Wine Bar
Unclaimed profileSymposium Wine Bar
Lancaster, NY · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Symposium Wine Bar pairs a global, hand-selected wine list with small plates and a select cocktail and beer menu. The wine program is the anchor: white, sparkling, rosé, and dessert wines by glass and bottle, plus five curated flights at $24 each, served with a tasting glass and four 2-ounce carafes. Staff and owner are described as knowledgeable about wines from around the world. The cocktail list leans select, with an Espresso Martini drawing guest praise and a Wednesday martini pour special. Zero-proof options and mimosas round out the menu for non-wine drinkers.
- What should I order?
- Start with one of the five $24 wine flights; each includes a tasting glass and four 2-ounce carafes. For a by-the-glass pour, the Te Pa Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough is $14, or the Justin Giardin Bourgogne Blanc Chardonnay at $16. The Espresso Martini is the guest-favored cocktail.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Wine drinkers who want to compare regions and vintages without committing to a full bottle, and cocktail or zero-proof drinkers who are accompanying them. The flight format suits guests curious about a range of pours in one visit.
- When should I go?
- Sunday brunch is mentioned specifically for mimosas and the Espresso Martini. Wednesday brings a martini pour special. The flight format works well for an afternoon or early-evening tasting.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Wine flights are $24. White wines by the glass run $14–$16, bottles $45–$56. Sparkling by the glass is $12–$16, bottles $42–$56. Dessert pours include Ramos Pinto 10-Year Tawny at $13 per 3 ounces and Taylor Fladgate 20-year at $16 per 3 ounces.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- Five curated wine flights at a single $24 price point, each with a tasting glass and four 2-ounce carafes, set this apart from a standard by-the-glass list. The global range spans Veneto, Marlborough, Burgundy, and Douro, with vintages and regions printed on the menu.
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 select cocktail menu runs alongside the wine and beer lists, with cocktails explicitly referenced on the site and menus page. Reviewers note a good variety for guests who do not drink wine, and an Espresso Martini is singled out as a standout. A Wednesday martini pour special adds a recurring option.
Menu strengths
- — Cocktail menu is explicitly listed alongside wine and beer, giving non-wine drinkers a clear order path.
- — Reviewers note a good variety of cocktails, including options for those who do not drink wine.
Standout selections
- — Espresso Martini — highlighted by guests as a standout drink and recommended alongside Sunday brunch.
Wine
The wine list carries white, sparkling, rosé, and dessert wines by glass and bottle with vintages and regions, drawn from around the world. Five curated flights at $24 each include a tasting glass and four 2-ounce carafes. Staff and owner are described as knowledgeable about wines from around the world.
Menu strengths
- — Global list with vintages and regions, offering by-the-glass and bottle formats across white, sparkling, rosé, and dessert wines.
- — Five curated flights at a single $24 price point, each with a tasting glass and four 2-ounce carafes.
- — Staff and owner described as knowledgeable about wines from around the world.
Standout selections
- — Te Pa Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand 2023 — $14 glass / $49 bottle.
- — Justin Giardin Bourgogne Blanc, Chardonnay, Burgundy, France 2022 — $16 glass / $56 bottle.
- — Wine Flights — five curated options, each $24 with a tasting glass and four 2-ounce carafes.
Pricing: Flights $24; white by the glass $14–$16, bottles $45–$56; sparkling by the glass $12–$16, bottles $42–$56; dessert pours $13–$16 per 3 oz.
Beer
The offering is deliberately narrow rather than a broad tap list, positioning beer as a supporting option to the wine and cocktail programs.
Menu strengths
- — Beer menu is explicitly referenced on the site and menus page, sitting within a combined beer, cocktails, and cider/zero-proof section.
Standout selections
- — A 'Beer, Cocktails & Cider/Zero Proof' menu section.
Nonalcoholic
A zero-proof section is listed on the menus page within the combined beer, cocktails, and cider/zero-proof menu. Mimosas are mentioned as a reason to visit for Sunday brunch, giving non-wine drinkers a specific order. The category is deliberately light rather than a full zero-proof program.
Menu strengths
- — Zero Proof section is listed on the menus page, providing a clear nonalcoholic option.
Standout selections
- — Mimosa — mentioned as a reason to visit for Sunday brunch.
How it sits with the food
The wine list is paired with small plates, so the by-the-glass and flight formats can be matched to a light food order.
Inebrious does not score kitchens, food or the restaurant overall. We review the beverage program only.
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