Chef-driven cooking with a wine list TBD
Davidson · Charlotte · Contemporary American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 3, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Kindred’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Kindred matches the vibe of the room — thoughtful, refined, not trying too hard. It's the kind of place where the staff knows what they're doing, which means the wine program likely gets the same care as the Chicken Saltimbocca. We wish we had more intel on the actual bottles, but the overall polish here suggests they're not phoning it in.
Given the chef-driven focus and the price point ($20-$30 entrées), we'd expect a list that leans Old World with some smart domestic picks — probably a few Burgundies and Northern Rhônes, some Italian reds to complement the lasagne, and a handful of West Coast Pinots and Chardonnays for the locals. The list probably isn't massive, but it's likely edited with intention. A restaurant this buttoned-up doesn't do grocery store wine. We're betting on 40-60 bottles with a few deeper selections for the collectors who make the drive from Charlotte.
No hard data here, but if the staff is as well-trained as reported, the glass pours are probably rotated seasonally and chosen to pair with the menu. Expect 6-10 options leaning toward food-friendly classics — maybe a Sancerre, a Spanish Garnacha, an Oregon Pinot. The kind of list where you can order blind and trust you'll get something solid.
2021 Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine — $42
Mineral-driven Loire white that'll cut through the richness of that Port Wine Mushroom Sauce without breaking the bank
2020 Produttori del Barbaresco Nebbiolo Langhe
Baby Barolo energy at half the price — structured enough for beef, elegant enough for the room
Generic Napa Cabernet over $80
If they're charging Charlotte steakhouse prices for a big Cab in Davidson, you're paying for the drive, not the wine
2019 Château de Pibarnon Bandol Rouge + Kindred Lasagne
Provençal Mourvèdre-based red with earthy structure and Mediterranean herb notes that'll make the tomato sauce sing
The Bottom Line
Kindred feels like the kind of place that sweats the details, which bodes well for the wine program even if we don't have the full picture. Worth the drive for dinner, and we're confident you'll drink well when you get there.
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Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
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STK Charlotte is a party venue with a wine list to match — familiar, expensive, and built for people who order by brand recognition. If you're serious about what's in your glass, you'll be working against the room all night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ballantyne · Charlotte · American, Californian
Juniper Grill is a reliable, California-focused wine list that earns its Wine Spectator nod — just don't come looking for adventure. If you want a great Napa Cab with your short ribs in a comfortable room, this is your spot.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Charlotte · Charlotte · American
Caroline's isn't trying to be a wine destination — it's an oyster bar with California ambitions and prices that don't punish you for ordering well. Wednesday half-price wine night alone is worth putting in your rotation.
Plays It Safe
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Plaza Midwood · Charlotte · Southern American, Steakhouse
Supperland is a genuinely wild place to drink wine — stained glass overhead, a cast iron skillet on the table, and a bottle of Tignanello on the list. The markups aren't generous and no sommelier is guiding you, but if you know what you're looking for, this Wine Spectator-recognized list delivers for a Southern steakhouse in a church.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
South End · Charlotte · Italian, Steakhouse
Dean's is a dependable upscale steakhouse wine list that does exactly what it promises — California and Italy, done well, at prices that sting a little but don't embarrass anyone. Send a friend here if they want a proper Barolo with their ribeye; skip it if they're hunting for value or adventure.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Sandy Springs · Sandy Springs · Contemporary American
Atlas runs one of the most ambitious by-the-glass programs in the Atlanta metro — 48 options with genuine depth, from grower Champagne to Sicilian Nerello to serious Burgundy. The markup is real and the pricing at the top end gets aggressive, but there are legitimate values buried in the list for anyone willing to look past the Dom Pérignon. If you care about wine and find yourself in Sandy Springs, this is where you go.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Taos · Contemporary American
NOSA is doing something genuinely rare: curating a short, smart, globally curious wine list in a place where no one would expect it. The pricing is fair, the picks are specific, and the list has a clear point of view. If you're driving through Taos and care about what's in your glass, this is the room to be in.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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Markup
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Specials & Deals
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