Outer Banks views, surprisingly solid wine list
Nags Head · Nags Head · Regional Coastal Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 21, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You're sitting waterfront on the Outer Banks, the sound is turning pink at sunset, and the wine list lands on the table — and it's actually worth reading. For a beach town seafood spot, this isn't the usual suspects of grocery-store Pinot Grigio and marked-up Kendall-Jackson. There's genuine intention here, and a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence they've been earning since 2010.
The list runs 80 to 120 bottles, anchored by California heavyweights like Stag's Leap Wine Cellars and Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma, which gives it credibility on the red side. The real story, though, is the North Carolina commitment — Shelton Vineyards and Childress Vineyards show up alongside RdV from Virginia, making this one of the few beach restaurants in the region that actually celebrates local and regional producers. Gaps exist: don't come looking for Burgundy, Champagne, or anything particularly adventurous in the Old World column. But for what it is — a coastal North Carolina seafood house with a seafood-forward menu — the balance between approachable California and regional pride is exactly right.
The by-the-glass program runs 12 to 18 options in the $9 to $16 range, which is refreshingly honest pricing for a waterfront destination that could easily squeeze harder. Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay shows up on the glass list, which is a reliable crowd-pleaser that actually makes sense here next to the seafood menu. We'd love to see a pour from Shelton or Childress available by the glass to really lean into the regional angle.
Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay — $13
A well-made, food-friendly Chardonnay that drinks clean against seafood without the fussy oak drama of pricier options — fair pour price for a name brand that consistently delivers.
Shelton Vineyards (North Carolina)
Most tables at a beach seafood spot aren't ordering North Carolina wine, which means they're missing the point entirely. Shelton is one of the state's serious producers, and drinking it here — locally sourced, locally caught — is the move.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon
Jordan is a fine bottle, but at beach seafood prices on a tourist strip, you're almost certainly paying a markup that doesn't reflect the value. Save Jordan for a steakhouse and put that money into something from the Carolinas you can't get at home.
RdV Vineyards (Virginia) + Carolina Shrimp and Grits
RdV makes structured, serious red blends that can hold up to the richness of creamy grits and coastal shrimp without steamrolling the dish — plus the regional connection makes it a story worth telling at the table.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Basnight's isn't a wine destination, but it's the best wine list you're going to find on the Outer Banks — and the North Carolina and Virginia selections alone make it worth ordering a bottle instead of defaulting to a cocktail. Send your friends here, tell them to go local.
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