River views, serious bubbles, Wednesday salvation
Uptown / Riverfront · Columbus · Upscale American Fine Dining · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 28, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Epic Restaurant’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 Epic lands like the room itself — polished, confident, and slightly more expensive than you expected. Fifty-five labels isn't a deep cellar, but it's curated with enough intent that you don't feel like you're staring at a hotel banquet card. Champagne gets top billing, which tells you everything about who this place is trying to impress.
France and California split the spotlight, with Italy showing up mostly to pour Prosecco at the door. The Champagne section punches above its weight — Nicolas Feuillatte, Billecart-Salmon, Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame, and Dom Pérignon 2013 all on the same list in Columbus, Georgia is genuinely surprising. Beyond bubbles, there are bright spots: Pascal Jolivet Sancerre 2024, Val de Mer Chablis 2024, Albert Bichot Hautes Côtes de Nuits 2019, and Turley Juvenile Zinfandel 2023 show real range for a restaurant this size. The red side leans heavily California — Caymus, Cakebread, Austin Hope — which feels safe for the clientele but doesn't push anyone to discover something new.
Twenty pours by the glass is a legitimate program, running from $12 for Val d'Oca Prosecco up to $40 for Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label — a range that actually gives you options at multiple price points. The Wednesday Social Hour at the bar (4:30–6 pm) cuts house wine prices in half, which is the most exciting sentence on their entire platform. We'd love to see the glass list rotate more aggressively, but for a fine dining spot in a mid-sized Southern city, this is doing real work.
Val d'Oca Prosecco DOC NV — $12/glass
At $12 a glass, this is the entry point that earns its keep — clean, food-friendly, and a smart opener before you commit to a bottle. The $60 bottle price is fair enough to make it an easy table wine for the full meal.
Albert Bichot Hautes Côtes de Nuits 2019
Most tables here will reach for the California reds on autopilot, which means this village-level Burgundy from a reliable négociant is flying under the radar. It's the kind of bottle that earns you quiet respect from anyone at the table who knows what they're looking at.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2022/2023 Napa Valley
At $400 a bottle, you're paying a steep premium for a wine that retails widely and loudly. Caymus is the Ugg boot of Napa Cab — everyone's had it, it's fine, and it costs twice what it should in this context. There are better Cabernet options on this list for less.
Pascal Jolivet Sancerre 2024 + Seasonal seafood entrée
Jolivet's Sancerre is laser-focused Loire Sauvignon Blanc — bright acidity, chalky mineral backbone, zero flab. Against whatever seafood Chef Jamie Keating is running seasonally, it cuts through richness and makes every bite cleaner. This is the move if you're not ordering steak.
Wednesday — Social Hour every Wednesday from 4:30–6 pm at the bar. Includes bar snacks, a weekly featured snack, half-price house wines, and craft cocktails.
The Bottom Line
Epic is doing more with wine than most restaurants its size in Columbus, and Wednesday half-price house wines make it worth a midweek detour on their own. The markups get aggressive at the top end and the list plays it safe with California heavyweights, but the bones are good and the Champagne section alone earns it a second look.
Midtown Columbus · Columbus · Seafood
Red Lobster 13th St. is not a wine destination — it's a seafood chain where wine exists because a menu has to have one. Order the Riesling with your lobster tail, enjoy the Cheddar Bay Biscuits, and make your peace with it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Riverwalk / Downtown Columbus · Columbus · American
Denim & Oak isn't going to make anyone's wine pilgrimage list, but for Columbus, Georgia, it's a legitimately decent place to drink — fair prices, a deep BTG program, and Wine Down Wednesday as a reason to come back. Just steer clear of the Concha y Toro and head straight for the Orin Swift or the Oregon section.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
North Columbus · Columbus · American Barbecue and Grill
Smokey Bones is a perfectly fine place to eat ribs and watch a game — just don't come here for the wine. Order a cold beer, save your wine budget for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Columbus / Whittlesey Boulevard · Columbus · Modern American
Ivory & Oak is a reliable wine stop in a city that isn't exactly crawling with serious lists — the room is great, the pours are familiar, and the markup is the main thing holding it back from something better. Go for the steak, order the Merlot, and don't expect to be challenged.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Airport / East Columbus · Columbus · Hotel Restaurant
If you're stuck at the DoubleTree and the flight is delayed, Houlihan's will keep you fed and adequately watered — but don't mistake that for a wine program worth seeking out. Order the Etude Pinot or the Malbec, skip the sangria, and manage your expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
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 · Bismarck · Upscale American Fine Dining
Pirogue Grille is doing the right things for Bismarck — a real wine list, proper glassware, and enough by-the-glass options to keep a table happy. The markups trend steep and the list plays it safe, but if you want a serious bottle with a serious steak in the middle of North Dakota, this is where you go.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Edmond (North Metro) · Oklahoma City · Upscale American Fine Dining
Signature Grill is a reliable date-night spot where the wine list won't embarrass you, but it won't excite you either. Stick to Jordan, skip the Caymus markup, and let the kitchen do the heavy lifting.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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