Mermaid Winery
Serious Cellar Hiding Behind Nautical Kitsch
Downtown Norfolk · Norfolk · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 16, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
A winery concept in downtown Norfolk — that alone earns a raised eyebrow before you even sit down. But flip open the list and the skepticism fades fast: this is a real wine program, not a tourist trap dressed in anchor rope and mermaid art. Wine Spectator has handed out Best of Award of Excellence recognition here every year since 2016, and looking at the list, that tracks.
Selection Deep Dive
The strengths are California, Champagne, and Burgundy — and Mermaid leans into all three without apology. You've got Kistler and Peter Michael on the Chardonnay side, Domaine Leflaive and Louis Jadot anchoring the Burgundy section, and Bollinger alongside Pol Roger holding it down for Champagne fans who know the difference. Domaine Drouhin Oregon adds a smart Oregon Pinot presence that keeps the list from feeling like a California-only vanity project. At 150-250 bottles deep, this isn't a list that covers the world, but what it does cover, it covers well.
By the Glass
Twenty to thirty-five pours by the glass is genuinely impressive for a restaurant of this scale — most places in this tier top out at twelve and call it a day. Wednesday's half-price wine night means you can work through some serious pours without a serious bill. We'd want to see more rotation to keep regulars engaged, but the sheer volume of options makes this a by-the-glass program worth returning for.
Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs 2018 — $65
Schramsberg is one of California's most serious sparkling producers and the Blanc de Blancs consistently punches above its price point. At $65 on a restaurant list with Opus One on the same page, this is the smart order — real Champagne-method quality without the Champagne markup anxiety.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir
Most people at a table full of California heavyweights will default to Silver Oak or Jordan, but Domaine Drouhin Oregon is the sleeper. Véronique Drouhin has been making some of the most Burgundian Pinot Noir in the New World for decades, and it tends to get overlooked when it's sitting next to splashier California names. Don't sleep on it.
Opus One 2018
At $450 on the list, Opus One is doing what Opus One always does — charging for the name. It's a fine wine, but the markup here makes it a flex purchase, not a value play. There are better bottles on this list for the money and for the experience.
Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2020 + Charcuterie Board
Flowers is all coastal wind and red fruit — bright enough to cut through the fat of cured meats, structured enough to handle the salt. It's the kind of Pinot that makes a charcuterie board feel like an actual meal rather than a snack between courses.
Wednesday — Half-price wine night every Wednesday — applies to the wine list and makes those by-the-glass options genuinely compelling.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Mermaid Winery is a genuine wine destination that happens to be in Norfolk — and yes, that still surprises us a little. The pricing leans steep and the staff isn't running a Master Sommelier class, but the list is deep where it counts and Wednesday half-price night is one of the better wine deals in the region.
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