California classics meet Nashville prime cuts
Green Hills · Nashville · Seafood, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 24, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Char Restaurant’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 Char reads exactly like you'd expect from a polished Southern steakhouse with a piano bar in the background — California heavy, brand-name forward, and built to impress a client dinner rather than surprise a wine geek. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but walk in knowing what you're getting.
The list runs 150-250 bottles and leans hard into California's greatest hits: Caymus, Silver Oak, Jordan, Stag's Leap, Far Niente, Opus One — the roll call of wines that sell themselves at steakhouses coast to coast. Wine Spectator has recognized this program since 2019 with an Award of Excellence, and the California focus is clearly where the energy goes. What's missing is any meaningful detour into Burgundy, Barolo, Rioja, or anywhere that might add dimension — if you're hoping for an Etna Rosso or a grower Champagne, adjust expectations now. The list does what it does well; it just doesn't do much else.
With 12-20 options by the glass, there's enough range to work with across a meal — you're not stuck choosing between one red and one white. Expect the usual California suspects to dominate the pours, which tracks with the bottle program. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority here; this feels like a list that's been relatively stable for a while.
Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $50-$80
Jordan consistently over-delivers for its price point in a steakhouse context — it's polished, food-friendly, and won't make your wallet cry the way Opus One will. In a lineup of California Cabs with aggressive markups, this is where to anchor.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot
Everyone's reaching for the Cabernet at a steakhouse, which means the Duckhorn Merlot gets overlooked constantly. That's a mistake — Duckhorn basically rebuilt Merlot's reputation after Sideways torched it, and their Napa bottling has the structure and depth to hold its own against a prime ribeye.
Opus One
Opus One is a legitimately great wine, but in a steakhouse setting it's almost always marked up to a number that makes no sense relative to what you're getting — you're paying for the label as much as the juice. Save Opus One for a bottle shop occasion; there are better-value options on this very list.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + USDA Prime Ribeye
Stag's Leap has an elegant, structured quality that complements the fat and char on a prime ribeye without overwhelming it — it's a classic pairing that actually earns that word. The dark fruit and firm tannins cut through the richness in a way that makes both the wine and the steak taste better.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Char is a dependable, well-executed steakhouse wine list that's built for crowd-pleasing, not adventuring — if California Cabernet is your comfort zone, you'll be happy here. Send a friend who wants a reliable pour with a prime cut; don't send the friend who just got back from a natural wine bar in Copenhagen.
Downtown Nashville · Nashville · American, French
Gannons is a reliable, well-curated wine destination dressed in hotel restaurant clothing — the sommelier team knows the list, the glass pour selection is strong, and the Italian and French highlights give it more personality than the Napa-heavy surface suggests. The markups lean steep, but the execution earns its Wine Spectator badge. We'd send a friend here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Nashville · Nashville · Southern American, Steakhouse
Deacon's won't expand your wine horizons, but if California Cabernet with your steak is the plan — and in Nashville, it often is — Andrew Lizardo's program delivers with confidence. The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence is earned, even if the list plays it safe.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
West End · Nashville · Seafood
Halls Catch is the right call for a Nashville seafood dinner when you want a wine list that won't embarrass you — just don't come looking for adventure outside the California zip codes. Send a friend here if they love Napa and know what they're ordering; send them somewhere else if they want to explore.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Nashville · Nashville · Italian
Yolan is the best wine program in Nashville and it's not particularly close — the depth, the producers, the staff, and the setting all show up at the same time. Yes, the markups sting, but you're not here to find a bargain; you're here to drink Barolo properly.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
The Gulch · Nashville · American Seafood
Marsh House is carrying one of the most serious French-focused wine programs in Nashville, full stop — and the seafood menu is built like it was designed around the list. The markups sting and the staff isn't yet at the level of the cellar, but the bones here are exceptional enough to send anyone who cares about wine.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Nashville · Nashville · Steak house
Halls Chophouse is Nashville's answer to a serious California wine program — expert staff, deep Napa bench, and the kind of steakhouse atmosphere that makes a $150 bottle feel like the right call. The markups are real, but so is the experience.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Shoreline Village · Long Beach · Seafood, Steakhouse
Queensview earns its Wine Spectator badge by doing the California steakhouse formula well — the setting is legitimately stunning, the list is reliable, and the Daou is a genuine steal in this context. Just don't come expecting anything that'll surprise you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Lake Tahoe · South Lake Tahoe · Seafood, Steakhouse
Kalani's wine program is exactly what it should be: polished, California-centric, and dependable for a mountain resort fine dining crowd. No fireworks, but you'll eat and drink well — just go in with eyes open on pricing.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pendleton · Pendleton · Seafood, Steakhouse
Plateau is the kind of place that surprises you — a polished wine program with two named sommeliers, genuine Pacific Northwest depth, and cult producers you don't expect to find east of the Cascades. If you're passing through Pendleton, this is absolutely worth a stop for the wine alone.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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