The Aviator
Safe Landing for a Solid Bottle
Colonie · Albany · American
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The Aviator's wine list reads like a greatest hits album you've heard a thousand times — Rombauer, Caymus, Meiomi, front and center. It's not offensive, but it's not trying very hard either. For an upscale pub near the airport, it gets the job done without asking too many interesting questions.
Selection Deep Dive
Eighty labels sounds like room to stretch, but the list leans hard on California and Napa with a nod to Tuscany via the Antinori Chianti Classico. You're not going to stumble onto a Jura Poulsard or an underdog Ribera del Duero here — this is a list built for guests who want something familiar and comforting, like the aviation-themed decor around them. The Tuscan entry from Antinori is genuinely the most interesting thing on the list, and it still feels like a crowd play. Gaps in Burgundy, Rhône, Spain, and anything remotely natural are wide enough to fly a plane through.
By the Glass
Ten by-the-glass options is a reasonable count for this format, and the $11–$18 range is accessible. Don't expect a rotating program or anything that'll make you put your phone down — these pours are static and predictable, but at least they're properly stemmed and not served in a mason jar.
Antinori Chianti Classico — $48
Without confirmed retail pricing in the data, we can't do the math — but Antinori Chianti Classico is the lone bottle on this list with actual regional character and producer credibility. In a sea of California staples, it's the most honest drink for your money and cuts through the Short Rib Mac & Cheese like it was born to.
Antinori Chianti Classico
Most people at this bar are ordering Meiomi or Rombauer without a second glance, which means this Tuscan bottle from one of Italy's most respected houses just sits there waiting. It's the only wine on the list with any real story behind it — and most tables will walk right past it.
Meiomi Pinot Noir 2022
At $48 a bottle, you're paying more than double what this wines fetches at any decent wine shop. Meiomi is a $22 retail bottle that lives on grocery store shelves — a 118% markup on something this ubiquitous is a hard pass. Order it by the glass if you must, or skip it entirely.
Antinori Chianti Classico + Short Rib Mac & Cheese
Chianti Classico's bright acidity and Sangiovese grip cut through the richness of braised short rib and cheesy pasta without drowning either one. It's the kind of contrast that makes both the food and the wine taste more interesting than they would alone.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Aviator is a reliable neighborhood spot where the wine list does its job without embarrassing anyone — but the markups on recognizable labels sting, and there's zero adventure here. Send your friends if they're ordering Caymus anyway; steer them toward the Antinori if they'll listen.
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