The Copper Crow
Good Deals Hide Behind Steep Markups
Downtown Albany · Albany · American Fusion · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 23, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
Ninety labels in a historic brewery building sounds promising, and the room itself — all industrial bones and live music — sets a mood that makes you want to order a bottle. The list arrives and holds its own, with enough range to satisfy most tables without sending anyone into a spiral of indecision. But flip to the prices and the warm glow dims a little.
Selection Deep Dive
The list leans on recognizable, crowd-friendly names with some genuine quality in the mix — Ridge Lytton Springs and Catena Alta aren't filler, they're bottles worth seeking out. The Washington State presence, anchored by Columbia Valley producers, gives the list a regional identity that not many Albany spots bother with. That said, gaps exist: we'd love to see more Old World depth and some natural or small-producer options to match the craft cocktail ambition of the room. At 90 labels, there's bulk here, but it trends toward safe crowd-pleasers rather than anything that would make a wine-focused diner reroute their evening.
By the Glass
Fifteen by-the-glass options is a respectable spread for Downtown Albany, and Wednesday's $7 flat pour pricing makes working through them genuinely fun. The Tattoo Girl Rosé from Columbia Valley shows up as the approachable anchor of the glass list — easy, sessionable, and priced to move. We'd like to see more rotation and a few higher-ambition pours in the mix, but for a weeknight glass of wine before the band starts, this does the job.
Ridge Lytton Springs Zinfandel 2020 — $68
Yes, 70% over retail stings. But on a Tuesday, this bottle drops to $34 — and at that price, Ridge Lytton Springs is a flat-out steal. One of California's benchmark Zinfandels for under forty bucks is the move.
Tattoo Girl Rosé, Columbia Valley, WA
Most people walk past Washington State Rosé without a second glance, defaulting to Provence out of habit. This one earns its spot on the list — fruit-forward but with enough structure to drink alongside actual food, not just as a patio sipper.
Altos Las Hormigas Malbec 2021
At $42, you're paying 163% over a $16 retail bottle. Altos Las Hormigas is a perfectly fine entry-level Malbec, but at that price you're well into Catena Alta territory — which is actually worth it. Don't get roped in by a familiar label.
Catena Alta Malbec 2019 + Braised Short Ribs
Catena Alta has the structure and dark fruit density to stand up to rich, slow-cooked beef without getting steamrolled. The wine's Mendoza backbone cuts through the fat just enough to keep every bite interesting. On a Tuesday, the bottle hits $27.50 — which borders on absurd for this quality.
Tuesday — Half-price bottles under $50. Wednesday features $7 glass pours across the list.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Copper Crow has the bones of a genuinely good wine program — solid list, real specials, a few quality producers — but the everyday markups are hard to ignore when you know what these bottles cost at retail. Come on a Tuesday, drink Ridge, eat short ribs, and you'll leave happy.
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