Comfort food's dependable wine wingman
West End · Allentown · American Bistro / Comfort Food · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 4, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Union & Finch is short, familiar, and makes no apologies for it. Thirteen labels deep, this is a neighborhood bistro that knows its audience — people who want a solid glass with their mac and cheese, not a 20-minute conversation about terroir. It reads approachable, which is exactly the point.
The list pulls from the usual suspects: California Cabs, Italian whites, a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, and a couple of sparkling options to round things out. Substance Chardonnay from Washington is the most interesting entry — a Col Solare project that punches above its list position. Beyond that, you're in Gabbiano and Francis Coppola territory, which is fine, but don't come here hunting for discovery. The regional spread gestures toward variety without committing to depth, and there are no real surprises hiding in the lineup.
Twelve of the thirteen labels are pourable by the glass, which is genuinely good for a list this size — you're not stuck bottle-committing to something you're unsure about. Prices run $8–$12 per glass, which is honest money for the Lehigh Valley. Rotation doesn't appear to be part of the program, so what you see is what you get, season to season.
Substance Chardonnay (Washington) — $12/glass
This is Charles Smith's Chardonnay project, made from old-vine fruit in Columbia Valley. At $12 a glass in a neighborhood bistro, you're getting a wine that over-delivers hard against everything else on this list.
Heinz Eifel Riesling (Germany)
Most people at a comfort food spot are reaching for the Cab or the Pinot Grigio. The Heinz Eifel Riesling gets ignored, which is a mistake — German Riesling at a casual price point offers real acidity and character that most of this list simply doesn't have.
Moet et Chandon Imperial Brut
At $94 a bottle, the Moet sticks out badly against a list where everything else tops out at $55. You're paying a significant premium for the label recognition. The Segura Viudas Brut Rosé at $39 does a perfectly capable sparkling job for less than half the price.
Silver Moki Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand) + Chicken and Waffles
The bright citrus and grassy snap of a Marlborough-style Sauv Blanc cuts through the richness of fried chicken and sweet waffle in a way that a heavier white simply won't. It keeps the meal feeling light without fighting the flavors.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Union & Finch isn't trying to be a wine destination, and that's fine — it's a solid neighborhood spot where the list is priced fairly and gets the job done. Send your friends here for the burger and a comfortable glass of something familiar, not for a deep-dive wine moment.
Downtown Bethlehem · Allentown · Upscale American
1741 on the Terrace isn't trying to be a wine destination, but the fortified and dessert wine program alone is worth the visit — it's genuinely rare to find this much care put into the end-of-meal pours. Come for the atmosphere, stay through dessert.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Bethlehem Historic District · Allentown · Upscale New American with French-Asian influences
Edge is a dependable night out for wine in a market that doesn't always take the glass seriously — the list won't dazzle you, but it won't embarrass you either. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink well; just steer them away from the rosé markup.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bethlehem/Lehigh Valley region · Allentown · Fusion/Eclectic Bistro
Twisted Olive is a solid neighborhood wine stop — fair prices, familiar faces on the list, nothing that'll blow your mind but nothing that'll ruin your night either. Send a friend here for a casual Wednesday dinner, not a special occasion splurge.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bethlehem/Wind Creek Resort · Allentown · Steakhouse
Chop House does what a casino steakhouse wine list is supposed to do: it stocks the names people recognize, charges casino prices for them, and gets out of the way. If you're here for the prime ribeye and a bottle of Jordan, you'll leave happy — just don't look too hard at the markups.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Bethlehem · Allentown · Contemporary American Rooftop
Zest isn't where you go to geek out on wine, but it is where you go to drink something decent while watching the sun dip over Bethlehem without dropping $100. For a rooftop bar, this list is honest, fairly priced, and does exactly what it promises.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Seidersville / Allentown–Bethlehem Border · Allentown · Farm-to-Table New American
Bolete is the best wine list in the Lehigh Valley by a comfortable margin, and it would hold its own in most major cities. If you're driving 45 minutes for dinner, the wine list alone makes it worth the trip.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
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