One Producer, Eight Bottles, Zero Ambition
· Atlanta · Wine / coffee bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 5, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Books & Brew’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 Books & Brew fits on a napkin — eight bottles, all from Sand Point, plus two Oddbird non-alcoholic options. If you were hoping for a curated cellar to match the cozy bookshop energy, recalibrate your expectations fast. This is a wine section, not a wine program.
Sand Point is a Central Valley, California value brand you'll find at Costco and Total Wine — which isn't automatically a knock, but when it's your entire list, it tells you exactly how much thought went into the wine program. You get the full Sand Point lineup: Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Moscato. The two Oddbird non-alcoholic wines — a Rosé and a Grenache — are a genuinely nice touch and suggest someone here is paying attention to inclusivity, even if not to terroir. There are no other regions, no other producers, no surprises.
By-the-glass specifics aren't listed on the website, but given the bottle price range of $6–$8, it's a safe bet you're getting pours rather than full bottles at those prices. At that price point, the bar to impress is low — and it clears it, barely.
Sand Point Sauvignon Blanc — $8
If you're going to drink anything here, go with something that benefits from being simple and fresh. Sauvignon Blanc at this price point is at least honest about what it is — light, easy, and inoffensive with a book in hand.
Oddbird NA Grenache
Non-alcoholic wine gets dismissed constantly, and usually for good reason. But Oddbird is one of the few brands doing it with actual craft — the Grenache shows real red fruit character without the cloying sweetness that kills most NA options. If you're not drinking or just taking it easy, this is worth your attention.
Sand Point Moscato
Sweet, simple, and firmly in grocery store territory. There's nothing wrong with Moscato in the right context, but this one won't surprise you in any good way.
Oddbird NA Rosé + Unknown — no menu data available
Without menu data we can't make a specific dish call here, but the Oddbird Rosé is the most versatile pour on the list and would work alongside most light café-style bites.
The Bottom Line
Books & Brew is a charming concept let down by a wine list that stopped at 'good enough.' Come for the books and the coffee — the wine is an afterthought, priced cheaply enough that you can't really complain, but curated poorly enough that you probably should.
· Atlanta · Italian bakery and cafe
Rosetta Bakery has no business having a wine list this considered. Eight labels, nearly all pourable by the glass, priced so fairly it almost seems like a mistake — and anchored by producers like Monchiero Carbone and Antica Fratta that would look at home on a dedicated wine bar menu. If you're nearby and want a glass of something genuinely Italian and genuinely good without paying downtown wine bar prices, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Smyrna · Atlanta · New American
Muss & Turner's isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — and that honesty is oddly refreshing. If you're in Smyrna on a Tuesday, the reported wine-focused night is reason enough to show up early, grab a seat, and let the shrimp and grits do the heavy lifting while you figure out what's on the list.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Atlanta · New American
Soho's wine list is built for people who already know what they like — California reds, recognizable labels, no curveballs. The markup is real (Faust at $132/bottle and Moët at $138 are tough to justify), but the by-the-glass depth gives you flexibility to stay in a reasonable range. If you're here for the food and want a no-drama pour, you'll find it — just don't come expecting discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · French
St. John's is running a lean, all-by-the-glass program that's more considered than it looks at first glance — a Vouvray, a Barolo, and an aged Languedoc Syrah on a 14-bottle list isn't an accident. The lack of bottle service is a real limitation for a French dinner, but if you're grazing through courses and glasses, the pricing stays honest. Worth a visit if you want something beyond the usual steakhouse pour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Buckhead · Atlanta · French-American
St. John has the bones of a place worth drinking well at — a thoughtful regional spread, a dining room that takes itself seriously, and a menu built for wine-friendly food. But without confirmed list details or pricing, we can't promise the experience lives up to the setup. Go for the Welsh Rarebit and the mood, and ask your server what they're excited about on the list — that answer alone will tell you what kind of night you're in for.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Southern breakfast and lunch
Bantam + Biddy is a perfectly decent brunch spot that simply has no interest in wine — and that's fine, but you should know going in. If your table is splitting Mimosas and splitting biscuits, great. If you want an actual glass of wine with your eggs, eat somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
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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