Small list, big personality, zero pretense
Inman Park Β· Atlanta Β· Wine bar / tapas Β· Visit Website β
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk Β· August 3, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Kevin Rathbun's Krog Barβs wine list and gave it The Wild Card β RagingWineβs Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists β
Take Vibe Match and weβll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
Seventeen bottles, all pourable by the glass β Krog Bar isn't trying to overwhelm you with options, it's trying to make sure you actually drink something good tonight. The list reads like someone sat down with a sharp palate and a budget and made deliberate choices. That alone puts it ahead of half the wine lists in Atlanta.
The list punches across all the right regions without spreading itself thin β you've got Italian depth (Lambrusco, Barbera, Montepulciano, Chianti Classico), a nod to the Pacific Northwest with the Illahe Pinot Noir and Willamette Valley Pinot Gris, and proper Old World anchors like the Chateau Les Glories Sancerre and ViΓ±a Alberdi Reserva Tempranillo. The sparkling section earns its keep with the underrated Treveri Brut Blanc de Blanc alongside a crowd-pleasing Montinore Prosecco. Gaps exist β there's no Burgundy, no Bordeaux, no serious Riesling β but the picks that are here feel intentional rather than lazy. For a tapas spot, this is exactly the kind of list you want: versatile, food-friendly, and not trying to be a wine encyclopedia.
Every single bottle on the list is available by the glass, which is the whole point here and we respect it fully. Prices run $12β$25, which is honest money for Atlanta, and the range covers enough ground that you can build a casual tasting flight without asking anyone's permission. Rotation appears slow β this looks like a set list rather than something that shifts with seasons β but the quality floor is high enough that you won't feel stuck.
ViΓ±a Alberdi Reserva Tempranillo β $14
La Rioja Alta's entry-level Reserva is a legitimately serious wine with real aging behind it β you're getting a producer that plays in the same sandbox as wines costing three times as much. At this price by the glass, it's the easiest call on the list.
Treveri Brut Blanc de Blanc
Washington State sparkling wine still gets eye-rolls from people who haven't tried it, and that's their loss. Treveri makes clean, precise bubbly from Columbia Valley and it consistently outperforms its price point. Most people reach for the Prosecco. Don't.
Hill Family Estate Chardonnay
Nothing wrong with it exactly, but in a list full of more interesting white options β Sancerre, Pinot Gris, Gavi β a California Chardonnay at the top of the price range is the safe, boring pick that makes us sad. You came here for tapas, not a Napa tasting room.
Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco + Charcuterie board
Fizzy, slightly tannic, bone dry Lambrusco against cured meats and aged cheeses is one of the great low-key food pairings in wine. It cuts fat, refreshes the palate, and costs you almost nothing. This is the move.
π² The Bottom Line
Krog Bar isn't trying to win awards for its wine program β it's trying to make sure you have a great glass while you eat well, and on that count it delivers consistently. Send your friends here, point them toward the Tempranillo or the Lambrusco, and stop overthinking it.
Downtown Atlanta Β· Atlanta Β· Sports Bar / American
Stats is a brewpub β drink the beer. But if you need a glass of wine while watching the game, the Whitehaven or the rosΓ© will get you through the night without embarrassing anyone. Just don't come here expecting the wine list to be the point.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Buckhead Β· Atlanta Β· Cocktail Lounge / Small Plates
The Garden Room isn't a wine destination, but it's a respectable place to drink if you know what to order. Come for the bubbles, the Boscarelli, or the Riesling β and manage your expectations on the markup.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Β· Atlanta Β· Hotel Restaurant / New American
This is a hotel wine list that knows it's a hotel wine list and isn't embarrassed about it. If you're eating here because your conference badge requires it, grab the Craggy Range and move on β but don't make a special trip.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Β· Atlanta Β· Bar & Restaurant
Bottle Rocket ATL isn't a wine destination and doesn't pretend to be β but $10β$15 a glass for Cupcake and Coppola is asking a lot of goodwill. Order the Casanova di Neri, appreciate the one good decision someone made, and don't expect more than that.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Β· Atlanta Β· Asian Fusion
Tenku Avenue gets the format right β all glass, no bottle minimums β but the list itself plays it too safe for a kitchen that presumably takes more risks than this. Go in knowing what you want, grab the Acrobat or the Blank Stare, and don't let anyone upsell you into the Belle Glos.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Β· Atlanta Β· Taiwanese / Asian
Lucky Star proves you don't need a long wine list to have a good one β just a clear point of view and the restraint to stick to it. If you eat here and skip the wine, you're doing it wrong.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.