When the Wine List is an Afterthought
Nashville · Nashville · American Bar & Grill
Reviewed March 2, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Ellington's reads like a convenience store cooler got ambitious. It's the kind of lineup where you know exactly what you're getting before you even open the menu—and not in a good way.
We're looking at the usual suspects: mass-market California Chardonnay, basic Pinot Grigio, maybe a Malbec if you're lucky. No regional diversity, no interesting producers, nothing that suggests anyone put thought into this beyond calling the Sysco rep. The list feels like it was assembled in 2008 and hasn't been touched since. If you're hoping for anything beyond Barefoot and Josh Cellars territory, you're in the wrong place.
The by-the-glass program is functionally nonexistent in any meaningful way. You'll find the standard quartet: a white that's aggressively neutral, a red that tastes like oak chips, maybe a Prosecco that's seen better days. No rotation, no seasonal adjustments, no one caring enough to open something interesting.
Stella Rosa Rosso — $28
It's sweet, it's approachable, and at least you know what you're getting—though you're still overpaying by about $15
House Merlot
Not because it's good, but because it's likely the least marked-up thing on the list and pairs fine with a burger
Any California Chardonnay over $35
You're paying restaurant markup on bottom-shelf juice—buy a cocktail instead
Budweiser + Classic Burger
Honestly, stick to beer here—it's what this place does well, and the wine program isn't going to enhance your meal
❌ The Bottom Line
Ellington's is a bar that happens to have wine, not a place that cares about it. Order the draft beer, enjoy the grill menu, and save your wine budget for literally anywhere else.
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
Nashville · Nashville · Southern American, Steakhouse
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.
Crowd Pleasers
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
Airport / East Columbus · Columbus · American Bar & Grill
This is airport-adjacent chain wine, full stop — familiar labels at inflated prices for a captive audience that mostly wants something cold and wet after traveling. Order a cocktail instead, or hit the hotel bar and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Riverfront · Fort Wayne · American Bar & Grill
The Deck is a great place to spend an afternoon — just don't come here for the wine. Order a local beer or a cocktail, grab a burger, and let the river do the heavy lifting.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hamburg Pavilion · Lexington · American Bar & Grill
Drake's Hamburg is a beer bar, full stop — the wine list exists as an afterthought and that's fine, as long as you order accordingly. If your table insists on wine, grab a glass of Dark Horse Cab with your burger and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
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.