Historic Digs, Honest Pours, No Fuss
Downtown Franklin · Franklin · American gastropub / Southern-influenced · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 12, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Gray's on Main’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Gray's, the wine list isn't the reason you came — the live music and century-old bones of the building are — but it holds its own without embarrassing itself. Sixteen labels, all available by the glass, which tells you exactly what kind of operation this is: approachable, low-friction, designed for a crowd that wants something decent in hand without a lot of deliberation. That's not a knock. Most downtown Franklin nights call for exactly that.
The list reads like a greatest-hits tour of safe international bets — Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Chardonnay, Willamette Pinot Noir, Argentine red blend. It covers the bases without venturing anywhere near the edges. There are some genuinely good producers tucked in here: Mar De Frades is a serious Albariño label out of Galicia, and Greenwing's Willamette Pinot Noir punches above what you'd expect at this price point. The gaps are real — no sparkling to speak of, no dessert wines, and the red side of the list is thin — but for a gastropub with live music on weeknights, this is a list that does its job.
Every bottle on the list is also available by the glass, which we respect — no locked-away bottles you can only get if you commit to the whole thing. The happy hour pricing on Dark Horse Cab at $6 and Casal Garcia Vinho Verde at $8 (Tuesday through Thursday, 3–6 p.m.) is where the real value lives if you're timing your visit right. Outside of happy hour, glass pours run $13–$16, which is honest for this market.
Mar De Frades Albariño — $13
Mar De Frades is a proper, estate-grown Galician Albariño — the kind of bottle that retails for $18–$22 and shows up on serious wine bar lists. Getting it by the glass at the low end of Gray's pricing feels like a minor score.
Kate Arnold Riesling
Washington State Riesling is chronically underordered at restaurants, and this one is no exception. Most people skip past it for the Sauv Blanc without a second glance. That's a mistake — Columbia Valley Riesling at this price point is one of the better deals in American white wine, and it's a natural fit for anything spiced or smoky on the menu.
Levendi Chardonnay
Napa Chardonnay at a downtown gastropub is almost always the worst value proposition on the list, and this is no exception. You're paying top dollar for the appellation name, not the experience. The Albariño or the Riesling will run you less and drink more interestingly.
Greenwing Pinot Noir + Fried Chicken
Willamette Pinot Noir and fried chicken is an underrated pairing — the wine's bright acidity and red fruit cut right through the richness of the crust without steamrolling the dish. Greenwing is light enough to let the food do the talking, which is exactly what you want here.
Tuesday–Thursday — Happy hour runs Tuesday through Thursday from 3–6 p.m. with $6 glasses of Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon and $8 glasses of Casal Garcia Vinho Verde. A Wednesday 'Wine Down' event is also promoted, but specific discounts were not confirmed in available sources.
The Bottom Line
Gray's on Main isn't a wine destination, but it's a perfectly decent place to drink wine — fair prices, a few genuinely good producers hiding in a short list, and a happy hour that rewards the early crowd. Send your friends here for a good night out; just make sure they know to ask for the Albariño.
· Franklin · Steakhouse
Char is a genuinely enjoyable steakhouse with a wine list that does the job without doing much more. The room earns its keep; the wine program is still a passenger rather than a co-pilot. If you're coming here for the Prime beef and the atmosphere, you'll eat well — just don't expect the list to take you anywhere the food isn't already going. Worth a visit, but bring your own expectations in check at the wine menu.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Franklin · Asian Street Food
Hawkers Franklin is doing more with twelve bottles than most casual chains do with thirty. The white-heavy, aromatic-leaning list is clearly built with the food in mind — even if it was done at the corporate level rather than by someone in this specific kitchen. If you're eating here, lean into the Gamay or Vinho Verde and skip the impulse to order Cab. It won't change your life, but it'll make dinner better.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Franklin · Seafood
If you're here for wine, you're at the wrong restaurant — but the pricing is honest and the Sauvignon Blanc won't ruin your dinner. Order a cocktail and save your wine energy for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Franklin · Italian
This is a chain wine list doing exactly what chain wine lists do — keeping it safe, keeping it recognizable, and marking it up just enough to pad margins. Drink here because you're having dinner, not because you're having wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Franklin · Franklin · Hotel Restaurant / Southern
1799 is a solid option when you're already staying at The Harpeth or dining for the atmosphere — the Southern food looks genuinely good and the room earns its upscale-casual reputation. But if wine is your reason for going out, Franklin has better options; this list is there to serve the food, not the other way around.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Franklin · Italian
Pelato Franklin isn't going to make wine pilgrims drive down from Nashville, but it's doing more than the Italian-suburban average — an orange wine, some solid regional Italian whites, and a few California names that earn their spot. Come for the food, stay curious about the list.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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