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 →
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.
Crystal City · Arlington · Wine Shop / Tasting Bar
Crystal City Wine Shop is the kind of low-key, staff-driven wine spot that most neighborhoods desperately want and rarely get — especially one with the nerve to stock Ukrainian bottles in the shadow of the Pentagon. We'd send a curious friend here without hesitation; just don't come in expecting a full restaurant experience.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Clarendon · Arlington · New American
CIRCA Clarendon isn't trying to be a wine destination and doesn't pretend otherwise — but the all-BTG format, fair prices, and a few genuinely interesting whites make it a solid call when you want wine that works without overthinking it. Send a friend here, just steer them away from the Unshackled.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Arlington · Wine Bar / Bottle Shop
Flight Wine Shop is doing something genuinely rare in the DC suburbs: a tightly curated, fairly priced bottle shop that treats obscure regions and natural producers as the main event, not a novelty section. If you're tired of the same ten wines and want a shop that will actually teach you something, this is your spot.
Deep & Eclectic
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Arlington · Wine Bar / Café
Oby Lee is not a destination for serious wine drinkers, but it is a genuinely fun, low-pressure spot where the prices are fair and the vibe is unapologetically playful. Send your friends who think they don't like wine — they'll order a mango slushy and have a great time.
Plays It Safe
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ballston · Arlington · Neapolitan Pizza
Pupatella isn't trying to be a destination wine program, and it doesn't need to be — it's a pizza place with a focused, fairly priced, Italian-centric list that actually makes sense with the food. Send a friend here for the pizza and tell them to order the Lambrusco.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Arlington · Arlington · Wine Bar
Screwtop is doing something genuinely unusual in the DC suburbs: a deep, eclectic by-the-glass list priced fairly and organized with actual personality. If you want to drink something you've never tried before in a low-pressure setting, this is exactly the place to send a friend.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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