Seasons 52 - Raleigh
Corporate polish with a genuinely decent pour
Crabtree Valley · Raleigh · American, Seafood, Wine Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 16, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Seasons 52 lands exactly where you'd expect from a polished national chain: organized, approachable, and built for people who know what they like. It's not going to surprise you, but it's not going to embarrass you either. Think crowd-tested California anchors with a few European names sprinkled in for credibility.
Selection Deep Dive
The list leans heavily California — Stag's Leap, Jordan, Meiomi — with supporting roles from France and Italy and a nod to New Zealand for the Sauvignon Blanc crowd. At 100-150 bottles, there's real breadth on paper, but the picks skew safe and brand-recognizable rather than adventurous or producer-driven. You won't find anything from Jura, nothing natural, nothing that requires a second look. What you will find is a well-organized list that moves quickly because most guests already know half the labels.
By the Glass
Thirty to forty by-the-glass options is genuinely impressive for this format — that's a serious commitment to the glass pour. The range covers the expected bases: Chardonnay, Cab, Pinot, bubbles. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority; the program reads more like a standing menu than something that evolves with the kitchen's seasonal focus.
La Marca Prosecco — $12
Widely available and reliable, La Marca by the glass is the right call here — it's festive, food-friendly, and won't hit your wallet the way the Napa reds will. A smart opener before you commit to a bottle.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Chardonnay
Most guests at a place like this default to the Meiomi or skip white wine entirely, but the Stag's Leap Chardonnay is a cut above — restrained, citrus-driven, and a much better match for the seafood-heavy menu than the sweeter alternatives on the list.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
Meiomi retails for around $14-16 a bottle. Ordering it at a restaurant at likely 3-4x markup puts you in expensive grocery store wine territory. The name recognition is doing a lot of work here and you're paying for it.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Chardonnay + Cedar Plank Salmon
The Chardonnay's bright acidity and subtle oak hold up to the smoky char on the salmon without bullying the fish. It's the kind of match that makes the food taste better and the wine disappear faster.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Seasons 52 Raleigh is a reliable wine stop inside a mall-adjacent upscale chain — which sounds like faint praise, but the by-the-glass depth earns real respect. Just go in knowing you're paying chain restaurant markups, and order accordingly.
Comments
Get the Weekly Wingman
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.