Etch
Music City's Upscale Safe Bet for Wine
Downtown Nashville · Nashville · Contemporary American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 2, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
Etch's wine list reads like a downtown Nashville upscale restaurant playing it safe — crowd-pleasing regions, recognizable producers, nothing that would scare off a convention crowd. The list does the job without taking risks, which tracks for a place that needs to appeal to tourists and locals alike. You won't find any surprises here, but you won't get burned either.
Selection Deep Dive
The selection leans heavily on California and French standards with predictable representation from Napa, Sonoma, and Bordeaux. There's a workable Burgundy section with mid-tier producers and enough Italian coverage to handle pasta pairings, though nothing ventures into natural wine territory or obscure appellations. The list feels like it was built five years ago and hasn't evolved much since — functional but dated. Oregon Pinot Noir gets some shelf space, and there's a token nod to Spanish Tempranillo, but the overall vibe is "what corporate wine buyers think fine dining should look like."
By the Glass
By-the-glass options likely run around 8-12 pours, hitting the usual suspects — a Sancerre, a Napa Cab, maybe a Malbec for the steak crowd. The pours rotate seasonally at best, and staff knowledge varies wildly depending on who's working that night. Expect standard 6-ounce pours at downtown Nashville pricing, which means you're paying $14-18 for wines that retail around $20-25.
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie Bourgueil — $52
Loire Cabernet Franc that drinks above its price point with enough structure for red meat but won't drain your wallet like the Napa section
Pico Cuadro Mencía
If they've got Spanish reds beyond Rioja, this Bierzo producer offers savory complexity that most people overlook in favor of Tempranillo
Rombauer Chardonnay
Probably marked up to $80+ for a wine that's $35 retail and tastes like butter and oak had a baby in a vanilla factory
J. Lohr Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon + Dry-Aged Ribeye
Paso Robles Cab with enough tannic grip to stand up to char and fat without the Napa price tag — straightforward pairing that works
✔️ The Bottom Line
Etch delivers a competent wine program that won't wow you but won't disappoint your out-of-town client either. It's the reliable choice when you need wine to be present but not the star of the show — just expect to pay downtown Nashville premiums for the privilege.
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