Vida

You don't expect to walk into Indianapolis and find Peay Vineyards on the list — that's Sonoma Coast cult territory that most coastal restaurants fumble getting their hands on. There's a sommelier running this program and it shows from the first page. The list isn't huge, but someone clearly cared about what ended up on it.

Vida leans into producers who actually have something to say — Peay Vineyards bringing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah from the Sonoma Coast is a serious flex for any restaurant, let alone one in the Midwest. The Burgundy selection shows restraint and taste: Marcel Couturier's Mâconnais Les Longues Terres is an honest, terroir-driven pick that skips the obvious names. Stoller Family Estate from the Dundee Hills rounds out a clear Pacific Northwest affinity — this list has a theme and it's working. The gaps are real — we'd love to see more Old World depth and a stronger Italian presence — but what's here is deliberately chosen, not filler.

The by-the-glass program surfaces wines worth actually drinking, including the Stoller Pinot and the Marcel Couturier Mâconnais at prices that don't make you do sad math on your phone. We'd call it a small but considered pour list rather than the usual Malbec-Pinot-Cab trinity that passes for a BTG program at most restaurants. Rotation details are unclear, but the sommelier on staff suggests these choices aren't an accident.