with the Jumbo Chicken Wings, and ask whether those prices are per glass. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks selection, not service, storage or markups.
South Wedge · Rochester · Italian
A one-page, Italy-first list of 31 wines where the two-price house pours run $10 to $12 and $36 to $42, and the top price is $90 for The Prisoner Cabernet. Start with the $40 Brancher Valdobbiadene Prosecco, and ask which price on the slash entries is the pour. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups, and the list is undated.
Woodcliff Hotel & Spa · Rochester · New American
A broad online list with a real Finger Lakes section and a few friendly glass pours. Order the $10 Hahn Pinot Noir or the $15 Apollo's Praise Scheurebe by the glass, or pick a New York bottle like the $35 Thirsty Owl Dry Riesling, and confirm current prices because the list is a live online menu. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Pittsford / Monroe Ave Corridor · Rochester · Upscale Steakhouse and Seafood
A steakhouse list built on familiar names, with a few surprises like a Finger Lakes Riesling, and no prices posted online. Order the 14 oz ribeye with the Jordan Cabernet from the Coravin list, or open with the Riesling, and ask for prices before you order. This unrated guide covers the posted wine program, not service, storage or retail markups.
Pittsford Plaza · Rochester · Sushi and Japanese-inspired contemporary dining
Start with the $15 glass of Bandol rosé or Green Rows Pinot Noir, and keep the $55 Green Rows bottle in mind if the table wants red. Confirm current availability and prices, since the menu is stamped 8-14-26. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks selection, not service, storage or markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp