Southern comfort with a wine list to match
Vista District · Columbia · Lowcountry / Southern Seafood & Steaks · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 2, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Blue Marlin doesn't try to be anything it isn't — and that's mostly fine. You're in a lively, polished Lowcountry spot in Columbia's Vista district, and the list reads exactly like the room feels: approachable, familiar, and built for people who want something cold and crowd-pleasing with their shrimp and grits. Don't come here hunting for grower Champagne or skin-contact Vermentino.
The list runs 40 to 70 labels deep, which sounds respectable until you see that the heavy lifting is done by the usual suspects — Kendall-Jackson, Kim Crawford, Meiomi, Josh Cellars. California and domestic U.S. dominate the shelves, with a nod to some general international selections that never get too adventurous. There's no real regional focus or producer story being told here; this is a list built by committee to offend no one. The bright spot: bottle prices top out around $90, keeping things accessible for a polished dinner out.
Eight to fourteen pours by the glass at $8–$14 is a reasonable spread for Columbia, and the price ceiling won't give you sticker shock. The selections mirror the bottle list — think Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling and Meiomi Pinot Noir as your quirkiest options. Rotation appears minimal; don't expect a chalkboard of weekly discoveries.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $8
At the low end of the glass pour range, Ste. Michelle's Washington Riesling is legitimately well-made — off-dry, crisp, and one of the most food-friendly options on the list. It's the rare by-the-glass pick here that actually earns its place rather than just filling a varietal slot.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling
Most people at a Southern seafood spot reach for the Chardonnay or the Pinot Grigio out of habit. Ste. Michelle's Riesling is the sleeper — it handles the sweetness in the shrimp and grits sauce better than anything else on this list, and almost nobody orders it.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
Heavy, fruit-forward, and aggressively marketed — Josh Cab is the kind of wine you've seen on a grocery store end-cap next to a Father's Day display. It's not bad exactly, but it's not why you came to a Lowcountry seafood restaurant, and you can find it cheaper anywhere else in town.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc + Charleston Crab Cakes
Kim Crawford is an autopilot Sauvignon Blanc, but it works here — the bright citrus and grassy snap cut through the richness of the crab cakes and hold up against whatever remoulade situation is happening on the plate. Sometimes the obvious answer is obvious for a reason.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Blue Marlin is a solid, unpretentious wine list for a solid, unpretentious Southern seafood dinner — you won't be wowed, but you won't be ripped off either. Send a friend here for the food and tell them to stick to the Riesling.
Forest Acres · Columbia · Contemporary American Bistro with Southern Influences
Tombo Grille isn't going to win any points for boldness, but it delivers exactly what Forest Acres wants: familiar wines, fair-enough execution, and a menu worth eating. Send a friend here for a reliable dinner out — just temper expectations if they're hoping to discover something new.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Irmo / Northwest Columbia · Columbia · Contemporary American-Italian
Travinia is a reliable neighborhood wine bar that gets the basics right — solid selection, good by-the-glass volume, food-friendly pours — without ever swinging for the fences. Send your friends here for a comfortable bottle with dinner, not for a wine discovery experience.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Sandhill · Columbia · Contemporary American-Italian
Travinia Sandhill is a reliable wine bar in a market that doesn't have many — not adventurous, not cheap, but consistent enough that you won't regret the reservation. Just steer clear of the obvious traps and you'll have a decent night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Unknown · Columbia · Seafood
The Bluefish plays it safe and the pricing reflects more confidence than the list deserves, but the core selection is competent enough for a solid seafood dinner with the right pour. Stick to the whites, ask about the Albariño, and don't let anyone talk you into a $78 Cakebread.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
St Andrews · Columbia · Japanese, Sushi
Inakaya Watanabe is clearly a solid neighborhood sushi spot, and the food likely earns its loyal following — but the wine program is an afterthought that nobody has revisited in years. Come for the fish, order sake if they have it, and treat the wine list as a last resort.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
The Vista · Columbia · Asian / Sushi & Pan-Asian
M Vista's wine list is functional, fairly priced, and completely unambitious — which honestly fits the room. Send a friend here for sushi and a casual bottle of J Lohr; don't send them here expecting a wine experience.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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