801 Fish
California Dreaming on the Mississippi
Downtown Minneapolis · Minneapolis · Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
Walking into 801 Fish, you immediately sense the wine program is taken seriously — the list is thick, the room is polished, and there's a sommelier on the floor who actually knows what's on it. This is not a steakhouse wine list repurposed for fish; it's a California-forward collection built with intention. Wine Spectator just handed them a Best of Award of Excellence and honestly, it tracks.
Selection Deep Dive
The 200-300 bottle list leans hard into California, and that's mostly a feature, not a bug — especially when you're eating seafood and reaching for Chardonnay. Kistler Vineyards, Peter Michael, Far Niente, and Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches represent serious Chardonnay firepower, the kind of lineup that would hold its own in Napa tasting rooms. On the red side, Duckhorn Merlot, Jordan Cabernet, Caymus, and Stag's Leap round things out with familiar faces done well. The gap is everywhere outside California — if you want Burgundy, Chablis, or something from the Loire to go alongside your swordfish, you're largely on your own.
By the Glass
With 20-35 pours available, the glass program is one of the stronger ones in Minneapolis — you're not stuck choosing between two generic whites. Expect the BTG list to mirror the bottle list's California obsession, which means there's almost certainly a Sonoma Chardonnay option that makes every bite of fish taste like a deliberate decision. Rotation appears limited, so don't count on surprises week to week.
Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay — $60
This is the wine that earns its spot — legitimately world-class Russian River Chardonnay from one of Sonoma's benchmark producers. At a restaurant at this price point, it's the sweet spot between accessible and impressive, and it was made for a plate of swordfish.
Mer Soleil Chardonnay
It doesn't have the prestige of Kistler or Peter Michael, so most tables walk right past it. That's a mistake. Mer Soleil delivers a rich, toasty Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay that punches well above its price tag and won't clean out your wallet.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is everywhere — every airport lounge, every corporate dinner, every wedding. It's marked up predictably at a place like this, and you can find it for less almost anywhere else. Save the spend for something you can't get at the grocery store.
Far Niente Chardonnay + Swordfish
Far Niente's Chardonnay brings enough richness and structure to stand up to swordfish's meaty texture without steamrolling it. The wine's buttery oak and citrus backbone mirror the char of the fish while keeping the whole thing from feeling heavy.
🔥 The Bottom Line
801 Fish is the rare downtown Minneapolis restaurant where wine is clearly not an afterthought — the California list is deep and well-kept, Alex White knows what's on it, and the glassware does the wines justice. Markups are real, but the overall experience earns that Wine Spectator badge.
Comments
Get the Weekly Wingman
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.