Hibachi Fun, Wine List Forgot To Show Up
Silas Creek Pkwy · Winston Salem · Japanese / Sushi · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 25, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You open the drink menu at Umi and the wine section is basically a footnote. Twenty-two labels total, and the list reads like a supermarket endcap — familiar names, zero surprises, nothing that makes you feel like wine was part of the plan here.
The list leans almost entirely on California Cabernet Sauvignon, which is a curious call for a Japanese steakhouse where lighter reds, sake, and crisp whites would actually make sense with the food. Robert Mondavi and Louis M. Martini anchor the program, and while both are perfectly drinkable, they're also the kind of wines you grab when you're late to a potluck. There's no detectable regional curiosity here — no domestic Pinot, no Riesling, no anything that nods to the cuisine on the other side of the menu. The gaps aren't interesting; they're just gaps.
Sixteen by-the-glass options sounds generous until you realize the list is only 22 bottles deep — meaning most of the program lives on the glass menu by default, not by design. House pours run $8.50 to $9 a glass, which is reasonable for Winston-Salem, but don't expect rotation or anything poured with intention. What's there is there, and it'll stay there.
Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon — $28
At $28 a bottle with a retail price around $22, the markup is barely there — you're essentially paying just a few bucks over what you'd spend at Total Wine. If you're drinking red tonight, this is the move.
Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon
Most people reach for Mondavi on name recognition alone, but Martini's Sonoma Cab consistently punches a little harder for the same price range. On a list this thin, that difference matters.
Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon
At $8.50 a glass, it's not a rip-off, but Mondavi Private Selection is a $12 retail bottle you've seen a hundred times. Save the pour for something you can't buy at a gas station.
Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon + Hibachi Filet Mignon
The char and butter from the hibachi grill give the Martini Cab something to work with — the richness cuts through the fat and the smoke gives the fruit a little life. It's not a revelatory pairing, but it's the best the list can offer.
❌ The Bottom Line
Umi is a fun hibachi night out, and the wine pricing is honestly fairer than it has any right to be — but the list itself is an afterthought, and no amount of fair markup fixes a selection that's two bottles deep in personality. Order sake, or a cocktail, and come back to us when they add a Grüner Veltliner.
Reynolda / North Winston-Salem · Winston Salem · Upscale American
Graylyn Estate is a genuinely beautiful place to have dinner, but the wine list is an afterthought in a room that deserves intention. Order the sea bass, grab the La Crema, and try not to think too hard about what this list could have been.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Clemmons · Winston Salem · New American
Sixty Vines is a solid, reliable wine stop in Winston-Salem — the by-the-glass breadth is real and the staff knows their stuff, but the list reads like a greatest hits album rather than anything adventurous. Come for the volume, stay for the pizza, but don't expect to have your mind changed about wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Winston Salem · Indian
Oh' Calcutta's wine list is unremarkable on its own — but Tuesday nights flip the script entirely, and a $19 Pinot Noir with lamb vindaloo is a genuinely good time. Come for the food, plan around Tuesday, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Winston Salem · American
Cin Cin isn't a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — but Wednesday half-price wine all day on bottles and glasses turns a generic list into a genuinely good deal with a burger in hand. Show up any other night of the week and order a beer.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Brookstown · Winston Salem · Italian
Quanto Basta punches above its weight for a mid-size Southern city Italian spot — the Italian-focused list is thoughtful, the prices are fair, and Thursday half-price bottles make it one of the best weekly wine deals in Winston-Salem. Come hungry, come on a Thursday, and order the Falanghina.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Reynolda Village · Winston Salem · American
Village Tavern Reynolda isn't a destination wine list, but it earns its keep with real range, at least one smart Italian pick, and a Wednesday half-price program that makes it genuinely worth planning around. Send a friend here on a Wednesday — tell them to order the Arneis.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront / Weber Point area · Stockton · Japanese / Sushi
Misaki is a fine spot for a Dragon Roll and a cold drink, but the wine list is on autopilot — low effort, predictable, and priced a little too confidently for what it delivers. Order the sake, order the sashimi, and save the serious wine drinking for elsewhere.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Corpus Christi · Japanese / Sushi
Water Street Sushi Room isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — and that honesty earns some respect. If you order smart (Broadley, not Kim Crawford), you'll drink well enough to enjoy your omakase roll without thinking twice about it.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Wilson · Jackson Hole · Japanese / Sushi
Sudachi won't win any awards for list depth, but it earns points for playing to its strengths — Pacific Northwest whites that actually belong next to sushi. In a town where wine lists often coast on altitude and ambiance, this one shows some genuine thought.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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