Bar Wine That Does the Job, Barely
Buckhead · Atlanta · Gastropub/Tavern · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed November 9, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Black Bear Tavern’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Black Bear Tavern is exactly what you'd expect from a tavern that has 'bear' in its name: short, safe, and built for people who just want a glass of something red without a lot of questions. Eleven bottles, eleven glass pours — the whole thing fits on one page, probably next to the burger section.
This is a crowd-pleaser list through and through — Clos du Bois Chardonnay, Joel Gott 815 Cab, Backhouse Merlot and Cab, Ecco Domani (listed twice, somehow), Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc. These are grocery store staples you've seen a hundred times. The lone flicker of interest is the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling, which at least represents a region worth caring about, and Louis Latour Pinot Noir adds a French accent that's doing more heavy lifting than it probably should on a list this sparse. There are no deep cuts, no regional curiosities, and zero indication anyone thought hard about this beyond 'what do people usually order.'
Every single bottle on the list is also available by the glass, priced $8–$10, which is legitimately reasonable for Atlanta. J. Roget Champagne rounds things out at $8/glass — it's sparkling wine in the loosest possible sense, but at that price point, it's not trying to be Champagne and neither should you.
The Bottom Line
Black Bear Tavern's wine program is honest about what it is: a short, affordable list built for people who want a glass of something familiar without thinking about it. The prices are fair — $8–$10 a glass and $30–$35 a bottle is refreshingly un-gouged for a Buckhead spot — but the selection has zero ambition. If you're here for the bar atmosphere and a burger, pour the Dona Paula Malbec or the Ste. Michelle Riesling and call it a night.
11 wines captured from the source list, including wines not yet matched to our catalog. Availability, vintages, and prices can change. View source wine list.
Dona Paula Malbec $9.00 $30.00 Argentina
Red
$9.00 / glass · $30.00 / bottle
Louis Latour Pinot Noir $9.00 $30.00 France
Red
$9.00 / glass · $30.00 / bottle
Joel Gott 815 Cabernet $10.00 $35.00 California
Red
$10.00 / glass · $35.00 / bottle
Backhouse Merlot $8.00 $30.00 California
Red
$8.00 / glass · $30.00 / bottle
Backhouse Cabernet $8.00 $30.00 California
Red
$8.00 / glass · $30.00 / bottle
Clos du Bois Chardonnay $8.00 $30.00 California
White
$8.00 / glass · $30.00 / bottle
Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling $9.00 $30.00 California
White
$9.00 / glass · $30.00 / bottle
Ecco Domani $9.00 $30.00 Italy
White
$9.00 / glass · $30.00 / bottle
Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc $9.00 $30.00 New Zealand
White
$9.00 / glass · $30.00 / bottle
Dona Paula Rose $9.00 $30.00 California
White
$9.00 / glass · $30.00 / bottle
J. Roget Champagne Glass $8.00 California
Bubbles & Other
$8.00 / glass
Brookhaven · Atlanta · New American/Southern
Roc South is a genuinely fun restaurant — the food sounds great and the vibe is undeniable — but the wine program doesn't give us enough to work with or get excited about. Until there's a verifiable list with real producers and fair pricing, let the bartender guide your evening instead.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · New American/Southern
Park 82 has a wine list in the same way a gas station has a wine selection — technically present, practically limiting. If you're a Pinot Noir devotee who doesn't mind paying restaurant markup for bottles you've seen at Kroger, you'll survive. Everyone else should probably lead with cocktails and ask what's on tap.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Asian
Tabla's wine list punches above its weight for an Asian restaurant in Atlanta. The white-heavy, aromatic-focused selection makes genuine sense with the food, pricing at the entry level is fair, and the BTG depth is real. We'd send a friend here for wine without hesitation — just order the Grüner first.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Other
MCK isn't trying to be a wine destination — it's a bar and restaurant with a list built for toasting and crowd comfort. The sparkling program punches above the list's weight, the by-the-glass selection is generous, and the markups on still wines are steep but not outrageous. Send a friend here if they want Champagne and something easy to sip; send them somewhere else if they're chasing a wine experience.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Gastropub/Tavern
Blue Moon Brewery & Grill is a beer bar first, second, and third — the wine list exists so your friend who doesn't drink beer doesn't feel stranded. If that's the situation, the Cava at $9 or the Elouan Rosé at $10 are perfectly fine. But if wine is the reason you're going out, go somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Thai
Pink Lotus has built a wine list that takes its cues from the food — acid-forward, bubbles-heavy, and genuinely curious — which is more than most Thai spots in town bother to do. Markups are fair, the by-the-glass selection is wide, and there are real finds here if you look past the Dom Pérignon showpiece bottles at the top. If you're eating Thai in Atlanta and you want something interesting in your glass, this list deserves your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Marietta · Gastropub/Tavern
Two Birds Taphouse isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — and within that honest scope, the list holds up better than you'd expect from a Marietta taphouse. The markups are steep on the high end and the list won't evolve much, but the Tempranillo Blanco and Vinho Verde give wine-curious drinkers something real to work with. If you're here for the beer and your friend wants wine, they won't suffer.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Virginia Highland · Atlanta · Gastropub/Tavern
Dave's is a genuinely fun sports bar — the vibe is right, the wings are probably solid, and fifty TVs is never a bad time. But the wine list is not the reason to come here, and there's no evidence anyone on staff would be able to help you navigate it even if you wanted to try. Order a cold draft, eat the cheesesteak, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that returns the favor.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Woodstock · Gastropub/Tavern
Standard and Score isn't trying to be a wine destination, and that's fine — it's a tavern that takes its wine list seriously enough to include a Bordeaux rouge and a Roussillon Grenache alongside the crowd-pleasing California staples. Pricing is fair across the board, and the full BTG availability makes it easy to explore without committing to a bottle. If you're eating in Woodstock and want a solid glass without a lecture, this is your spot.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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