Chain seafood, chain wine, no surprises
Hamilton Place · Chattanooga · Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 9, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Bonefish Grill’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Bonefish Grill reads like a greatest hits album you've heard a hundred times — familiar names, safe picks, nothing that's going to make you put down your phone. It's a corporate seafood chain doing what corporate seafood chains do: stocking the wines everyone already knows so nobody has to make a decision. That's not a compliment, but it's also not a disaster.
The list leans hard on California and New Zealand, with a predictable Pacific Northwest cameo. Rombauer Chardonnay and Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc are doing the heavy lifting here, which tells you exactly who this list was built for — guests who point at a name they recognize and feel good about it. There's no old-world presence to speak of, no interesting regional producers, and zero willingness to take a swing on anything unfamiliar. If you're hoping to stumble onto a grower Champagne or a funky Willamette Pinot, keep moving.
The by-the-glass program runs 12-18 options, which sounds generous until you realize most of them are the same six grapes in different branded bottles. Meiomi Pinot Noir will absolutely be on that list, and it will absolutely be marked up more than it should be. Rotation appears to be nonexistent — this is a set-it-and-forget-it program designed for consistency across 200+ locations, not discovery.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc — null
If you're eating seafood at a chain restaurant, at least play to the menu. Kim Crawford is ubiquitous for a reason — it's crisp, citrus-forward, and cuts through fried and grilled fish better than anything else on this list. It's not exciting, but it's the right call.
Rombauer Chardonnay
Look, Rombauer is polarizing — it's rich, it's oaky, it's everything natural wine people hate. But if you're ordering something indulgent like the Bang Bang Shrimp and leaning into a full, buttery pour, this is the move. Most people here will default to something lighter and miss the point entirely.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
You can buy this at Costco for under $15. Whatever they're charging you here, it's too much. The slightly sweet, mass-produced profile doesn't do anything interesting with the food, and the markup is the only thing bold about it.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc + Ahi Tuna Poke
The grassy, citrus-driven edge of Kim Crawford does exactly what you need it to do against the bright, sesame-soy flavors of the Ahi Tuna Poke. It's not a sophisticated pairing, but it works — and at a place like this, working is winning.
The Bottom Line
Bonefish Grill is where you go for reliable seafood with someone who doesn't drink wine adventurously — and that's fine, because the list was built for exactly that person. Order the Kim Crawford, enjoy your fish, and save the cellar-diving for another night.
Northshore · Chattanooga · American / Southern
The Rosecomb isn't a wine destination, but it's a genuinely good wine surprise — especially on a Tuesday when the whole bottle list goes half-price. Come for the burger, stay for the País.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Ringgold (Greater Chattanooga Area) · Chattanooga · Southern Coastal (Seafood, Steaks, Southern Sides)
1885 Grill Ringgold won't change how you think about wine, but it won't embarrass you in front of your dinner date either. It's the reliable neighborhood option in a part of Greater Chattanooga where that actually counts for something.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ooltewah · Chattanooga · Southern Coastal (Seafood, Steaks, Southern Sides)
1885 Grill is a solid neighborhood spot where the wine list does its job without doing much more. The selection is approachable, the BTG count is surprisingly high, but watch the markups on the low end — some of those glass pours are doing a lot of work for the house.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
St. Elmo · Chattanooga · Southern and Coastal
1885 Grill St. Elmo isn't a wine destination, but it doesn't need to be — it's a reliable neighborhood spot with fair prices, a comfortable patio, and a list that won't embarrass anyone. Send a friend here for dinner and tell them to order the Trapiche; don't send them here to geek out on wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Northshore · Chattanooga · Portuguese and Mediterranean
Bela Lisboa is the most interesting wine list you'll find attached to a cozy neighborhood bistro in Chattanooga — the Portuguese focus is real and it works with the food. The markups are too aggressive on several bottles, but the soul of the program is there, and that's not nothing.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lookout Valley · Chattanooga · Winery
DeBarge is the Wild Card Chattanooga deserves — a real working winery in the city's backyard, making honest wine at honest prices, staffed by people who actually care what's in the glass. If you want a Napa blockbuster, go somewhere else; if you want to drink something made twenty minutes from where you're sitting, this is your stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Carmel · Carmel By The Sea · Seafood
Catch is a dependable wine stop for a seafood dinner in Carmel — nothing here will disappoint you, but nothing will surprise you either. If you go in with calibrated expectations and order the Schramsberg with your crab, you'll leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Hood River · Hood River · Seafood
Votum is operating a world-class wine program in a town most people only stop through on the way to a hike — the depth of this cellar belongs in a major city restaurant, and the sommelier presence means you're not navigating it alone. The markups on the prestige bottles will sting, but find your entry point and this list rewards serious attention.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Bowen's Wharf · Newport · Seafood
The Lobster Bar isn't a wine destination, but it's a perfectly competent list for what the restaurant is — a casual waterfront spot where the lobster is the star. Order the Sancerre, eat the oysters, watch the boats.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
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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