Beer Hall That Forgot Wine Exists
Rio Washingtonian · Bethesda · American / Sports Bar
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 16, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Yard House Gaithersburg’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Yard House feels like an afterthought handed to a server who'd rather talk IPAs. You flip past two pages of craft beer before landing on a roster of names you've seen at every grocery store checkout line. Nothing wrong here, exactly — it's just that no one's trying.
The list leans hard on California and New Zealand, which is to say it leans hard on brands that advertise during NFL games. Meiomi, Kim Crawford, Josh Cellars — these are reliable crowd-pleasers, sure, but there's no regional curiosity, no small producer, no reason to order a second bottle out of genuine excitement. The bottle range tops out around $60, which at a chain sports bar is less 'curated ceiling' and more 'we stopped caring here.' If you came hoping for a Willamette Valley Pinot or a Loire Chenin, you're in the wrong zip code.
Ten to fifteen pours sounds generous until you realize they're all greatest hits from the same short playlist. Glass prices run $8–$14, which is fine for the neighborhood, though you're essentially paying restaurant markup on wines you could grab at Total Wine for $12 a bottle. Rotation appears nonexistent — what's on the menu today was probably on it six months ago.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc — $9/glass
It's the least offensive value play on the list. Crisp, consistent, widely available — and at the low end of the glass price range, you're not getting gouged too badly on a wine that does exactly what it says on the label.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
Maligned by wine snobs, loved by everyone else for a reason. It's soft, fruit-forward, and surprisingly food-friendly in a sports bar context. Not a gem in any cellar sense, but if you order it without apology alongside a burger, you'll have a good time.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
A $13 retail bottle dressed up as a $14/glass pour. The math doesn't work, the wine doesn't reward you, and you've definitely had it at your cousin's Super Bowl party. Order a beer instead — this place does that better anyway.
Meiomi Pinot Noir + Fish Tacos
Light enough not to steamroll the fish, with enough berry sweetness to play against the citrus and seasoning. It's an easy call when the list gives you limited options, and it actually works.
❌ The Bottom Line
Yard House Gaithersburg is a craft beer destination that happens to sell wine — and the wine list knows it. Come for the taps, stay for the pretzels, and don't expect the Pinot Noir to surprise you.
Bethesda · Bethesda · American
This is a wine list for people who aren't really thinking about wine, and there's no shame in ordering a cocktail instead. If you're staying at the hotel, grab a glass at the bar and call it a night — just don't expect the list to reward any real attention.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Friendship Heights / Chevy Chase · Bethesda · American
Clyde's isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — and the Monday half-price bottle deal genuinely redeems a list that would otherwise be hard to recommend at full price. Come for the vibe, come back on a Monday.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Bethesda Metro Center · Bethesda · Seafood
McCormick & Schmick's Bethesda isn't a wine destination — it's a corporate seafood chain with a wine list to match, priced for convenience, not discovery. Order a cocktail, or bring a bottle if they allow corkage.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bethesda · Bethesda · Lebanese / Middle Eastern
Bacchus of Lebanon isn't a wine destination by any stretch, but it's one of the few spots in Bethesda where you can drink actual Lebanese wine with Lebanese food — and that specificity matters. If you're even mildly curious about what the Bekaa Valley is doing, this is an approachable, affordable place to find out.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Bethesda · Bethesda · Spanish
Spanish Diner Bethesda is a wildcard: a laid-back all-day spot with a wine list that has no business being this interesting. The markups keep it from being a destination wine play, but if you're in Bethesda and want to drink actual Spain with your tapas, this is your move.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bethesda · Bethesda · Steakhouse
Morton's Bethesda is a well-run, expensive wine program built to please a crowd that already knows what it likes — and it delivers that without apology. Send a friend here if they want a great glass of Napa Cab with a perfect steak; send them elsewhere if they're looking for anything resembling discovery.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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