Gulf Coast Vibes, Loire Valley Soul
Downtown · Birmingham · Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 21, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Bayonet’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Bayonet hits like the restaurant itself — colorful, a little unexpected, and clearly not put together by someone who just called a Sysco rep. For a seafood spot in Birmingham, the immediate lean toward French regionality and Oregon cool-climate stuff tells you someone here actually thought about what goes with a plate of raw oysters.
The list clocks in around 40-60 bottles but punches well above its weight class. France anchors the program — Alsace, Loire, Jura, Burgundy — with Oregon filling out the new world side via Willamette Valley producers like Salem Wine Co. and Knudsen Vineyards. There's range beyond the expected: a Txakolina for the briny-shellfish crowd, a Côtes de Provence rosé for the patio pour contingent, and even a Jura Crémant for bubbles that isn't just Prosecco on autopilot. The gaps are real — Champagne is thin, and the red program is modest — but for a raw bar, that's a defensible call.
Fifteen-plus by-the-glass options is genuinely impressive for this type of spot, and the glass program reflects the same thoughtful regionality as the bottle list. You're not stuck choosing between a Pinot Grigio and a Cab Sav — the NV Clavelin Crémant du Jura at $12 and the Meyer-Fonnê Gentil at $13 are the kinds of pours that make you look smart without trying. The Gerard Bertrand sparkling orange wine at $17 is either your next obsession or the thing you tell your friends about either way.
2023 Meyer-Fonnê 'Gentil' Off-Dry White Blend (Alsace) — $13
Retails around $20 and drinks like it. Alsatian Gentil blends are built for food — a little aromatic, a little texture, zero fuss. At $13 a glass in a restaurant, this is basically a gift.
NV Clavelin Crémant du Jura
Most people walk past Jura sparkling in favor of something they recognize. That's a mistake. Crémant du Jura brings a nutty, savory edge that Prosecco simply doesn't have, and at $12 a glass it's one of the best seafood pairings on the list that nobody's ordering.
2001 Voche Vino de Autor
At 47% above retail it's the steepest markup on the list, and a 2001 Spanish red at a casual Gulf coast raw bar is an odd fit. The upcharge doesn't match the setting or the occasion.
2023 Couly Dutheil Blanc de Franc (Chinon, FR) + Gulf coast crab with corn remoulade on tomato
Blanc de Franc — Cabernet Franc vinified white — brings grassy herbal lift and bright acidity that cuts right through the richness of the corn remoulade without trampling the crab. It's a classic Loire trick that works especially well here.
The Bottom Line
Bayonet is doing something genuinely rare for Birmingham: building a wine program that actually fits the food and doesn't gouge you for it. If you care about drinking well with your seafood, this place deserves a seat at the table.
Birmingham · Birmingham · American, Steakhouse
Armour House is the reliable wine anchor Birmingham's upscale dining scene needed — Caleb Reeves keeps the program honest, and the Wine Spectator nod is deserved. Just order the Barolo instead of the Opus One and you'll leave happy.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Birmingham · Birmingham · American
Seasons 52 Birmingham is a dependable, well-maintained wine program that serves its California-loving audience exactly what they came for — nothing revelatory, but nothing to complain about either. If you're eating here and want a solid glass without fuss, you're in fine hands.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Birmingham · Birmingham · Italian, Steakhouse
Bellini's is the kind of reliable Italian-American wine list that delivers exactly what it promises — serious California and Italian bottles in a room that knows how to use them. The markups sting and there's no adventurous edge here, but if you want a proper bottle with your filet or osso buco in Birmingham, this is your spot.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Highland Ave · Birmingham · American
Galley & Garden is the best wine list in Birmingham proper, full stop — not because it's wildly adventurous, but because it's deep, well-kept, and taken seriously in a market where that's not guaranteed. Send your friends here when they want a real bottle with a real dinner.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Birmingham · Birmingham · New American
The Essential is doing something genuinely rare for Birmingham — building a wine list with actual conviction around natural wines and unexpected picks like sherry. It's not perfect, but it's the kind of place we'd send a friend who's tired of the same tired list.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown · Birmingham · French
Rêve is doing something genuinely unusual in Birmingham — serious French tasting menu energy with a wine list that largely keeps up — and the sommelier presence means you're in good hands if you let them guide you. Markups keep it from being a truly great wine destination, but as a complete dining experience, it earns its place on your short list.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· San Jose · Seafood
The Sea runs one of the more unexpected wine programs in the South Bay — a tightly focused list built around dessert wines and fortified pours that would feel at home at a serious wine bar, not a seafood restaurant. If you're coming for a tasting menu and want to surrender to a glass-by-glass journey through Sauternes, Port, and Madeira, this list was designed exactly for you. If you need a full-dinner wine list with something interesting at every course, you'll feel the gaps on the dry side. Come knowing what it is, and it delivers.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Seafood
The Fish Market's wine list is a workhorse, not a showpiece — it covers the basics for a seafood crowd without asking too much of anyone, including itself. If you're looking for a thoughtful wine experience to match the kitchen's seafood focus, you'll want to adjust your expectations; if you just want a cold glass of Albariño with your fish tacos, you're in fine shape. Seek out the Martín Códax and let the rest of the list do its thing for the table next to you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Gatlinburg · Seafood
Chesapeake's Gatlinburg isn't trying to win a wine award, and it doesn't need to — the list is honest, the pricing is fair for what it is, and the white wine depth is genuinely appropriate for a seafood restaurant. If you're in Gatlinburg and want a bottle that won't break the bank or embarrass you, you can do a lot worse than landing on that Dry Creek Chenin Blanc.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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