Jackson

Estelle isn't trying to be a destination wine program, but it's doing more than most restaurants in Jackson — and the Wine Spectator credential is earned. Send your friend here if they want a reliable, well-priced California-forward list with a Southern meal worth ordering around.

Char isn't reinventing the wine list, but it doesn't need to — it's a reliable, well-maintained California program that fits the room and the food perfectly. If you're in Jackson and want a proper bottle of West Coast Cab with a serious steak, this is your spot.

Bravo has held a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 1997, and you can feel that institutional steadiness in a list that doesn't overreach but doesn't disappoint. If you're in Jackson and want a solid California-forward bottle with dinner, this is your spot.