Northstar Wine Bar

Walking into Northstar, the list feels ambitious — 80-plus bottles spanning France, Italy, California, and the Finger Lakes right in their backyard. The intimate Pittsford setting draws a crowd that actually knows what they're ordering, which raises the stakes. But flip past the first few pages and a familiar cast of crowd-pleasers starts showing up.

The regional spread is genuinely respectable for a suburban wine bar: French and Italian selections sit alongside Spanish bottles, California stalwarts, and some New York Finger Lakes representation that feels appropriate given the address. The problem is the list leans heavily on brands you'd find at any well-stocked grocery store — Santa Margherita, Kim Crawford, Meiomi, La Crema. There's range here, but not much adventure. A wine bar in this spot has the opportunity to champion local Finger Lakes producers in a real way, and the list only partially takes that swing.

Twenty to forty pours by the glass is genuinely impressive and the real reason to come here — that kind of access lets you range across regions without committing to a bottle. The selections skew toward the familiar and approachable, which suits the crowd but leaves curious drinkers wanting a few more curveballs. Wednesday's half-price bottle night is the move if you're planning ahead.