Ten Bottles, Zero Surprises, Plenty of Markup
· Tuscaloosa · New American / Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 2, 2026
RagingWine reviewed FIVE Tuscaloosa’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at FIVE Tuscaloosa is exactly ten bottles long — and not in a curated, intentional way. It reads like someone handed a liquor distributor rep a budget and said 'just pick something.' Every name on here is a brand you've seen at a grocery store endcap.
All ten bottles are available by the glass, which tells you this isn't really a wine program — it's a wine section of a cocktail bar. The list hits the obvious bases: a Riesling, a Pinot Grigio, a Sauv Blanc, a Chardonnay, a sparkling rosé, a Malbec, a Pinot Noir, a red blend, a Zinfandel, and a Cab. No Old World presence, no regional curiosity, nothing that would make a wine-focused diner choose this place deliberately. Producers like Bonanza (a Chuck Wagner volume play) and Freakshow exist to move units, not to inspire anyone.
Every bottle on the list is also available by the glass at $11–$13, which is at least convenient. But at $44–$52 per bottle, these are wines that retail for $10–$18 — meaning you're looking at roughly a 3x–4x markup across the board. Order one glass if you need to, but know what you're paying for.
The Crossings Sauvignon Blanc — $44
It's the most food-friendly white on the list — a clean, citrus-driven New Zealand Sauv Blanc that punches above the rest of this lineup. Still marked up, but it at least tastes like something.
Segura Sparkling Rosé
At a bar where everyone's ordering cocktails, the sparkling rosé is the most overlooked option. It's a crowd-friendly fizz that works in the bar format better than a heavy red ever will — and it stands out in a list that otherwise just lays flat.
Earthquake Zinfandel
At $52 a bottle (or $13 a glass), this is the priciest pour on the list and also the least interesting value proposition. High-alcohol Zinfandel in a bar setting where it's almost certainly not stored at ideal temp? Hard pass.
Elouan Pinot Noir + Burger
Without confirmed menu dishes available, a bar's burger is the safe bet — and Elouan's approachable Oregon Pinot Noir, lighter-bodied with soft fruit, is the one red on this list that won't overpower bar food.
The Bottom Line
FIVE Tuscaloosa is a bar that happens to sell wine, not a wine destination. If you're here for cocktails or beer, you're in the right place — but there's no reason to open the wine list.
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Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown · Tuscaloosa · Craft beer bar and taproom with growlers and packaged beer; limited bar snacks
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Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown · Tuscaloosa · Craft cocktail bar with small plates
Session Cocktails is a legitimately good bar that has no business being reviewed for its wine program — and it knows it. Order a Manhattan, enjoy the atmosphere, and leave the half-bottle of Josh for someone who doesn't know better.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Tuscaloosa · Steakhouse, American
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Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Tuscaloosa · Italian
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Tuscaloosa · Seafood, Steaks & Sushi
Chuck's Fish isn't a wine destination, but it's a genuinely solid list for a seafood and steak spot in downtown Tuscaloosa — fair prices, familiar names done right, and a Wednesday deal that's worth building a dinner around. Show up on a Wednesday, order a bottle off the half-price select list, and you'll leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
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FED is not a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — and within those expectations, it mostly delivers. Fair prices, an absurdly generous by-the-glass program, and enough familiar names to keep the table happy without anyone having to think too hard.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Aspen · New American / Bar
Ziggy's punches well above its bar-list weight class, and the pricing won't leave you feeling robbed the way Aspen usually does. It's not a destination wine program, but it's a genuinely good one hidden inside a place most people are going to for cocktails.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Humble Spirit is the kind of place that makes you annoyed you don't live in McMinnville — a real neighborhood bar with a wine list that would embarrass half the dedicated wine bars in Portland. If you're passing through wine country, this is a mandatory stop.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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