Texas Patio Vibes, California Bottle List
Downtown / Creekside · New Braunfels · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 6, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Cody's Restaurant, Bar & Patio’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Cody's reads exactly like the restaurant looks — easygoing, approachable, and built for a sunny patio afternoon rather than a serious wine dinner. It's California-forward with a nod to Oregon and a token Provence rosé, which honestly is the right call for this crowd. Nothing here is going to surprise you, but nothing is going to offend you either.
The list runs about 25-40 labels deep, which is the sweet spot for a casual upscale spot that isn't trying to be a wine bar. California dominates — Napa and Sonoma Cabs anchor the red side, Chardonnay holds down the whites, and Oregon Pinot Noir makes a respectable cameo. The Provence rosé is a smart seasonal addition that fits the patio setting perfectly. What's missing is any real adventure — no domestic alternatives, no Spanish or Italian options, nothing that would make a wine-curious drinker do a double take.
Around 8-10 BTG options cover the core bases: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cab, rosé, and some sparkling for brunch duty. The chalkboard rotation is a nice touch and suggests at least occasional attention to keeping things fresh. Pour prices in the $8-$15 range are reasonable for a Texas casual-upscale spot, especially on the patio.
Provence Rosé — $10
Dry, food-friendly, and priced right for a lazy afternoon on the patio — this is Cody's in a glass. Provence rosé at this price point rarely disappoints, and it's the most situationally perfect pour on the menu.
Oregon Pinot Noir
Most people at a Texas bar are reaching for the Cab or a beer, but the Oregon Pinot Noir BTG option is the sleeper pick here. It's lighter, more food-friendly, and tends to show better value at restaurant markup than its Napa neighbors.
Napa Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Cab by the bottle at a casual New Braunfels patio spot almost always means you're paying a steep premium for a name rather than the experience. The markup on recognizable Napa bottles rarely justifies itself in this context — stick to glass pours if you want Cab.
California Chardonnay + Grilled Chicken or Seafood Entrée
California Chardonnay — likely lightly oaked and fruit-forward given the list's positioning — is the natural match for whatever lighter proteins are coming off Cody's kitchen. It's crowd-pleasing without being lazy, and it holds up to any cream-based or butter-finished preparation.
The Bottom Line
Cody's is exactly what New Braunfels needs in a downtown wine list — honest, approachable, and priced without attitude. Don't come here chasing discovery, but absolutely come here for a cold rosé and a good time on the patio.
· New Braunfels · Wine bar and bottle shop
A deliberately small list that earns your trust with fair prices and genuine variety — this is what a neighborhood bottle shop wine program should look like. If you're passing through New Braunfels and want a real glass of wine without paying restaurant-markup prices, this is the move.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New Braunfels · Tex-Mex
Chuy's is a genuinely great time if you surrender to the margaritas and queso — but the wine list is a placeholder, not a program. Send your friends here for the fajitas, not the Cabernet.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New Braunfels · Wine bar / lounge
The Clubhouse on Castell is a legitimate wine bar doing real work in a market that doesn't demand it, and that's exactly why it deserves your attention. Send your wine-curious friends here — they'll leave having drunk better than they expected.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Creekside / IH-35 Corridor · New Braunfels · Steakhouse
Saltgrass Creekside is not a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — the list exists to sell bottles alongside steaks, and it does that competently enough. If you stick to Jordan or Stag's Leap and skip the grocery-store bottles, you'll drink fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Creekside / IH-35 Corridor · New Braunfels · American Casual
We wouldn't send anyone to BJ's Creekside specifically for the wine list — but if you're already there for the Pizookie and a Tuesday lands on your calendar, those half-price bottles are a legitimate deal. Come for the beer, and if you must drink wine, come on a Tuesday.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Creekside / I-35 Corridor · New Braunfels · Steakhouse
Saltgrass New Braunfels serves a wine list that was assembled by a committee in Houston and hasn't been questioned since. It functions — you'll find something drinkable — but if wine matters to you tonight, manage expectations before you sit down.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· McMinnville · New American
Thistle is the kind of neighborhood restaurant that McMinnville deserves — rooted in place, edited in approach, and situated in one of the best wine regions in North America. We can't name specific bottles right now, but the regional focus on Willamette Valley and France tells us the list has a point of view. If you're heading to wine country and want a real dinner, this is worth a reservation.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Irvine · New American
Reunion Kitchen isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list proves it. Three by-the-glass pours from mass-market California producers, priced at a premium — this is a wine program on autopilot. Order a cocktail or a beer and save the wine for somewhere that actually thought about it.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Decatur · New American
Miller Union is doing something unusual: a wine program with no fat on it, just four deliberate producers matched to a meal's arc. We don't have pricing data to grade the value, and the fixed structure won't satisfy anyone looking to explore freely — but the bones of this list are genuinely good. If you trust the kitchen, trust the wine program too.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
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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