Solid pours in a converted bus depot
Evansville · Evansville · Gourmet burgers, American bar & grill · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 6, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Nine wines at a burger bar inside a renovated Greyhound depot — expectations are calibrated accordingly. What actually surprises you is how fairly priced everything is: $10 for a six-ounce pour of wine that retails for $11 a bottle is practically a public service. This list isn't trying to impress anyone, and that's fine.
Eight still wines and a Freixenet sparkling split cover the basics without a single curveball. California dominates — Joel Gott 815 Cab, Mark West Pinot Noir, Robert Hall Merlot, Clos Du Bois Chardonnay, Charles & Charles Red Blend — with a lone Italian Pinot Grigio, a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, and a Spanish Cava rounding things out. There's no old-world depth, no natural wine, no regional curiosity — but that's not the promise here. The promise is something cold and drinkable next to a smash burger, and the list delivers on that.
All eight still wines pour in two sizes — six or nine ounces — which is a genuinely useful feature when you want to try two things without going full bottle. The Freixenet Blanc de Blancs comes in a 187 ml split, which is a fun little touch for a sparkling option at a burger joint. Rotation doesn't appear to happen; this reads like a set-it-and-forget-it program.
Clos Du Bois Chardonnay — $10 (6 oz)
A bottle of this retails around $11, and you're getting a six-ounce pour for $10. The markup is essentially nothing. It's not a complex Chardonnay, but it's clean, lightly oaked, and honest — and at that price-to-pour ratio, it's the smartest order on the list.
Charles & Charles Red Blend
Most people at a burger bar default to the Cab or the Merlot. The Charles & Charles Red Blend — a Washington State Syrah-Cabernet co-ferment — brings more texture and dark fruit character than anything else on this list. It's the one wine here that punches above its category.
Tinto Rey Rosé
Rosé at a casual bar rarely gets the care it deserves — stored right, served at the right temp, moved fast enough to stay fresh. With no visible bottle rotation and a set-it-and-forget-it program, this is the riskiest pour on the menu. Grab the Matua Sauvignon Blanc if you want something bright and refreshing.
Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon + Bacon Cheeseburger
Joel Gott 815 is built for exactly this moment — ripe dark fruit, soft tannins, a little smoky edge. It doesn't fight the beef, it just agrees with it. The bacon's salt and fat actually smooth out whatever rough edges the Cab has. Classic match, no overthinking required.
Monday–Thursday — $3 off wine by the glass, Monday through Thursday, 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM (dine-in only)
✔️ The Bottom Line
BRU Burger Bar isn't a wine destination, but it's one of the fairest-priced wine lists you'll find at a casual American spot — and that counts for something. If you're splitting a burger and want a real glass of wine without a restaurant markup that makes you wince, this works.
West Side · Evansville · Italian-American / Pizza
Turoni's is a great neighborhood pizza spot that happens to have wine on the menu, not a wine destination that also serves pizza. Come for the food and the house-brewed beer; treat the $4.99 Lambrusco as a pleasant bonus, not the reason you're here.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Newburgh Road · Evansville · Italian-American / Pizza
Turoni's is a great pizza spot and a solid craft beer destination — the wine list is neither of those things. Order the Lambrusco if you're committed to the bit, then let the beer menu do the real work.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Evansville · Italian-American, Pizza, Brewpub
Turoni's is a great neighborhood pizza spot with a legitimate craft beer program — come for the pies and the pints, not the wine. If you need a glass of something, the $4.99 price tag makes it painless, but don't expect anything beyond the basics.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Evansville · Evansville · American / Brewpub
BJ's Evansville is a brewpub, full stop — the wine list is a courtesy offering for the table members who don't drink beer, not a destination in itself. If you're going, go on a Thursday, order the Meiomi or the Kim Crawford at half price, and let everyone else worry about the craft tap list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Eagle Crest · Evansville · American gastrobar
Bar Louie Evansville is a fine place to grab a beer or a cocktail — the wine list is an afterthought dressed up in a laminated menu. Come on a Thursday, order the rosé, and call it a win.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
East Side · Evansville · Casual steakhouse; American steak, ribs, chicken, and seafood
LongHorn's wine list is the dining equivalent of a screensaver — it's technically there, it moves occasionally, but nobody's really watching it. Come for the steak, order the La Crema if you want wine, and keep your expectations where the decor suggests they should be.
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.