Wednesday Saves It, Nothing Else Does
Lansdowne / Tates Creek · Lexington · American Gastropub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 4, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Drake's Lansdowne reads like someone grabbed whatever was on sale at the grocery store and called it a program. You've got TVs blasting, a crowd here for sushi rolls and burgers, and a wine list that mostly just gets out of the way. That's probably fine — but if you're here hoping for a thoughtful glass of something interesting, you're in the wrong place.
The list is 20-odd bottles deep and leans hard on grocery store staples — 14 Hands, Cupcake, Barefoot, Yellow Tail, Dark Horse. These are brands built for supermarket endcaps, not restaurant wine lists. There's no regional identity, no indie producers, no attempt to surprise anyone. California and Washington value-tier bottles dominate, with a few generic international labels rounding things out. The good news: you know exactly what you're getting. The bad news: what you're getting isn't very exciting.
Around 8-12 pours are available by the glass in the $7-$11 range, which is at least honest for what the list is. The selection mirrors the bottle list — familiar brands, easy-drinking styles, nothing that'll make you pause. Rotation appears minimal; this is a set-it-and-forget-it program.
Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay — $11/glass
KJ Chardonnay is the least offensive option here — it's a known quantity, widely liked, and at $11 a glass you're not getting burned too badly. It's the closest thing to a safe harbor on a list that's otherwise treading water.
Yellow Tail Shiraz
Nobody orders this on purpose, but if you're eating a spicy tuna roll or loaded nachos, a cold pour of Yellow Tail Shiraz actually does the job. It's fruity, low-fuss, and at these prices, you're not taking a big swing. Sometimes the floor is the move.
Barefoot Moscato
A $24 bottle of Barefoot Moscato — a wine that retails for $8 — is a 200% markup on something you'd feel embarrassed buying at a gas station. Hard pass. Order a cocktail or grab a beer.
14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon + Burger
14 Hands Cab is ripe, a little jammy, and just bold enough to stand up to a juicy Drake's burger. It's not a sophisticated pairing — it's a functional one, which is exactly the energy of this room.
Wednesday — Drake's participates in Bluegrass Hospitality Group's mid-week wine special — half-price bottles on Wednesdays, with some brand and price exceptions. Best night to engage with the list.
❌ The Bottom Line
Drake's isn't a wine destination and doesn't pretend to be. The list is overpriced grocery store staples, and the only reason to engage with it at all is Wednesday's half-price bottle deal — that's when a $30 bottle of 14 Hands starts to make sense. Otherwise, order a cocktail and enjoy the chaos.
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
Heritage District (The Yard) · Gilbert · American Gastropub
Culinary Dropout Gilbert is a good time that happens to have wine — not a wine list that happens to have a restaurant around it. Come for the vibe, the pretzel bites, and maybe a glass of rosé on the patio; just don't expect your mind to be blown by what's in the book.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Riverside · American Gastropub
The Salted Pig isn't a wine destination, but it doesn't need to be — the list is honest, the prices are fair, and there's enough here to drink well through a solid meal. Send your beer-curious friends; bring the wine drinkers who just want something familiar and cold.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Riverfront · Cincinnati · American Gastropub
Moerlein Lager House is one of Cincinnati's best spots for craft beer, and that's exactly what you should order here. The wine list is an afterthought dressed up with gastropub prices — we'd send a friend here for a cold lager and the pretzel bites, not a bottle of anything.
Crowd Pleasers
Gouge
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.