Veranda Restaurant

The Veranda's wine list arrives looking the part — a proper, multi-page document with vintage cellared bottles and sparkling options, exactly what you'd expect inside two beautifully restored turn-of-the-century homes in downtown Fort Myers. It's aspirational and well-organized, covering France, California, Italy, and beyond. But once you start doing the math on prices, the romance wears off a little.

The list spans Napa and Sonoma heavyweights, Willamette Valley Pinot, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Ribera del Duero, New Zealand, and Argentina — a legitimate international spread that earns its 'Solid Range' tag. The vintage cellar is a genuine differentiator, anchored by Dom Pérignon 2013 and Silver Oak, giving the list some gravitas beyond the usual steakhouse suspects. That said, the California Cab section leans hard on crowd-pleasers — Caymus, Silver Oak, Stag's Leap — and there's limited adventurousness for anyone who's already memorized those labels. Gaps show up in natural wine, anything from the Loire, and esoteric producers that might actually surprise a curious drinker.

Twelve-plus options by the glass is a respectable showing for a Fort Myers dining room, and the range hits the expected notes — Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Cabernet, Champagne. Piper Heidsieck Brut at $110 a bottle (presumably less by the glass) keeps the bubbly category accessible-ish, though prices per glass push toward the upper end of what feels reasonable. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority — this reads as a fixed, curated list rather than a dynamic program.