Local 22 Kitchen and Bar

The wine list at Local 22 doesn't try to be anything it isn't — and that's mostly a good thing. It's a tight, globally-minded selection that covers the basics without embarrassing itself, sitting comfortably alongside burgers and flatbreads. No pretension, no deep cellar, just a list that does its job in a casual West Village gastropub.

Around 30-50 bottles pulling from France, Portugal, Italy, New Zealand, California, Oregon, Washington, and — notably — North Carolina's own Yadkin Valley. The local angle is a genuine point of pride: the 2017 Jones Von Drehle Viognier is a rare moment where a gastropub actually commits to its regional wine scene rather than just nodding at it. The global spread is respectable without being deep anywhere in particular — you're not finding village-level Burgundy here, but you're also not staring at a wall of Kendall-Jackson. The orange wine option (Biancofongoli) is a fun curveball that suggests someone on staff is paying at least some attention.

Ten-plus by-the-glass options in the $8-$12 range is a solid spread for a neighborhood bar, and the selection rotates across styles and regions reasonably well. The 2019 Anjos Vinho Verde at the low end of the price range is a smart, sessionable pour for a warm Durham evening. Nothing here is going to make your jaw drop, but you won't be stuck choosing between two oaky Chardonnays either.