Art Bar Energy, Surprisingly Honest Pours
Ballston · Arlington · Contemporary American small plates with global influences · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 27, 2026
RagingWine reviewed WHINO’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
You walk into WHINO expecting the wine list to be an afterthought — murals on every wall, DJ-ready energy, duck tacos on the menu — and honestly, the list is short enough to read in about 45 seconds. But the pricing is surprisingly honest for a spot that could easily get away with gouging on vibes alone.
Fifteen labels is not a deep cellar — it's a curated convenience store. The regional spread leans heavily on crowd-pleasers: Malbec from Mendoza, California Cab, Chianti, Côtes de Provence Rosé, and enough Prosecco variants to stock a brunch buffet. There's a Taylor Fladgate 10-Year Tawny Port on the list, which is the most interesting thing here and clearly a nod to the chocolate pairing program the restaurant leans into. Don't come expecting old-world exploration or anything off the beaten path — this list exists to keep the party moving.
One glass pour option is listed on their program at $9, which is either admirable minimalism or a sign that wine is genuinely secondary to the cocktail program. The actual glass pours we found across review sources include the Bieler Père et Fils Rosé, La Marca Prosecco, and the Joel Gott Cab — all approachable, none of them adventurous. Rotation doesn't appear to be a thing here.
Terrazas de los Andes Reserva Malbec — $15
Retails for $19 and they're pouring it for $15 a glass — that's a rare thing in Arlington. Rich, fruit-forward, and holds up against the short rib poutine without flinching.
Taylor Fladgate 10-Year Tawny Port
Most people ordering duck tacos and lobster mac aren't even scanning this far down the list, which is their loss. A 10-year Tawny from Taylor Fladgate is a legitimate producer with a track record, and paired with the chocolate program WHINO runs, it's actually the most intentional wine choice on the entire list.
Piccini Chianti
A 33% markup on a $9 retail bottle is the one moment this list loses its composure. Piccini is grocery-aisle Chianti at a price that acts like it isn't. Nothing wrong with the wine per se, but there's no reason to pick it here when the Malbec is sitting right there at a better price and better value.
Bieler Père et Fils Côtes de Provence Rosé + Duck Tacos
Duck can bully lighter wines, but a structured Provence Rosé with its dry, savory backbone plays it just right — cuts through the richness without disappearing. It's the most food-friendly pour on the list and the duck tacos are the move anyway.
The Bottom Line
WHINO isn't a wine destination, but it's not pretending to be one either — the pricing is fair, the vibe is great, and if you find the Taylor Fladgate or order the Malbec, you'll leave happy. Send a friend here for a fun night out, not a deep dive into the cellar.
Shirlington · Arlington · American Brasserie
Carlyle won't change your relationship with wine, but it won't ruin it either — and on Tuesday, when everything on the bottle list is half off, it briefly becomes one of the better deals in Shirlington. Come for the prime rib, order the Jordan, and call it a good night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Westover · Arlington · Turkish and Mediterranean
Maya Bistro isn't a wine destination, but Monday half-price bottles and legitimately interesting Turkish pours make it a Wild Card worth knowing about. Come for the pide, stay for the Angora — just don't touch the Oyster Bay.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Ballston · Arlington · New England–inspired seafood & raw bar
Salt Line Ballston isn't trying to be a wine destination, but the list is smarter and more purposeful than most seafood spots in this price range. Send a friend here for oysters and Muscadet and they'll thank you.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
National Landing / Pentagon City · Arlington · Southern & Korean-influenced American
Succotash Prime's wine list is exactly what you'd expect from a polished upscale Southern spot in a hotel-adjacent dining corridor — safe, recognizable, and priced for expense accounts. We'd send a friend here for a reliable night out, not a wine destination.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
National Landing / Crystal City · Arlington · Modern Italian
Corso is a dependable Italian wine list in a neighborhood that could easily get away with doing much less — it doesn't dazzle, but it doesn't disappoint either. If the Wednesday half-price bottle rumor holds up when you call ahead, it might just tip into genuinely great value territory.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Clarendon · Arlington · Retail Wine & Takeout
Liberty To-Go is a genuine wild card — a tavern wine shop hybrid with a fortified wine section that would embarrass most dedicated wine bars, all priced without the usual Arlington markup. Come for the Barolo, stay for the Sherry flight you didn't know you needed.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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
