Ozarks Views, California Wines, Zero Surprises
Big Cedar / Ridgedale Area · Branson · Rustic Ozarks / Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 23, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Big Cedar Lodge – Devil's Pool Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Devil's Pool feels exactly like the lodge itself — handsome, comfortable, and built for people who aren't looking to be challenged. You'll recognize every name on it, which is either reassuring or slightly deflating depending on your mood. It's a greatest-hits list for a crowd that knows what it likes and doesn't want a debate about it.
Fifty to eighty bottles deep and almost entirely California and Pacific Northwest, this list reads like a SkyMall catalog for wine enthusiasts: Silver Oak, Jordan, Rombauer, Duckhorn, Meiomi. All respectable, all safe, all heavily marked up. There's no European anchor, no Rhône, no Burgundy, nothing to hint that wine exists outside the western U.S. For a lodge experience this elevated, it's a missed opportunity — the Ozarks crowd dining here skews adventurous enough to handle a Barolo or even a solid Willamette Valley Pinot, but the list never goes looking for them.
Ten to sixteen options by the glass is a decent spread for a resort restaurant, and the usual suspects are all present — expect Rombauer Chardonnay and Meiomi Pinot Noir to anchor the pour list. At $12–$20 a glass, you're paying lodge-resort pricing, so pour decisions matter more here than they would at a neighborhood spot.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $XX/bottle (estimated $80-$120 range)
If you're going to drink California Cab in a steakhouse setting, Jordan is the right call — it's balanced, not a fruit bomb, and actually suits a plate of prime rib without overwhelming it. It's still marked up, but Jordan earns its place on a list like this more than most of its neighbors do.
Duckhorn Merlot
Merlot gets ignored on menus like this because everyone's reaching for Cab, but Duckhorn's is genuinely good — structured, plummy, with enough weight to stand up to the chicken fried chicken or a heavier entrée. Most tables walk right past it. Don't.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
Meiomi is a high-volume, heavily sweetened Pinot that shows up on every resort list in America because it's crowd-proof and easy to move. At lodge markups, you're paying premium prices for a wine that retails for $15 at Costco. There's no scenario where this is the right choice at Devil's Pool pricing.
Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon + Prime Rib
Silver Oak is built for red meat — its oak-forward structure and dark fruit profile were basically engineered to sit next to a thick cut of prime rib. It's the most predictable pairing on the menu and also the most correct one. Sometimes the obvious move is obvious for a reason.
The Bottom Line
Devil's Pool is a beautiful room with a wine list that does its job without ever trying to exceed it. Send a friend here if they love California Cab and lodge ambiance — just tell them to skip the Meiomi and drink something they'd actually miss.
· Branson · Barbecue
Come to Gettin' Basted for the barbecue — not the wine. The $5 house pour is a service item, not a program, and there's no evidence anyone is minding the cellar (or even has one). Order a beer, enjoy the smoke, and don't think about wine until you're somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Branson · Italian-American
Pasghetti's isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list makes that abundantly clear. If you're here for the pasta and the family-friendly Branson vibe, grab a Lambrusco and call it a night — but don't expect the wine program to be part of the reason you come back.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Branson · Seafood
Landry's Branson keeps its wine program simple to the point of invisibility — fair prices, familiar names, no bottles, no story. If you're here for the seafood and just want a glass of something reasonable alongside it, you won't suffer. But if wine matters to you even a little, this list wasn't built with you in mind.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pointe Royale / State Highway 165 corridor · Branson · Steakhouse
Saltgrass Pointe Royale isn't a wine destination, but it's not an embarrassment either — fair prices, drinkable pours, and a list that serves its purpose alongside a good steak. Send a friend here for the food; just tell them to skip the Meiomi.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Table Rock Lake / Marina area · Branson · Seafood / American
White River Fish House is not your wine destination in Branson, but it doesn't pretend to be — the list is safe, priced fairly, and sensible enough for what the kitchen is serving. Send a friend here for the lake views and the catfish; just tell them to stick to white wine and keep expectations calibrated accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Branson Hills / north Branson · Branson · Steakhouse
Saltgrass Branson isn't a wine destination, and it knows it — the list exists to serve the steak, and at these prices, it does that job competently. Send your wine-curious friends here without hesitation; send your wine-obsessed friends to dinner somewhere else first.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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