Bleu Olive
Greek Grapes in a Durham Strip Mall
Durham · Durham · Mediterranean, Greek · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 5, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
You're not expecting much from a bistro tucked off Hillandale Road, but the wine list stops you cold. Greek producers dominate, and not the tourist-trap kind — we're talking Sigalas, Gerovassiliou, Alpha Estate. Someone here actually cares.
Selection Deep Dive
The list runs 50-100 labels and leans hard into the Aegean, which is exactly right for the food coming out of this kitchen. Domaine Sigalas Assyrtiko from Santorini, Alpha Estate Xinomavro from Naoussa, Malagousia from Ktima Gerovassiliou — these are serious, terroir-driven wines you rarely see outside a dedicated Greek restaurant in a major city. Southern France and Italy fill out the supporting cast without embarrassing themselves. The gap is depth outside Greece; if you want to go old-world deep on Burgundy or Barolo, this isn't your room.
By the Glass
Ten to sixteen pours depending on the night, with Greek whites well represented — Assyrtiko and Moschofilero both make appearances, which puts most American restaurants to shame. Prices run $10–$18 a glass, which is reasonable for the quality on offer, though we'd love to see the list rotate more aggressively with the seasons.
Boutari Moschofilero — $10–$13/glass
Crisp, floral, and food-friendly, Moschofilero is one of Greece's most underrated whites. At this price point it's a genuine deal and it handles the kitchen's bright, herby flavors better than any Pinot Grigio would.
Malagousia by Ktima Gerovassiliou
Most tables will walk right past this and grab the Assyrtiko, but Gerovassiliou's Malagousia is a sleeper — aromatic without being showy, with enough texture to hold its own against richer dishes. It's the kind of wine that makes you look up the producer when you get home.
Unknown screw cap bottle at $84
A $30 retail bottle on the list for $84 is a 180% markup and a red flag. We don't know the label, but a screw-capped wine at that price in a list otherwise built on honest value sticks out badly. Ask your server what it is before you order it.
Domaine Sigalas Assyrtiko + Greek Salad
Sigalas Assyrtiko is electric with citrus and minerality — it mirrors the brightness of the lemon, olives, and feta without getting bulldozed by them. It's one of the cleaner, more obvious wine-and-dish matches you'll find anywhere in Durham.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Bleu Olive is doing something genuinely rare: building a focused, thoughtful Greek wine list in a mid-size Southern city and mostly getting it right. Watch the markup on mystery bottles, but come here for the Assyrtiko and the Malagousia and you'll leave happy.
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