Eight Bottles Doesn't Make a Wine Bar
· Daytona Beach · Cafe / Wine Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed October 16, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Third Wave Cafe & Wine Bar’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Eight labels. That's the list. We've seen gas stations with more range than what Third Wave is calling a wine program. The name says wine bar; the list says afterthought.
The lineup reads like a casual grocery run: Cannonball Cabernet, Conundrum California Red, and two Chardonnays (Cloudfall and Blondie) handle the familiar crowd, while Red Blend No. 3 fills the anonymous red slot. Hummingbird Hunting Cabernet & Emma and Dolcy Dolcy are at least slightly outside the norm, and Pink Frog Prosine Port Instilled adds something resembling a dessert option. There's no regional diversity to speak of — no Old World bottles, no rosé, no sparkling beyond whatever the Pink Frog port-style brings. Eight wines isn't a curated list; it's a curated excuse.
We don't have confirmed by-the-glass data for Third Wave, so we can't tell you what's pourable tonight versus what's bottle-only. With only eight labels total, the math doesn't leave much room for a meaningful glass program either way.
The Bottom Line
Third Wave calls itself a wine bar, but eight labels — mostly accessible California brands — isn't a wine program, it's a placeholder. If wine is your reason for going out, this list won't reward the effort. Stick to whatever coffee or cocktail program they run better.
Ormond Beach · Daytona Beach · Bistro
Vine Bistro has the bones of a great neighborhood wine spot — a relaxed, romantic room, food that's built for sharing and sipping, and a reputation that keeps locals coming back. We'd love to give you a tighter breakdown of the list, but our sourcing came up short on specifics. Worth a visit in person: go for the charcuterie, ask what's pouring by the glass, and report back.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Daytona Beach · Wine Bar / Restaurant
Rogue Wave is a small, honest list with a surprising BC backbone that earns it more credit than the bottle count suggests. If you're in Daytona and want wine without drama or sticker shock, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Daytona Beach Shores · Daytona Beach · Wine-focused California-leaning grille
SoNapa Grille is a genuine wild card — a wine-focused concept in a market that didn't ask for one, and that's exactly why it's worth your attention. Get in early, see if the list earns the concept, and hope the glass pours are priced like they want repeat customers.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Daytona Beach · Wine Bar
Wine Not? isn't trying to be a destination wine bar — it's trying to be your relaxed neighborhood pour, and it pulls that off without overcomplicating things. If you live nearby, this is a perfectly decent spot to work through a few glasses; just don't show up expecting to geek out.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Daytona Beach · Italian
The Garlic is punching above its weight class for a Daytona Beach Italian spot — 105 labels and 33 by-the-glass options is real effort, and the pricing is mostly honest. It's not a wine destination, but it's absolutely the right place to drink well if you're already there for pasta.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Daytona Beach · Wine Bar / Small Plates
35 Bistro is doing something genuinely unexpected in Daytona Beach, and the wine program — while not without blind spots — backs up the room's ambition. Send a friend here if they think Daytona can't do grown-up dinner. They'll owe you one.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East River / Waterfront · Green Bay · Cafe / Wine Bar
Studio 1212 isn't trying to be a serious wine destination, and that's fine — it's a solid neighborhood wine bar with fair prices, an all-by-the-glass lineup, and enough range to keep a table happy. Send a friend here if they want a relaxed pour on the waterfront, not if they're chasing something obscure.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Las Cruces · Las Cruces · Cafe / Wine Bar
Grounded is a genuinely charming neighborhood spot that happens to serve wine — don't come expecting a curated cellar, but do come expecting fair prices and a room full of people who are happy to be there. If you're in Las Cruces and want a glass of something approachable with your plant-based pie, this delivers.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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