The Absolute Best Wine Bar In Every US State

Sipping a chillable red and snacking on house-cured pork products, browsing thoughtfully curated shelves of bottles with colorful, funky labels, or chatting with a bartender about their favorite by the glass of the moment. If you count these activities among your hobbies, we know you love a wine bar.

No matter which state you're in, there's a wine bar out there for you. Now, some places had a whole lot to choose from, while other states may have only had a few contenders. Regardless, all the businesses on this list had to meet the same standards of quality. There's variety here — some of these wine bars are better suited for nerding out about malolactic fermentation and carbonic maceration; others have European charm and desirable vintages to match. No matter what kind of wine lover you are, you will find an outstanding glass or bottle to enjoy at any of these bars across the country.

With a wine garden in downtown Birmingham and a combined bottle shop and bar selling more than 850 low-intervention wines in Mountain Brook, expect options like a bubbly macabeu and xarel-lo pet nat from Catalonia, Spain, or a gamay and pinot noir rosé from Lorraine, France. The food menu is short but tasty, including cheese boards, grilled cheese sandwiches, and French bread served with cultured butter from the iconic Animal Farm Creamery (which Carmy famously purchased for the fictitious Chicago restaurant in "The Bear"). Golden Age was even a semifinalist in James Beard's Outstanding Wine Program in 2022.

goldenagewine.com

Multiple locations

Crush Wine Bistro and Cellar in Downtown Anchorage has varied, eclectic options like deviled eggs with crispy chicken skin, halibut with miso cream, or pad thai with scallops and numerous by the glass options, including dessert wines to round out your meal. There's also Crush's bottle shop right next door and another one in O'Malley. Crush has won the platinum award for its wine list from the Anchorage Daily News and was awarded Best Wine Bar in 2025 by the Quality Business Awards.

crushak.com

Multiple locations

Phoenix's Kid Sister is known for its neighborhood vibes and accessible wine list, with crowd-pleasing glasses including a brut cava and gamay rosé. The full wine list is helpfully broken out into categories. If you're looking for a bottle of white, would you prefer something fresh and crisp, rounded and textured, or skin contact? Nosh on creative plates from the rotating menu, like boquerones with roasted garlic or rockfish crudo with figs, balsamic, jalapeño, and fennel. It's no wonder Kid Sister got a nod from the Michelin Guide with a Bib Gourmand and won a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2026.

kidsisterphx.com

​​(602) 633-9559

4810 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ

Little Rock's BCW specializes in bread, cheese, and wine, as the name indicates. Gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches are the highlight of the food menu in such varieties as blackberry goat cheese, duck confit, and French onion. In 2025, BCW was a Best of Arkansas finalist in four categories: wine bar, bread, munchies, and place for a girl's night out. In 2026, it won the latter category — so ladies, let's raise our glass of lambrusco or Willamette pinot to that!

bcwlittlerock.com

(501) 379-4290

1424 Main St, Unit 101, Little Rock, AR

Good Clean Fun was listed among Wine Enthusiast's picks for best LA wine bars and received shoutouts from such publications as Thrillist, Time Out, and Lala Guide. This downtown LA spot is as nice for getting your buzz on while you "work from home" as it is for a boozy birthday bash. GCF serves food (including breakfast and weekend brunch) starting from 7:00 a.m until close. Lunch and dinner lean Italian (cacio e pepe, margherita pizza, and so on), and the wine is natural. If you're not staying to drink, grab a bottle to-go or sign up for the wine club — expect offerings such as a chillable red from Mexico made with Rosa del Peru grapes.

gcfwines.com

868 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA

Tavernetta's bottle list is 40 pages long with around 800 thoughtfully curated options organized by region. The focus is on Italy for the food and wine — you can get both a $70 bottle Chianti for a weekday date night or a $1,600 Brunello if you feel like splurging. The sommeliers and highly-trained service team are there to guide you through. It's for the consistently high quality of the selection, service, and cuisine that the Union Station restaurant has been a recipient of Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence since 2020.

tavernettadenver.com

(720) 605-1889

1889 16th St, Denver, CO

If you like to sample a lot of different wines, Sip is the place for you. The bar offers around 20 wines (listed with specific tasting notes) as a 5-ounce glass, half bottle, full bottle, or 2-ounce pour, as well as a number of options only sold by the bottle. The wine, which is mostly made with well-known grape varietals, is bought by the case — when it runs out, Sip replaces it with a new one, so the options are always changing. You can also build a board with the cheeses and sides of your choice, plus optional cured meats, pâté, or sardines. Sip won the wine bar category in the CT Post Best Of Awards in both 2025 and 2026.

sipsaybrook.com

(860) 339-5513

85 Main St, Old Saybrook, CT

The Sycamore is housed in a historic New Castle building, with plenty of dark wood, old brick, and dim lighting. The draw here is the numerous self-serve dispensers which, after scanning a card given to you there, will dole out a pour in three different sizes. It has an impressive 4.9-star rating on Google, with not one of the 65 reviewers giving anything less than four stars.

thesycamorewinebar.com

(302) 380-3034

208 Delaware St, Historic New Castle, DE

Nosh on vegan food and sip on an awesome selection of natural wines at Tampa's La Sétima Club. Sure, the list might have a riesling from Mosel or a cabernet franc from the Loire, but it also could have a number of options from places like Greece, Slovenia, Bulgaria, or the Canary Islands. Pair a fun glass with plant-based bar food like chili cheese dip, boudin egg rolls, sliders, or dairy-free cheeses served with fried crackers. According to Star Wine List, "It's where the cool kids hang."

lasetimaclub.com

(813) 400-1610

815 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL

The catchphrase at Atlanta's Larakin is "coffee, wine, tinned fish." By day, it's a coffee bar, and by night, it's a very cool wine lover's hangout. The menu of the different types of canned seafood looks like a wine list with interesting flavors and regional diversity. When you try to scope out Larakin's wines online, you're taken to a page that explains, "We carry fantastic wines we love to drink. Come in and see what we got, and we'll find something just for you." The bar also hosts plenty of events and pop-ups, including chef Jorom Paler's Mikase Omakase, which has gotten rave reviews from Eater, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and Punk Foodie.

larakinwineandcoffee.com

208 12th St NE, Atlanta, GA

Elaine and Rick Lilley are credited with starting the natural wine wave in Hawaii with Brix & Stones, a cigar lounge and natural wine shop, in 2020. Located in Honolulu, Silver Lining Wine Bar occupies the space beneath it, and was opened by the couple in 2024. Grab a seat at the horseshoe-shaped bar, where you can have a cozy chat with Rick or other wine enthusiasts about the ancient grape varietals that dominate Silver Lining's wine list. The bar offers light bites, like locally made venison pâté, and regularly hosts pop-up events.

instagram.com/silverlininghawaii

(808) 378-7378

999 Waimanu St, Honolulu, HI

The folks of Boise love Les Bois Wines. Of the 82 reviewers on Google, 81 gave the bar five stars, and the one person that didn't left a respectable three-star review. The selection of wines by the bottle and glass rotate and there is no set menu. Instead, you are encouraged to chat with the bartender (often owner Benjamin Wasby) about your preferences, and they'll gladly find you something just right, so you don't have to worry about your selection.

lesboiswines.com

813 W Bannock St, Boise, ID

Chicago is a world-class culinary destination, and All Together Now holds its own as a wine drinker's platonic ideal. It's fun and funky without trying too hard; you can stay for a drink and a bite (fried goat cheese curds with hot honey, a smash burger served on milk bread with malt vinegar mayo, or a honey-marshmallow oatmeal sandwich cookie); or pick up some artisan cheese and one of more than 150 bottles from the retail shop to go. The wines were lauded by Star Wine List for being varied and expertly selected, with options ranging from collector-worthy Champagnes to extra funky kombucha-like oranges.

alltogethernow.fun

(773) 661-1599

2119 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL

Solely Wine focuses on bottles from small producers served in a welcoming, cozy environment. It's among the only places in Indianapolis that you can even get a glass of natural wine, especially ones made with off-beat grape varietals, or from regions not frequently featured on wine lists. Numerous local publications and creators have shouted out the business's vibe and selection. For serious enthusiasts and professionals, you can even take Level 1, 2, or 3 WSET courses, which are taught by Solely Wine owner Amanda McLaurin.

drinksolelywine.com

(770) 617-6118

1106 E 16th St, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN

There aren't many spots that stock natural wine in the state of Iowa, making Des Moines' The Cave DSM even more of a standout. Aside from a bottle shop and bar in a comfortable space, the business also offers a convenient online wine store. In addition to plenty of interesting options from well-known wine producing regions, you can also find very special bottles, like a dry red from producer Philokalia out of Bethlehem, Palestine, made using dry-farmed, old vine indigenous Palestinian grapes.

thecavedsm.com

(515) 244-3061

1437 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA

Vintage '78 Wine Bar has been honored multiple times by the prestigious World's Best Wine List Awards in the by the glass category: it was the runner-up in 2026 and the winner in 2025 and 2024. You can sample a 1-, 2-, or 5-ounce pour of more than 130 wines, and that doesn't even include the three dozen or so dessert wines. The bottle list is even more extensive, with six whole pages dedicated to German rieslings alone, for example — it comes in a binder and includes maps and descriptions of growing regions.

vintage78winebar.com

(913) 261-9483

7251 W 80th St, Overland Park, KS

Nouvelle Bar & Bottle leans quite French when it comes to the wine list, the small plates, and the ethos. In this bar's philosophy, wine should be thoughtfully made and very delicious, without being overly serious. The wine list is legit, featuring about 100 retail bottles plus another 250 or so of reserve wines in the cellar. From Nouvelle's Completely Irresponsible Champagne List you can select a 2013 Jacques Selosse Millesime Grand Cru for $2,800, if you so choose. This business has earned numerous accolades from the likes of Star Wine List and Wine Spectator.

nouvellewine.com

(502) 631-9428

214 S Clay St, Louisville, KY

If there's one city where you know you can get a drink, it's New Orleans — especially if you're sipping on a craft cocktail or something boozy out of a to-go cup. As for wine, The Independent Caveau can't be beat — the business includes a wine bar, wine shop, and an education center offering WSET courses in wine, spirits, beer, and sake. In the retail section, bottles of wine are shelved from floor to two-story vaulted ceiling, accessible only by a towering ladder. Located on the southern edge of Mid-City, The Independent Caveau is pleasantly distanced from the typical tourist traps.

theindependentnola.com

(504) 702-8033

1226 S White St, New Orleans, LA

Portland is full of very cool spots to eat and drink, which makes it noteworthy that Grippy Tannins stands out. This tasting lounge and shop feels immediately comfortable. That's in large part thanks to owner Lindsey Murray, who makes beginners and aficionados alike feel welcome and is always ready to share her abundant wine knowledge. Grippy Tannins also hosts lots of events like yoga nights, brunch pop-ups, and, of course, plenty of tastings. If you plan to go after 6 p.m. for a tasting, a reservation is required.

grippytannins.com

(207) 747-4524

16 Middle St, Portland, ME

In 2025, Era Wine Bar won Wine Program of the Year in the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington Awards. It offers dozens of wines by the glass and around 100 by the bottle. Reflective of the mixed heritages of the owners, the bites aren't what your typical wine bar serves — expect plates like tandoori wings, dates stuffed with goat cheese and pistachios, and shrimp with chimichurri sauce.

erawinebar.com

(301) 235-3788

3300 Rhode Island Ave, Mount Rainier, MD

When you think of wine-producing regions in Europe, maybe France, Italy, or Spain come to mind, but what about Greece? The cuisine and every single wine at Krasi is Greek, such as one made with Limnio grapes, named for the Aegean island that they are indigenous to. According to Boston Magazine and Eater, it's one of the very best wine bars in Boston and the surrounding areas.

krasiboston.com

(617) 536-0230

48 Gloucester St, Boston, MA

At The Royce, you can grab a glass of sparkling skin-contact pinot gris to go with some tinned fish and locally made potato chips, purchase a bottle to go, get a selection shipped to your house each month, or learn about your favorites by taking a class with The Royce Wine School. In addition to much-lauded products and service, the business's founder, Ping Ho, was honored by the Joyce Ivy Foundation with the 2024 Woman of Impact Award for leaders with "professional talent and a commitment to improving their communities."

theroycedetroit.com

(313) 481-2160

76 W Adams Ave, Suite A, Detroit, MI

Outstanding service and a creative menu make Milly's an excellent choice for aficionados and newbies alike — the wine bar has an impressive 4.9-star rating on Google, out of more than 350 reviews. The rotating by the glass list includes flights with clues as to what's included, like the Non-Champagne Campaign, featuring three pours of off-the-beaten-track bubbles. Your server will happily tell you the right answer once you have a chance to guess.

millysmpls.com

(612) 223-8934

1129 S Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN

This Jackson restaurant and bar has an Italian-inspired menu with pizzas, pastas, and mains that keep things interesting (like skirt steak served with sweet potato risotto and a porcini-bone marrow compound butter). The wine list, which leans Californian, is extensive — Bravo! has been a recipient of Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence since 1997.

bravobuzz.com

(601) 982-8111

4500 I55 North, Suite 244, Jackson, MS

With an impossibly cool neon sign out front, libations of the moment scrawled on the mirror behind the bar (including $9 per glass house wines), plenty of interesting natural bottles, a comfortable interior filled with natural light, and, according to a September 2026 Google review, "possibly the best patio in STL with immaculate offerings and vibes," 'ssippi is checking all the boxes. It's a neighborhood bar — grab a drink with your friends or nerd out with the wine-loving staff.

ssippi.xyz

2926 Cherokee St, St. Louis, MO

Whether you're staying for a drink or buying wine to go, The Hawthorn will always have an affordable option — the business is committed to offering a selection of $10 bottles and $7 organic by the glass pours. You can also purchase meats and cheeses for snacking. The Hawthorn is the recipient of a Quality Business Award, winning five out of five stars in each of the four main categories: customer satisfaction, service, reputation, and quality.

thehawthornwine.com

(406) 422-4622

46 N Last Chance Gulch, Helena, MT

The wine scene in Omaha isn't as developed as bigger cities, but there are still some gems, like Corkscrew Wine and Cheese. The curious and the indecisive will appreciate the 30 by the glass options, so you can try at least some of the roughly 700 bottles before you buy one from the retail section. Pair your vino with salty snacks, dips, or flatbreads.

corkscrewwineandcheese.com

Multiple Locations

When you find yourself in Vegas craving a glass of wine, skip the sprawling celebrity chef restaurants and super-sized chains and head to this beloved shop instead. Khoury's has been voted the Reader's Choice Best Wine Bar in Las Vegas Weekly multiple times. The knowledgeable staff can walk you through the ample selection of bottles (which you can drink on site for a $5 corkage fee), and customers can enjoy in-store tastings, a glass at the bar, or a meal from one of the rotating food trucks parked outside.

khourysfinewine.com

(702) 435-9463

9915 S Eastern Ave, Suite 110, Las Vegas, NV

Inspired by European wine bars, Exeter's Vino e Vivo has a comfy, wood-accented interior and a pleasant deck right on the Squamscott River. The wine list favors France and Italy, and the menu — created by chef Paul Callahan, a semifinalist for James Beard's Best Chef – Northeast in 2023 — is eclectic and seasonally driven.

vinoevivo.com

(603) 580-4268

163 Water St, Exeter, NH

Cree Wine Company was founded by Chris Cree, who holds a prestigious Master of Wine title. The establishment offers a full dinner menu (featuring items like tamarind-glazed short ribs with miso sweet potato puree) and lunch on the weekends. In addition to a Wine Spectator-lauded inventory of more than 7,000 bottles, guests can also sample 16 different wine flights — highlighting selections of, for example, cellar whites or typical varietals of the Rhone Valley.

creewine.com

(908) 200-7772

167 Perryville Road, Hampton, NJ

Sante Fe's Arroyo Vino is a combined wine shop (open from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m) and restaurant that serves dinner only — the business was highlighted in the 2026 Michelin Guide. Deepen your knowledge of growing regions, producers, and grapes with educational tastings, called Saturday Wine Seminars.

arroyovino.com

(505) 983-2100

218 Camino La Tierra, Santa Fe, NM

Buzzy wine bar La Compagnie has two locations: one where NYC's Soho, Nolita, and Little Italy neighborhoods meet, and another in the Flatiron District. With an extensive selection that balances intriguing naturals and legendary classics, this chic establishment is recommended by Wine Enthusiast, Eater, Imbibe, and more.

experimentalgroup.com/new-york/la-compagnie-centre-street

Multiple locations

The Raleigh Wine Shop has been around since 2011, and it relocated to the Olde East District in 2022. The focus is retail, including all the yummy things you'd snack on with a glass, but it also has a full wine bar, charming patio, and cozy private spaces for tastings and events.

theraleighwineshop.com

(919) 803-5473

317 S  Bloodworth St, Raleigh, NC

Maxwells describes its concept as "casual fine dining." The food menu is comforting but interesting — think bison meatballs with vermouth cream sauce or ribeye with potato-green bean casserole and grilled sweet corn relish. The wine list, which favors well-known grapes, has been recognized by Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence since 2012.

maxwellsnd.com

(701) 277-9463

1380 9th St E, West Fargo, ND

Vinology is a newer addition to the welcoming Cincinnati wine scene. This establishment includes a tasting room, wine education through the Cincinnati Wine Academy, and a cellar with around 400 bottles, which you can enjoy at Vinology sans corkage fee.

vinology.club

(513) 376-9394

3181 Linwood Ave, Cincinnati, OH

Way ahead of the curve, LaVeryl and Chris Lower opened The Metro Wine Bar in 1988. LaVeryl has long curated the kind of balanced classic-meets-modern wine list that aficionados have come to expect. Though in early 2026 the couple sold their controlling interest in the business, it doesn't look like the beloved OKC restaurant will be shuttering anytime soon.

metrowinebar.com

(405) 840-9463

6418 N Western Ave, Oklahoma City, OK

Division Wines has an impressive 4.9 stars on both Google (from more than 330 reviews) and Yelp (from about 150 reviews). The business — founded by an adventurous couple with a long history of working in the service industry — is part bottle shop, part neighborhood bar, with a focus on European wines.

divisionwines.com

(503) 234-7281

3564 SE Division St., Portland, OR

Allegheny Wine Mixer is designed to be a casual bar. The list has many options that punch well above their price point, and the by the glass offerings might include pours from classic Old World wine producing regions, as well as countries like Slovenia, Croatia, and Lebanon. Open until midnight most nights (and 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays), it's also the ideal last stop for a sweet sip — choose from more than a dozen dessert wines.

alleghenywinemixer.com

(412) 252-2337

5326 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA

Opened in 2026, Ciao Ciao is a neighborhood Italian restaurant that quickly made a name for itself. Co-owners Adam Stabile and C.J. Correnti are service industry veterans with decades of experience, and that expertise really shows. Go for the outstanding service, handmade pastas, and all-Italian wine list.

ciaociaopvd.com

(401) 420-9404

771 Hope St, Providence, RI

Graft is a wine shop and bar co-owned by two friends (both sommeliers) with regular weekly events. Tuesdays are for free wine tastings; Wednesday nights are for live music; and Sunday afternoons are for parking lot parties — complete with tunes, vendors, and pizza.

graftchs.com

(843) 718-3359

700 King St, Suite B, Charleston, SC

With accolades including Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence and Open Table's DIners' Choice, R Wine Bar & Kitchen is well-loved, and consistent. It holds an impressive 4.8-stars on Google from more than 630 reviewers. The wine selection is approachable, and the vibe is fun and welcoming.

rwinebar.com

(605) 271-0814

322 E 8th St, Sioux Falls, SD

Nashville's Bad Idea has gotten a number of prestigious acknowledgements, including being listed as a James Beard semifinalist in the Best New Restaurant category and winning the Michelin Guide American South Sommelier Award, both in 2025. Around two dozen wines are offered in 2.5-ounce half pours, so you can sample a number of options — like a grenache blanc from the Rhone Valley or a southern Italian red made from rare gaglioppo grapes.

badideanashville.com

(629) 729-4332

1021 Russell St, Suite 101, Nashville, TN

There's no shortage of great eats and drinks in H-Town, and Padre's definitely keeps up. The wine shop and bar boasts a selection of bottles from South American boutique wine makers, though you'll also find offerings from small businesses in other parts of the world, too. The food menu is very Texas: Think halal skirt steak tacos, boudin balls with wasabi Creole aioli, or a Mexican Coke ice cream float.

padreswine.com

(346) 204-5160

3522 White Oak Drive, Houston, TX

Bar à Vin is a Salt Lake City favorite — it holds an impressive 5-star Google rating from more than 220 reviews. The wide selection of flights is a particular draw for both newbies and connoisseurs. Pick one based on region, grape, or theme.

baravinslc.com

917 S State St, Salt Lake City, UT

The folks over at Burlington's Soto Enoteca are passionate about the symbiotic relationship between wine and food. A full (but not overwhelming) Italian menu featuring antipasti, crostini, pastas, and a couple of mains pairs perfectly with a well thought out, mostly Italian, wine list.

sottoenotecavt.com

(802) 864-5453

150 Saint Paul St, Burlington, VT

The Wine Whisperer is an all-in-one destination for vino lovers, including a bottle shop, bistro, and classroom. The Tuesday Date Nights are a particularly fun way to enjoy The Wine Whisperer — for $75, you and your partner, friend, or loved one will get a bottle of wine, two nibbles, and a main course to share.

thewinewhispererrva.com

(804) 310-6161

11535 W Broad St, Henrico, Virginia

Left Bank is a community-focused wine bar and shop — the layout of the space encourages connecting with other patrons, and the business regularly makes contributions to organizations such as Real Rent Duwamish and Black Lives Matter Seattle. The pours are always changing, as the bartender that shift chooses the by the glass pours du jour.

leftbankseattle.com

8526 14th Ave S, Seattle, WA

The food menu at Sip Downtown Brasserie focuses on seasonal, high-quality ingredients, and the wine list has received a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2024. The list centers around favorites from heavy-hitting regions, especially California, France, and Italy. The establishment also offers classes and clubs for both wine and whiskey.

sipdowntownbrasserie.com

(304) 523-5533

311 9th St, Huntington, WV

Mary Kate's, a family-run business, is the kind of wine bar where anyone will feel at home right away. The wine list, which has been recognized by Wine Spectator, includes a detailed description of each offering. The wines on tap can be conveniently poured in 2-, 6-, or 9-ounce glasses or in 16- and 32-ounce growlers.

marykateswinebar.com

(715) 337-2499

205 E Wall St, Eagle River, WI

At Bin22, you can grab any of the bottles in the shop to drink with your tapas-inspired meal with no added corkage fee. Even better, the wines are sold at retail prices, so you're getting a fair deal in notoriously pricey Jackson Hole. Bin22 has been a Best of Jackson Hole winner for several years running. In 2026, it medaled in the best bar, date night spot, and happy hour categories.

bin22jacksonhole.com

(307) 739-9463

200 W Broadway, Jackson Hole, WY

All featured wine bars received at least 4.4 stars across two top restaurant review sites: Google, Yelp, or Tripadvisor. Please note that any awards listed are not exhaustive. Even if specific accolades were not mentioned by name, the wine bar has still been lauded. To be included, each business had to receive at least two accolades from independent sources, like magazines, newspapers, online publications, or wine, bar, or restaurant awards. Wineries were not considered for this list.