Seven Bottles, Zero Boredom, All Neighborhood
Old West Side · Ann Arbor · European-inspired café fare, sandwiches, salads, cheese and charcuterie, wine bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 4, 2026
RagingWine reviewed York’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Seven wines on the list sounds like a limitation until you actually read them — a Donkey & Goat natural, a Chermette Beaujolais, a Tibouren Provençal rosé. This isn't a short list because nobody tried; it's short because someone made real choices. That alone earns our attention.
York isn't trying to be everything to everyone, and the wine list reflects that with unusual clarity. You've got the Folhof Capelet Bries Merlot-Cabernet anchoring the red side, a Richard Bocking Devon Riesling for the white wine crowd who want something with actual tension, and the Pierre-Marie Chermette Beaujolais Grumier for anyone who still thinks Beaujolais is a party trick — it's not, and Chermette proves it every time. The Confuron Grüner and de Pichery & Fils MVJ3 round out a list that reads more like a curated shop shelf than a restaurant afterthought. The glaring gap is depth by the bottle for groups who want to dig in, but for a neighborhood café running at these price points, the curation punches well above its weight class.
All seven labels appear to be available by the glass — which is exactly right for a spot where you're eating a cheeseboard and deciding what mood you're in. Glass pours in the $10–$16 range keep the math easy and the spontaneity intact. The Wine Down Thursday events suggest regular rotation and genuine enthusiasm behind the program, not just a static list collecting dust.
Pierre-Marie Chermette Beaujolais Grumier — $12–$14/glass est.
Chermette is one of the most respected names in Beaujolais, full stop. Getting this by the glass at a neighborhood café in Ann Arbor at this price point is genuinely good news — it's a serious producer making serious wine, and most people will walk right past it thinking it's just Beaujolais. Their loss, your gain.
Richard Bocking Devon Riesling
A Michigan Riesling on a list this small is a statement, not filler. Richard Bocking is doing quiet, focused work in the state and most guests will default to something they already know. Order this one instead — you'll leave with a better understanding of what's happening in your own backyard.
Folhof Capelet Bries Merlot-Cabernet
It's not a bad wine, but on a list this interesting, ordering a Merlot-Cabernet blend feels like going to a great taco spot and ordering the quesadilla. Save the pour for something with more personality — there are at least three better options on this same list.
Tibouren Clos de Provence + Cheeseboard
Tibouren is a Provençal grape that barely exists outside the South of France, and it has a saline, herbal cut that makes cheese and charcuterie taste like they were made for it — because in Provence, they basically were. This is the move at York.
The Bottom Line
York is a seven-bottle wine list that makes most fifty-bottle lists look lazy by comparison. If you live on the Old West Side and you're not stopping here on a Thursday, you're leaving good wine on the table.
Downtown / Campus · Ann Arbor · New American / Hotel Restaurant
Eve is a dependable, well-kept hotel wine list that earns its place as Ann Arbor's go-to for faculty dinners and anniversary meals — just don't come expecting to be surprised. Order the Merry Edwards, skip the Stag's Leap markup, and let someone else handle the tab.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
West Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor · Upscale-casual Italian
Bravo! is a chain doing chain things with its wine list — predictable, approachable, and not particularly exciting. But the markup is fairer than most chains, the by-the-glass range is functional, and if you show up on a Wednesday, $7 Provençal rosé on the patio is a genuinely good time.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown · Ann Arbor · American Gastropub
The Ravens Club isn't a wine destination — it's a late-night Ann Arbor institution that happens to have a functional wine list. Show up on a Wednesday, order the Gruet for $6, and let the spirits program do its real job.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown · Ann Arbor · Japanese-inspired ramen, noodle dishes, and izakaya-style small plates
Slurping Turtle is a genuinely fun spot to eat, and the ramen deserves your full attention — but the wine list is on cruise control and nobody seems to mind. Stick to a glass of Riesling or grab a beer, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that reciprocates it.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor · Sushi / Japanese
Nagomi is the rare sushi spot that made an actual choice with its wine program instead of just phoning it in with grocery store staples — a focused BC lineup at fair prices is exactly the kind of unexpected that earns a second look. If you're curious about Canadian wine and want a low-stakes way to explore it, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Ann Arbor · Korean BBQ
Tomukun is a great place to eat Korean BBQ and drink soju with friends — the wine list is just not the reason to come here. Order the Riesling if you must, or do yourself a favor and let the soju do the work.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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