Wine Bar
Unclaimed profileGovernors House Wine Bar & Italian Kitchen
Covington, KY · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
The beverage program at this wine bar and Italian kitchen runs broad: a wine list with by-the-glass, bottle, and tap options across California, France, Italy, Germany, New Zealand, Spain, Argentina, and Portugal; a Governors Martinis section with four martinis; six Governors Cocktails; a four-drink mocktail list; and a Beers/Seltzers section covering domestic, imported, and craft. Prices stay moderate, with tap wines $9-$18 and cocktails $13-$15.
- What should I order?
- Start with a wine on tap: Bocca Barrel Prosecco at $9/$12 or Freakshow Cabernet at $13/$18. For a cocktail, the Double Cross CEO Martini ($15) is served extra cold with black truffle and blue cheese-stuffed olives, and the Diavola-Rita ($14) uses Casamigos Reposado, Ancho Reyes, and piri-piri-stuffed olives.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Anyone building a table around varied drinks: wine drinkers who want by-the-glass or bottle choices across several countries, cocktail drinkers who prefer a named menu over off-menu requests, and non-drinkers who want a mocktail with as much structure as the cocktails.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Tap wines run $9-$18 for 6 oz or 9 oz pours; bottles span $33 to $199. Martinis are $13-$15, Governors Cocktails $13-$14, mocktails $9 each.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- A single list carries wines on tap, a multi-region bottle selection, four martinis, six cocktails, four mocktails, and a beers/seltzers section, all priced in a moderate band. The Double Cross CEO Martini's black truffle and blue cheese-stuffed olives and the Diavola-Rita's piri-piri-stuffed olives are specific, uncommon garnishes.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
A Governors Martinis section with four martinis and a Governors Cocktails section with six drinks, including the Small Batch Old Fashioned, The Roebling Manhattan, Diavola-Rita, Blackberry Bourbon Sour, Red or White House Sangria, and Governor's Aperol Spritz. Spirit-forward and fruit-forward options are both present.
Menu strengths
- — Named martini and cocktail sections with ten drinks between them, priced $13-$15.
- — Both spirit-forward and fruit-forward options, including a Manhattan, an Old Fashioned, and a Diavola-Rita.
Standout selections
- — Double Cross CEO Martini ($15): Double Cross Premium Vodka, seven times distilled, served straight up, extra cold with black truffle and blue cheese-stuffed olives.
- — Diavola-Rita ($14): Casamigos Reposado, Ancho Reyes Spicy Liqueur, housemade sour mix, fresh lime juice, and piri-piri-stuffed olives.
- — The Roebling Manhattan ($13): Elijah Craig Small Batch, sweet vermouth, aromatic bitters, and cherry bitters.
Pricing: Martinis $13-$15; Governors Cocktails $13-$14
Wine
Wines on tap, sparkling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Rosé, other whites, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Italian reds, red blends, and other reds, with by-the-glass and bottle options from California, France, Italy, Germany, New Zealand, Spain, Argentina, and Portugal.
Menu strengths
- — By-the-glass, bottle, and tap formats across eight named countries and a wide varietal spread.
- — Bottle prices run $33 to $199, giving both moderate and higher-end choices.
Standout selections
- — Bocca Barrel Prosecco, Vento Valley ($9/$12): wine on tap, 6 oz / 9 oz.
- — Freakshow Cabernet by Michael David, California ($13/$18): wine on tap, 6 oz / 9 oz.
- — Cline, Sonoma County, California ($11/$16/$35): Sauvignon Blanc by the glass or bottle.
- — Sonoma Cutrer, Russian River, California ($15/$21/$54): Chardonnay by the glass or bottle.
Pricing: Tap wines $9-$18 for 6 oz / 9 oz; bottles $33-$199
Beer
A Beers/Seltzers section with Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, Miller Light, Peroni, Guinness, 50 West Amber, Modelo, Corona, Rhinegeist Truth, High Noon, and White Claw Black Cherry. The list covers domestic, imported, and craft options.
Menu strengths
- — Domestic, imported, and craft options in one section, including Peroni, Guinness, and Rhinegeist Truth.
- — Seltzer options are included alongside the beer list.
Standout selections
- — Peroni: listed in the Beers/Seltzers section.; Rhinegeist Truth: listed in the Beers/Seltzers section.
- — Peroni — Listed in Beers/Seltzers section.; Guinness — Listed in Beers/Seltzers section.
Nonalcoholic
A Governor's Mocktails section with four non-alcoholic cocktails: Grapefruit Fizz, Blackberry Sour, Watermelon-Kiwi NA Cocktail, and Strawberry Mint N/A Mojito. The beverage note also lists soft drinks among the venue's offerings.
Menu strengths
- — Four named non-alcoholic cocktails, each priced at $9.
- — Ingredients include fresh mint, basil, ginger beer, and fruit purees, not just soda.
Standout selections
- — Grapefruit Fizz ($9): fresh mint, lime juice, ginger beer, grapefruit, pineapple juice, and Sprite.
- — Blackberry Sour ($9): blackberries, fresh mint, sour mix, and a vanilla egg white flip.
- — Watermelon-Kiwi NA Cocktail ($9): watermelon-kiwi, lime juice, fresh basil, Sprite, and soda water.
Pricing: $9 each
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