California dreaming in the heart of Nashville
Nashville · Nashville · Southern American, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 27, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Deacon's New South’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 Deacon's reads like a greatest hits of California — Caymus, Silver Oak, Opus One, Far Niente. It's polished, confident, and built to impress a Nashville crowd that knows what they like. There's no pretension here, just a well-curated selection that knows its audience.
With somewhere between 150 and 250 selections, the list is solidly sized but leans hard into California Cabernet and Chardonnay — think Napa Valley's upper-middle class showing up in force. Stag's Leap, Jordan, Duckhorn, and Silver Oak anchor the reds, with Far Niente flying the flag for white wine lovers. What's missing is any meaningful exploration outside California — don't come here expecting Burgundy rabbit holes or an Argentine surprise. This is a steakhouse list built to move bottles, and it does that job well.
The by-the-glass program runs 12 to 20 options, which is respectable for an upscale Nashville steakhouse. With sommelier Andrew Lizardo on staff, there's at least a guiding hand keeping things coherent rather than random. The pours likely skew toward familiar California names — solid if unsurprising, and good enough to hold you over while you debate a bottle.
Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $80
Jordan consistently punches above its price point — structured, food-friendly, and far less marked up than the Napa trophy wines on this list. Next to Opus One, it looks like a steal.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot
Everyone at a steakhouse defaults to Cabernet, which means the Duckhorn Merlot gets overlooked. It's plush, fruit-forward, and actually a better match for some of the Southern-inflected dishes on the menu — try it with the braised short rib if it's available.
Opus One
Opus One is a great wine, but restaurant markups on prestige bottles like this are brutal. You're paying a significant premium over retail to drink it in a loud Nashville dining room. Save it for a night when the setting matches the price tag.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Dry-aged prime steak
Stag's Leap built its reputation on structured, elegant Cabernet that doesn't bludgeon you — which makes it the right call against a well-marbled dry-aged cut. The tannins do the work without overwhelming the beef's natural flavor.
✔️ The Bottom Line
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.
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
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
Green Hills · Nashville · Seafood, Steakhouse
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.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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
Franklin · Franklin · Southern American, Steakhouse
Cork & Cow won't blow your mind, but it earns its Wine Spectator credentials with a dependable, California-forward list that fits the room perfectly. Send your steak-loving friends here with confidence — just steer them away from the Caymus.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Florence · Florence · Southern American, Steakhouse
Victors is a reliable wine stop for anyone who likes knowing exactly what they're getting — California icons, a decent glass program, and zero adventure tax. If you're in Florence and want a solid Cab with your steak, this gets the job done; just don't show up looking for discovery.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Plaza Midwood · Charlotte · Southern American, Steakhouse
Supperland is a genuinely wild place to drink wine — stained glass overhead, a cast iron skillet on the table, and a bottle of Tignanello on the list. The markups aren't generous and no sommelier is guiding you, but if you know what you're looking for, this Wine Spectator-recognized list delivers for a Southern steakhouse in a church.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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