California Muscle Meets Knoxville's Best Table
Downtown Knoxville · Knoxville · Seasonal, Southern American · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 24, 2026
RagingWine reviewed J.C. Holdway’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
You're not expecting a California-focused wine list this serious in downtown Knoxville, and that's exactly the point. J.C. Holdway opens with a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence on the wall and a sommelier named Andrew Woodland who clearly did the homework. The list lands somewhere between focused and ambitious — not trying to be everything, but confident in what it is.
The backbone here is California, and it's a California worth drinking — Ridge Vineyards, Kistler, Shafer, Stag's Leap, Duckhorn, Jordan, Cakebread. These aren't random grocery-store pours; they're names that belong on serious lists. The 150-250 bottle range gives Andrew enough room to build some depth without the list becoming unwieldy, and the California-first approach feels intentional rather than lazy. That said, if you came looking for Burgundy rabbit holes or natural wine detours, you'll need to adjust expectations — this list plants its flag and stays there.
Twelve to twenty options by the glass is a genuinely solid BTG program for a mid-size restaurant, especially in a market where four or five pours is still the norm. Pricing runs $12–$18, which sits in reasonable territory for the caliber of producers on the bottle list. We'd love to see more rotation signaling, but what's here gives you real options across a meal.
Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $45-$65 (bottle estimate)
Jordan consistently punches above its price point — structured, food-friendly, and made for a table like this. Given the wood-grilled proteins on the menu, it's the most honest bottle on the list for the money.
Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel
Most people walk past Ridge when they see Kistler and Shafer on the same list, which is a mistake. Ridge makes some of the most food-honest, terroir-driven California reds in existence, and with a seasonal Southern menu built around fire and char, this is quietly the most interesting match in the room.
Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay
Cakebread is a perfectly fine wine, but at restaurant markup it's paying for a brand name that's been on every hotel banquet list for twenty years. With Kistler on the same menu, there's no reason to go here.
Kistler Vineyards Chardonnay + Local Trout
Kistler's Chardonnay brings enough richness and structure to stand next to the wood-fired preparation without flattening the fish. It's the rare California Chardonnay that earns its place at a serious seafood course rather than just overwhelming it.
🎲 The Bottom Line
J.C. Holdway is the kind of restaurant that makes you reconsider what you expect from Knoxville — the food is serious, Andrew Woodland's California-focused list backs it up, and the whole thing feels like a grown-up dinner out. Send a friend here for wine without hesitation.
West Knoxville / Turkey Creek · Knoxville · Steakhouse & American Grill
Firebirds is a reliable wine stop for a chain steakhouse — the list is familiar and priced a touch high, but the selections are legitimate and the glass program is better than most competitors. Send a friend here if they want a dependable Napa Cab with a steak; don't send them if they're looking for anything off the beaten path.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Knoxville · Bistro / Wine Bar
CRU is the kind of wine bar that earns its regulars — a big-enough list, fair enough prices, and a Sunday deal that's worth planning your week around. It won't blow the minds of serious collectors, but for a downtown Knoxville wine night, it does exactly what it promises.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Turkey Creek · Knoxville · Bistro / Wine Bar
CRU Turkey Creek is the best wine option in a neighborhood that wasn't exactly drowning in them. It's not going to challenge your assumptions about wine, but it will reliably pour you something decent in a comfortable room — and that's worth something.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
North Knoxville / Fountain City · Knoxville · Steakhouse / American
The Chop House North Knoxville is a dependable, if unadventurous, wine stop — the list serves the steakhouse mission well without ever getting interesting. If you're in the neighborhood and want a solid Cab with a good steak, you won't go home unhappy, just don't come looking for discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Knoxville / Cedar Bluff · Knoxville · Steakhouse / American
The Chop House West Knoxville is a dependable wine stop for steakhouse night — nothing adventurous, nothing offensive, and the California red lineup covers the bases. Just don't expect a deal on the markup, and skip the Meiomi.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Knoxville · Pan-Latin with Asian Influence
Vida isn't trying to be a wine bar, but its Latin-focused list is more thoughtful and specific than most dedicated wine programs in Knoxville. If you're eating here, skip the safe call and lean into something you've never tried — that's the whole point.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.