Lexington's safe bet, with a price tag
Downtown · Lexington · Contemporary American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 4, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Dudley's lands like a greatest hits album you've heard a hundred times — Rombauer, Caymus, Meiomi, Veuve. It's curated for people who already know what they want, and those people are fine with paying for the familiarity. Nothing here is going to surprise you, but it won't embarrass you either.
California dominates from top to bottom: Cabernet, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir — the Big Three, leaning hard on trophy names and accessible crowd-pleasers. Italy shows up with some Tuscan and Sicilian representation, and France gets a nod through Bordeaux and a Champagne section anchored by Veuve Clicquot. What's missing is any real sense of adventure — no Rhône, no serious Burgundy, no Spain, no grower Champagne — just a well-executed list for guests who find comfort in recognizable labels. The 75-120 bottle range gives it some depth, but the depth is wide, not interesting.
Twelve to eighteen options by the glass is a respectable spread for a downtown Lexington restaurant, and the BTG lineup mirrors the bottle list's brand-name sensibility: Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Meiomi Pinot Noir, Rombauer Chardonnay. These are the wines your aunt orders at every restaurant — not a knock, just an observation. Rotation appears minimal; this list reads like it hasn't changed in a couple of years.
Villa Pozzi Nero d'Avola — $10–$13
This Sicilian red is the list's unsung workhorse — affordable, food-friendly, and a genuine break from the California parade. At BTG pricing, it's the smartest pour on the menu.
Belle Glos 'Clark & Telephone' Pinot Noir
Most tables walk right past this one to grab the Meiomi, but Belle Glos is in another league — a serious, concentrated Santa Maria Valley Pinot with the structure to stand up to Dudley's heavier plates. Worth the upgrade.
The Prisoner Red Blend
At $105 on the menu against a $50 retail price, you're paying a 110% markup for a wine that's essentially Trader Joe's-adjacent at this point. The brand cachet has long outpaced the actual wine.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon + Steaks and Chops
Jordan's Alexander Valley Cab is built for exactly this moment — polished tannins, dark fruit, enough structure to cut through a ribeye without bullying it. It's the classic move, and at Dudley's it's the right one.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Dudley's is where Lexington takes its out-of-town guests when it wants to impress without any risk — and the wine list delivers exactly that energy. Just know you're paying a premium for the privilege of drinking labels you already trust.
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
· Atlanta · Contemporary American
By George is a fine place to drink wine if you know what you're walking into — a curated-but-safe list built for a stylish crowd that wants rosé and bubbles without friction. Come for the Crémant and the Tavel; don't expect to find anything that'll make you rethink your relationship with wine.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Jolla · Chula Vista · Contemporary American
Nine-Ten is a genuinely good restaurant with a competent wine program — the sommelier is present, the list is legitimate, and the setting earns the price of admission. But the markups are aggressive enough that you'll want to be selective, because this list can eat your wallet if you reach for the obvious names.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Winston Salem · Contemporary American
Sir Winston is the rare hotel restaurant that makes a real effort on wine, and for Winston-Salem, that counts for a lot. Pricing runs steep enough that you'll feel it by the second bottle, but the selection earns at least one visit from anyone who takes wine seriously.
Solid Range
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.