California-forward comfort in downtown Memphis
Downtown Memphis · Memphis · American · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 24, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar’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 name tells you everything: this place is built around the experience of tasting, not just drinking. The wine list lands with a confident California lean — familiar names, solid producers, and a price range that won't make you do the math twice before ordering.
Flight leans hard into California, and they know it — Caymus, Jordan, Stag's Leap, Duckhorn, Rombauer, Cakebread, Ridge. It's a Greatest Hits of the West Coast, which works perfectly for a Memphis crowd that wants something trustworthy and approachable. What you won't find is a lot of adventure: Old World exploration is minimal, and if you're hunting for a Cru Beaujolais or a Sicilian Nero d'Avola, you're in the wrong room. That said, Virginia Whitsitt holding down the sommelier role gives the list credibility — this isn't a neglected afterthought, it's a deliberate, if conservative, curation backed by a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence they've held since 2010.
Twenty to thirty options by the glass is genuinely impressive for Memphis, and the $10–$18 range keeps things accessible without dipping into plonk territory. The tasting-format menu concept practically demands a by-the-glass program this deep — you're encouraged to move through courses and wines together, which is the whole point of coming here.
Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay — $18/glass
Russian River Ranches is a serious vineyard-designate Chardonnay that usually commands premium bottle prices elsewhere. Getting it by the glass at Flight puts real wine quality within reach without committing to a full bottle.
Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel
Most tables at Flight are going straight for the Caymus or the Jordan. Ridge gets overlooked, which is a shame — it's the most interesting bottle on the California red side of the list, with actual complexity and history behind it. Skip the crowd pleasers and go here.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is everywhere, and it's priced like it knows that. You're paying for the label recognition at this point. With Jordan and Stag's Leap on the same list, there are better Napa Cabs to put your money toward.
Duckhorn Merlot + Seared duck breast
Duck with Duckhorn isn't a gimmick — it actually works. The wine's plum and dark cherry profile echoes the richness of the seared duck without bulldozing it, and the soft tannins don't fight the fat. Order it and feel smart about it.
The Bottom Line
Flight is the most wine-serious restaurant in downtown Memphis, and it earns that title without being stuffy about it. If you want California confidence with a sommelier who actually knows the list, this is your spot.
Midtown · Memphis · Steak House
Porch and Parlor is a reliable Southern steakhouse wine list that plays to its crowd — if you love California Cabernet with your dry-aged beef, you're in the right place. It won't challenge you, but it'll take care of you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Memphis · Memphis · American, French
Chez Philippe is the wine list of a well-run fine dining institution that has been doing this right for 30 years — not a revelation, but reliably good and properly stored in a room that knows how to use it. Send a friend here if they want California Cab with a French menu inside one of Memphis's great hotels; don't send them if they're looking for anything off the beaten path.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Memphis · Memphis · Steak House
Char is a dependable, well-executed steakhouse wine list that earned its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence by doing the classics right — but it's not trying to surprise you, and it won't. Send a friend here for a special occasion Cab and a steak; just don't expect the list to spark any new obsessions.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Cooper-Young · Memphis · Italian
Bari is the kind of Italian wine program Memphis deserves more of — specific, serious, and fairly priced for what you're getting. If you're anywhere near Cooper-Young and want to drink real Italian wine with real Italian food, this is the move.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Unknown · Memphis · Bistro
Hu. Bistro isn't trying to be a wine destination, but its by-the-glass list is priced fairly and built with more care than you'd expect from a hotel rooftop. If you're in Memphis and want a decent glass without getting gouged for the privilege, this works.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · Memphis · New American
The Beauty Shop is a Wild Card in the best possible way — a funky, retro-cool restaurant with a wine list that has no business being this thoughtful. Markups keep it from greatness, but the glass pour selection and genuine regional variety make it worth ordering a bottle or three.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · American
Cheddar's is a casual comfort-food chain, and the wine list reflects exactly that level of ambition — none. Order a beer or a cocktail and save the wine conversation for somewhere that wants to have it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Union Square · San Francisco · American
The Rotunda is a lunch experience first and a wine destination a distant second — the list is safe, the markup is real, and you're largely paying for the address and the atmosphere. Come for the crab salad and the occasion, order something bubbly, and don't go in expecting a serious wine program.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Eagle Ranch · Vail · American
The Wild Sage is your dependable neighborhood spot in Eagle Ranch — the wine list won't blow your mind, but it won't embarrass you at dinner either. Watch the markups on the top-shelf Napa bottles and stick to the mid-range, and you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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