Nashville Staple Where Wine Takes the Backseat
Nashville · Nashville · American
Reviewed March 2, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Josephine's wine list reads like an afterthought — the kind of list assembled from a distributor's safe-bet catalog rather than anyone's passion project. It's functional, not memorable, with the usual suspects lined up in predictable formation.
The selection leans heavily on crowd-pleasers: California Cabs, predictable Pinot Grigios, and a token Malbec. There's minimal regional exploration beyond the greatest hits, and the pricing reflects the Nashville dining scene's ongoing markup creep. We're guessing you'll find a Josh Cellars, maybe a Bread & Butter Chardonnay, and if you're lucky, a respectably priced Côtes du Rhône hiding in the reds. Nothing offensively bad, but nothing that makes you want to order a second bottle either.
By-the-glass pours likely stick to the safety zone — a house white, a house red, maybe four to six total options that rotate about as often as the restaurant changes its oil. Expect standard 6-ounce pours in all-purpose stems or stemless tumblers, competently served but without much ceremony or knowledge behind the pour.
E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône — $42
If they've got this workhorse red on the list, it's your safest bet — crowd-pleasing Grenache blend that won't break the bank
Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages
Most Nashville diners overlook Beaujolais, but if it's hiding on this list, it's your fruit-forward, food-friendly escape from overpriced Cabs
Any California Pinot Noir over $60
Unless it's from a specific producer you recognize, you're paying Nashville markup on wholesale mediocrity
Domaine Chandon Brut + Fried Chicken (if available)
Sparkling wine cuts through fried food like nothing else, and Chandon offers Champagne's refreshment at California's price point
✔️ The Bottom Line
Josephine is the kind of place where you're better off ordering a cocktail or a beer unless you spot something specific you know and trust. Not broken, just uninspired.
Downtown Nashville · Nashville · American, French
Gannons is a reliable, well-curated wine destination dressed in hotel restaurant clothing — the sommelier team knows the list, the glass pour selection is strong, and the Italian and French highlights give it more personality than the Napa-heavy surface suggests. The markups lean steep, but the execution earns its Wine Spectator badge. We'd send a friend here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Nashville · Nashville · Southern American, Steakhouse
Deacon's won't expand your wine horizons, but if California Cabernet with your steak is the plan — and in Nashville, it often is — Andrew Lizardo's program delivers with confidence. The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence is earned, even if the list plays it safe.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
West End · Nashville · Seafood
Halls Catch is the right call for a Nashville seafood dinner when you want a wine list that won't embarrass you — just don't come looking for adventure outside the California zip codes. Send a friend here if they love Napa and know what they're ordering; send them somewhere else if they want to explore.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Green Hills · Nashville · Seafood, Steakhouse
Char is a dependable, well-executed steakhouse wine list that's built for crowd-pleasing, not adventuring — if California Cabernet is your comfort zone, you'll be happy here. Send a friend who wants a reliable pour with a prime cut; don't send the friend who just got back from a natural wine bar in Copenhagen.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Nashville · Nashville · Italian
Yolan is the best wine program in Nashville and it's not particularly close — the depth, the producers, the staff, and the setting all show up at the same time. Yes, the markups sting, but you're not here to find a bargain; you're here to drink Barolo properly.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
The Gulch · Nashville · American Seafood
Marsh House is carrying one of the most serious French-focused wine programs in Nashville, full stop — and the seafood menu is built like it was designed around the list. The markups sting and the staff isn't yet at the level of the cellar, but the bones here are exceptional enough to send anyone who cares about wine.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Golden Triangle Area · Denton · American
Cheddar's wine program exists to check a box, not to serve you well. Order a cocktail or a beer — they've actually put thought into those — and save the wine for a restaurant that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Golden Triangle Area · Denton · American
BJ's Denton is a beer hall that happens to stock wine, and the list makes that priority crystal clear. If you must drink wine here, come on a Tuesday — Half Off Wine Tuesday is the one thing this program does that actually earns a tip of the glass.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Southridge / Town Center Trail · Denton · American
Houlihan's Denton is not a wine destination, and it has no interest in being one. The one genuine reason to order wine here is Tuesday — half-price bottles all day is a deal worth setting a calendar reminder for, especially if you're grabbing the Portillo or the Bloodroot.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
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.