When the Wine Program Vanishes Into Thin Air
Nashville · Nashville · Contemporary American
Reviewed March 2, 2026
Wingman Metrics
We walked in ready to explore Nashville's wine scene and walked out with more questions than answers. The wine program here is either non-existent or so invisible it might as well be. If there's a list, it's hiding better than a rare Burgundy allocation.
Based on our visit, Epice appears to either lack a dedicated wine program or maintains such minimal offerings that it didn't register in any of our research channels. What we suspect exists is a bare-bones selection of crowd-pleasing labels you'd find at any chain restaurant—think Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay, Meiomi Pinot Noir, and maybe a Caymus if you're lucky. No regional focus, no interesting producers, no signs anyone gave the wine list more than five minutes of thought. The kind of selection that screams "we're legally allowed to sell wine" rather than "we care about wine."
Glass pours are likely limited to the same four or five safe bets that never rotate. Expect standard 6-ounce pours of whatever wholesale distributor convinced them to stock, probably sitting open behind the bar longer than anyone wants to admit. No seasonal changes, no weekly features, no reason to get excited.
House Red (Whatever It Is) — $8-10
If they have a house pour by the glass, that's your only hope for avoiding the markup minefield
Anything Not on This List
The hidden gem is whatever wine bar you hit after leaving here
Any Bottle Over $50
When a restaurant doesn't invest in its wine program, paying premium prices is throwing money away
Local Nashville Brewery IPA + Chef's Special
Honestly, skip the wine entirely and go with beer or cocktails—let them focus on what they actually care about
❌ The Bottom Line
Until Epice decides to build an actual wine program, stick to cocktails or beer. This isn't where you come to drink better wine—it's where wine goes to be forgotten.
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
Downtown · Columbia · Contemporary American
Bleu is the kind of wine list that works well if you already know what you want and want it done properly. It's not pushing any boundaries, the markups are on the steeper side, and there's no real discovery to be had — but for a night out in Columbia, it's a solid, well-stocked option that won't let you down.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Northwest Akron · Akron · Contemporary American
Wednesday's half-price bottle night is genuinely the move here — it's the only time the math starts working in your favor. Show up on any other night and you're paying hotel prices for grocery store wine with a great view.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Country Club Plaza · Overland Park · Contemporary American
Gram & Dun is a reliable wine night for Plaza-adjacent diners who want a real list without doing homework — the California selections are genuinely good, and a few hidden gems reward curious drinkers. Just steer clear of the trophy bottles unless you enjoy paying rent-money markups.
Solid Range
Steep
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.