The wine list nobody asked for
Brannon Crossing / South Lexington · Lexington · American bar & grill with burgers, sushi, and pub fare · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 4, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You flip open the menu expecting something interesting and instead find the wine section of a gas station with slightly better lighting. This is a list assembled by someone whose main goal was to have a list — mission technically accomplished, nothing more.
We're talking 14 Hands, Cupcake, Kendall-Jackson, Barefoot, and Dark Horse — brands that live on grocery store endcaps and airport kiosks, not curated wine programs. California dominates, with a little Australia lurking somewhere in the background. There's no sense that anyone sat down and thought about what wines would complement the food or excite the customer; this is checkbox wine buying at its most utilitarian. If you're hunting for a grower Champagne or even a decent Rhône, keep hunting.
Eight pours available, which sounds generous until you realize they're all pulling from the same shallow bench of mass-market brands. Prices land between $7 and $11 a glass, which is at least honest given what you're getting — nobody's charging you $18 for a Cupcake Chardonnay, and that restraint is about the nicest thing we can say here.
Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay — $9
It's the most recognizable name on the list with actual winemaking intent behind it. At mid-single digits per glass, it's drinkable and familiar — damning with faint praise, but that's the ceiling here.
14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon
Nobody comes to Drake's for Cab, but 14 Hands actually overdelivers for its price tier — it's a straightforward, fruit-forward Washington state Cab that holds up better than its grocery-store rep suggests. Order it with a burger and stop overthinking it.
Barefoot Moscato
You are a grown adult at a restaurant. The Barefoot Moscato is sitting at the kids' table and you don't have to join it.
Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon + Big Burger
Dark Horse Cab is ripe, a little jammy, and just structured enough to stand up to a smash burger with all the toppings. It's not a transcendent experience, but it's the most coherent wine-and-food moment the list can offer, and that counts for something.
❌ The Bottom Line
Come to Drake's for the burgers, the craft beer, and the TVs — not the wine list. If you absolutely need wine with dinner, keep it simple and keep it cheap, because the list isn't hiding any secrets worth uncovering.
South Lexington / Harrodsburg Road · Lexington · Italian, Contemporary Italian, Seafood
Giuseppe's isn't a wine destination, but Monday night half-price bottles make it one of the better value plays in Lexington — show up then, lean on the seafood, and you'll leave happy. Any other night, the markups ask a lot and the list doesn't ask you to think very hard.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Lansdowne / Nicholasville Road · Lexington · Italian-American
Sutton's isn't a wine destination, but it's a perfectly reasonable place to drink a bottle of Chianti while someone else handles the cooking. The Tignanello alone earns this list a second look if you know to ask for it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Gratz Park · Lexington · New American / Southern
Jonathan at Gratz Park is the kind of reliable wine room you'd expect from a historic inn with a real sommelier — competent, well-stocked, and leaning safe. Pricing is on the steeper side and the list won't surprise you, but in Lexington, this is still one of the better places to order a full bottle with dinner.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Palomar / Harrodsburg Road · Lexington · Italian, Seasonal American-Influenced
Bella Notte isn't a wine destination, but it's a reliable neighborhood spot with one genuinely smart move: Thursday half-price bottles turn a steep list into a real value play. Go on a Thursday, order the Decoy Cab with a wood-grilled steak, and you'll leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Lexington · Italian
ItalX is a dependable Italian wine list for a night out downtown — not exciting, but not embarrassing either. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink well enough, as long as they steer toward the Italian reds and away from the obvious tourist traps.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Summit at Fritz Farm · Lexington · New American / Southern
33 Staves is a perfectly competent hotel wine list in a city where nobody's really coming for the wine. Drink it for what it is, keep your expectations calibrated, and save the serious bottle hunting for somewhere else.
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.