Finger Lakes First, Natural Wine Always
Village Gate / NOTA · Rochester · Farm-to-Table / New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 19, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Lento reads like it was curated by someone who actually gives a damn about where things come from — a rare thing in a mid-sized upstate city. There's an immediate local-first ethos here, with Finger Lakes producers anchoring the list before it opens up to Europe and beyond. It matches the room: unpretentious, intentional, a little surprising.
The list runs 60-90 bottles deep, with a clear editorial point of view that leans into Finger Lakes Riesling and Cabernet Franc, Burgundy, Northern Italy, and Loire Valley — basically a greatest-hits of cool-climate, food-friendly wine. Natural and biodynamic producers from California round out the domestic section, which keeps things interesting without veering into obscure-for-obscure's-sake territory. There are real gaps — South America and Spain are essentially absent, and the red Burgundy section could use more depth if you're chasing that rabbit — but what's here is coherent and well-chosen. For Rochester, this is punching well above its weight class.
Ten to sixteen by-the-glass options is a genuinely respectable spread, and the presence of Finger Lakes Riesling and Cab Franc on that list by the glass earns immediate goodwill. We'd like to see more rotation and a natural wine or two featured prominently by the glass, but the current program is solid enough to navigate an entire meal without touching the bottle list.
Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc — $14
Finger Lakes Cab Franc is one of the most undervalued wine categories in the country right now, and getting it by the glass at a farm-to-table spot that clearly respects the region is exactly where you want to drink it. Earthy, bright, and built for food.
Biodynamic California Pinot Noir
Most people at Lento are going to reach for the Finger Lakes bottles or something French, which means this biodynamic California Pinot sits quietly on the list waiting for someone to notice it. If the producer is legit — and the curation here suggests it probably is — this is the sleeper pick of the evening.
Finger Lakes Riesling
Not because it's bad — it's almost certainly fine — but if you're ordering Finger Lakes Riesling at a restaurant, you're paying a markup for something you could be discovering at the source for a fraction of the price. Save the Riesling exploration for a trip to the lake and use that glass pour budget on something you wouldn't find elsewhere.
Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc + Duck Confit
Duck confit is rich, fatty, and deeply savory — exactly the kind of dish that wants a wine with bright acidity and earthy red fruit to cut through and match the intensity. Finger Lakes Cab Franc does all of that without the tannic weight of a bigger red, and it keeps the whole thing feeling like a regional love story.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Lento isn't trying to be a wine destination, but its list is thoughtful enough that it kind of becomes one by accident — especially if you care about Finger Lakes wines in their natural habitat. Send your friends here, let them order the Duck Confit, and point them toward the Cab Franc.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.