Historic Arcade, Predictable Pours
Downtown · Asheville · Wine Bar · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · February 21, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Grove Arcade Wine Bars’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The Grove Arcade itself is stunning—a 1929 landmark with that old Asheville charm. But the wine program feels like it's playing it safe for tourists passing through. The list leans heavily on recognizable labels at prices that make you think twice.
What we're seeing here is a greatest-hits collection: California Cabs, a Willamette Pinot, some Malbec, maybe a Sancerre if you're lucky. It's the kind of list built for people who want something familiar after a day of shopping craft goods in the arcade. There's minimal regional diversity—no deep cuts from Spain, no Jura, no skin-contact anything. It does the job, but it doesn't take risks. For a town like Asheville with its adventurous food scene, this feels like a missed opportunity.
The glass program runs about 8-10 selections, rotating seasonally but not frequently. You'll find a Spanish Albariño, a Russian River Chardonnay, maybe a Côtes du Rhône for reds. Nothing offensive, nothing exciting. Pours are standard 5oz, prices hover around $12-16, which tracks for the arcade's foot traffic model.
Domaine Tournon 'Mathilde' Crozes-Hermitage — $48
Northern Rhône Syrah that drinks above its weight class—peppery, structured, and fairly priced for what it is
Tramin Gewürztraminer Alto Adige
Most people skip Gewürz thinking it's too sweet, but this Alpine version is dry, floral, and perfect with the arcade's charcuterie boards
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
At $120+ on this list, it's a 3x markup for a wine you can find at every steakhouse—spend that money elsewhere
Montinore Pinot Noir Willamette Valley + Charcuterie & Cheese Board
Oregon Pinot's bright acidity and red fruit cut through rich cured meats while playing nice with aged cheddar
The Bottom Line
Grove Arcade Wine Bars gets the job done if you're already in the building, but it's not a wine destination. Fair for a casual glass, steep for anything serious.
Downtown Asheville · Asheville · Farm to Table
The Blackbird is doing wine right in a town that's more known for craft beer — there's a real sommelier (Sarah Reder) behind this list and it shows. Send your wine-curious friends here without hesitation.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Asheville · Asheville · American
Vue 1913 is a reliable wine destination for guests who know what they like and want to drink it with a jaw-dropping view — just don't expect the list to push you anywhere new. Send your California Cab-loving friends here without hesitation; send your natural wine friends somewhere else.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Grove Park · Asheville · Regional
Sunset Terrace isn't a wine destination — it's a destination where wine happens to be available and handled competently. Come for the mountains and the steak, order the Ridge or the Sonoma-Cutrer, and enjoy the fact that at least nobody's pouring you something terrible.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
West Asheville · Asheville · American, Farm to Table
Jargon is doing something real with wine in a neighborhood that doesn't demand it, and that's exactly why it deserves your attention. Send a friend here — just tell them to skip the Napa Cab and ask about the Minervois.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Asheville · Asheville · American
The Dining Room is genuinely worth the trip, and not just because of the mansion backdrop — the sommelier team is real, the cellar is serious, and Wednesday half-price wine night turns a splurge into a steal. Markups on the prestige bottles are steep, but the overall program earns its Best of Award of Excellence.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Asheville · Asheville · Middle Eastern
Jerusalem Garden Cafe does Middle Eastern food well, but the wine program is non-existent. Stick to the Turkish coffee or mint tea and save your wine budget for literally anywhere else in Asheville.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Red Flag
MIA
Set & Forget
Hot Mess
· Healdsburg · Wine Bar
Maison is what happens when someone builds a wine bar list with genuine curiosity instead of a regional checklist — you're in the heart of Sonoma Wine Country and the list keeps pointing you toward Mosel Riesling, Douro whites, and 1934 Madeira. The by-the-glass program alone justifies a visit, and the pricing is fair enough that you can explore without flinching. If you're in Healdsburg and you actually care about wine, this is the stop.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Old Mill District · Bend · Wine Bar
For a Va Piano visit in Bend, head to the Wine & Champagne Bar at 425 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 301. Confirm the current wines and pour prices directly, and reserve ahead for groups of six or more. The winery’s subscription page is not a tasting-room menu.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Helena · Wine Bar
The Hawthorn is exactly the kind of place that makes a mid-sized Montana city worth lingering in — a down-to-earth wine spot with a real point of view, solid food pairings like charcuterie boards and cheese plates, and staff that actually seems to give a damn. We'd send any friend here without hesitation, especially if they're in the mood to explore something Italian or old world without being lectured about it.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
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