OTR's Solid Wine Bar That Gets the Job Done
Over-the-Rhine · Cincinnati · Modern Eclectic American
Reviewed June 5, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Zula Restaurant & Wine Bar’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walk into Zula and the wine list feels like a genuine attempt — 75 to 125 bottles with real regional intent, not just a laminated afterthought stapled to the cocktail menu. The red-heavy focus is obvious from the jump, which works fine until you're the person at the table who wants something white and crisp. It reads like a list built by someone who likes wine, even if they don't always price it like they want you to order it.
The backbone here is Old World red: Spain shows up with Bodegas Muga Reserva Rioja and a Tempranillo from Calatayud, Italy contributes a Rosso di Montalcino from Tenuta Poggio Il Castellare and Ruffino's Albola Chianti Classico, and Argentina gets a nod with the Bodega Tamari Reserva Malbec. California fills in the gaps with bottles like La Storia Cabernet from Alexander Valley. What's notably thin is the white wine program — a single unnamed Pinot Grigio and a Sauvignon Blanc by the glass at time of review suggests the white side of this list didn't get the same love. If you drink red, you're in decent shape; if you drink white, you're kind of on your own.
The BTG count lands in the 15-25 range, which is respectable for a neighborhood wine bar, and glass prices run $10-$16 — reasonable for Cincinnati. The problem is that the by-the-glass whites feel like an afterthought, with the Pinot Grigio appearing to be the lone white option at one point, which is a real miss for a wine bar billing itself as eclectic. Rotation doesn't appear to be a strong suit here.
Bodegas Muga Reserva Rioja 2016 — $38-$50 range (bottle)
Muga Reserva is a genuinely great Rioja — two-plus years in American and French oak, serious structure, and a track record that earns its reputation. At the lower end of Zula's bottle range, it's the best juice-per-dollar on the list.
Tenuta Poggio Il Castellare Rosso di Montalcino 2017
Most people skip past Rosso di Montalcino and go straight for Brunello without realizing they're essentially drinking a younger, more approachable version of the same wine at a fraction of the price. This one flies under the radar on a list that skews toward crowd-pleasing Cabs and Malbecs.
Wente Chardonnay 'Riva Ranch' Arroyo Seco Estate Grown
At $48.75 a bottle, you're paying a 143% markup on a $20 retail wine. Wente Riva Ranch is a perfectly fine grocery-store Chardonnay, but there's no world where it earns a $49 price tag. Order the Muga instead and use the savings to tip your server better.
Ruffino 'Albola' Chianti Classico + Mussels
Chianti Classico's bright acidity and savory, herb-driven character cut right through the briny richness of steamed mussels. It's a classic Italian coastal logic applied to a flatbread-and-shellfish menu, and it works every time.
The Bottom Line
Zula is a reliable wine bar in a neighborhood that needs more of them — the red list has genuine depth and a few real finds, but the markup on some bottles and a neglected white program keep it from being something truly special. Send a friend here if they drink Italian or Spanish reds; just warn them off the Chardonnay.
· Cincinnati · Contemporary American Steakhouse
Eddie Merlot's is a reliable performer in a genre that doesn't reward risk-taking — you'll eat well, drink acceptably, and pay steakhouse prices for both. If you're after a wine list that surprises or challenges you, this isn't your room. But if you need somewhere that delivers a respectable bottle alongside a serious filet, this gets the job done without embarrassing you at the table.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Montgomery · Cincinnati · American
A winery-restaurant list where nearly every wine is posted with a glass and a bottle price, from $9.50 to $25.00 a glass. Start with the Cooper's Hawk Lux Cabernet Sauvignon, which the menu lists beside the red wine braised short ribs, or the Cooper's Hawk Red at $10.75 a glass, and try the CHMX from Baja, Mexico on a weekday at the $8 Wine O'Clock price. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups, so confirm availability.
Covington · Cincinnati · Farm-to-Table Bistro
A bistro wine list with a compact glass tab and a regional bottle tab that runs from 42 to 310. Start with the Conquilla cava or the Voliero sangiovese by the glass, or the Thymiopoulos xinomavro at $50 if you want a bottle, and confirm prices because the menu is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Cincinnati · Wood-Fired American
A French-led bottle list with a glass page that starts at $17 and a Coravin page for smaller pours. Order the Domaine Brun-Avril Côtes-du-Rhône at $20 a glass, or try the Château de Plaisance Anjou Blanc by the pour, and confirm vintages since the book says they are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks selection, not service, storage or markups.
Newport · Cincinnati · Farm-to-table (Italian, French, American)
A tasting-menu room with a wine book that runs from Burgundy to Tuscany and a short, specific beverage sheet. Start with the $15 Delalle sparkling Chenin Blanc, or look at the $48 Rocca del Principe Fiano if you want a bottle, and confirm what is available since neither list is dated. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks lists, not service, storage or markups.
Lytle Park · Cincinnati · Italian
A broad Italian-and-Napa list, with every glass pour labeled by size. Start with the Santa Cristina Cabernet Sauvignon (6oz 12) or the Ohio-made Carlotta red blend (43), and confirm what is pouring, since the list carries no date. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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