Peru Meets Patagonia, Jacksonville Doesn't Know Yet
St. Augustine Β· Jacksonville Β· Peruvian
Reviewed April 24, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You walk in expecting ceviche and pisco, and then someone hands you a 180-label wine list with Catena Zapata and Domaine Leroy on it. The visible wine storage room sets the tone immediately β this place takes wine seriously, and that's not something Jacksonville restaurants typically announce with that kind of confidence. It's a fun surprise.
The list leans hard into Argentina and Chile, which makes sense given the Peruvian steakhouse DNA β Malbec and beef are a logical marriage, and producers like Achaval Ferrer and Susana Balbo signal someone actually curated this rather than just calling a distributor. The Burgundy section is lean but deliberate, with Domaine Leroy showing up as the crown jewel for anyone willing to spend. Chile gets less love than Argentina but enough representation to keep things interesting. The one gap worth noting: if you want to stay in the Peruvian lane and explore South American whites beyond Torrontes, the list doesn't go very deep.
Fifteen pours by the glass is a generous program for a restaurant this size, ranging from $11 to $22 β and the Susana Balbo Torrontes is the sleeper hit of the bunch, a floral, high-altitude white that most tables will overlook in favor of something familiar. Rotation details aren't fully clear, but the range in pricing suggests there's real variety across styles and quality levels, not just a row of Cab and Chardonnay filler.
Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino 2020 β $95
Retails around $60, so a 58% markup is actually restrained by restaurant standards β and this is proper Mendoza Malbec from one of Argentina's benchmark producers, not a label-dressed grocery store bottle. Order it on a Wednesday after 8 PM and you're in serious steal territory.
Susana Balbo Torrontes
Everyone at the table is reaching for the Malbec and ignoring this entirely. Torrontes from Salta is one of the most food-friendly whites you can put next to ceviche or anything with citrus and heat β and Susana Balbo makes one of the cleaner, less perfume-bomb versions of the grape. It's the right call for the menu and most people will walk right past it.
Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Rouge 2019
At $220 on the list against a $150 retail, the markup is technically fair β but this is entry-level Leroy Bourgogne, not a village or premier cru. You're paying a Burgundy premium for a bottle that, however good, is still the producer's most basic red. Unless you're specifically on a Leroy kick, the money works harder elsewhere on this list.
Achaval Ferrer Malbec + Wagyu Anticucho
Wagyu on skewers with Peruvian spice rub needs a wine with enough dark fruit to match the richness and enough structure to cut through the fat β Achaval Ferrer brings both without being a bruiser. It's the most natural handshake on the menu.
Wednesday β Half-price on select bottles from the wine list after 8 PM.
π² The Bottom Line
A modern Peruvian steakhouse with a 180-bottle list anchored by serious Argentine producers and a Wednesday half-price program that makes it genuinely dangerous for your wallet β in the best way. Yes, send your friends here for wine.
Avondale Β· Jacksonville Β· French-American Bistro
Orsay is the kind of neighborhood restaurant Jacksonville doesn't have enough of β a French-leaning wine program with fair prices, real selections, and a room that earns a second visit. Send your wine-curious friends here without hesitation.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
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J. Alexander's Jacksonville is a place that takes its steaks seriously and its wine list as an afterthought. If you're here for a business dinner or a reliable wood-fired meal, you'll drink fine β just don't expect to be surprised, and try not to look too hard at the markup on the Kendall-Jackson.
Crowd Pleasers
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Jacksonville Beach Β· Jacksonville Β· Modern Japanese / Sushi
O-Ku Jacksonville Beach is a genuinely nice spot to drink well with sushi, especially if you lean into the sake program where the real effort has been made. The wine list is respectable but unremarkable β and markups across the board mean you'll want to choose your battles.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Restaurant Medure is the best wine list you're likely to encounter between Savannah and Orlando β serious producers, proper storage, a sommelier who knows the cellar, and glassware that respects what's in it. The markups are steep and the list plays it safe stylistically, but if you're celebrating something and want Bordeaux with your filet, this is the room.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Intracoastal West / Beach Blvd Β· Jacksonville Β· Contemporary American Seafood
Marker 32 is a beautiful room with a wine list that plays it completely safe β you won't drink badly, but you won't discover anything either. Send a friend here for the scallops and the Intracoastal view, and tell them to order the Chardonnay.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Riverside / Five Points Β· Jacksonville Β· Modern American / Southern-influenced
Black Sheep is exactly what a neighborhood restaurant wine list should be β fair prices, enough variety to reward curiosity, and no obvious embarrassments. We'd send a friend here for wine without hesitation, especially if they're sitting on that rooftop.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Fresno Β· Fresno Β· Peruvian
LimΓ³n isn't a wine destination, but it's not pretending to be one either β the list is lean, South American, and built to work with the food, which is more than most restaurants at this price point bother to do. Go for the Jalea and the Sauvignon Blanc, skip the Malbec autopilot, and enjoy the ride.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Smith Hill Β· Providence Β· Peruvian
Andino's has the bones of a wine program that could genuinely complement its food, but steep markups on accessible bottles and a static, play-it-safe list mean you're paying a premium for the ambiance, not the wine. Order a cocktail or brace for the Catena.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pearl District Β· Portland Β· Peruvian
Andina is the rare restaurant where the wine list actually reflects what's on the plate, and a sommelier on staff means you're not flying blind. The markups are real and worth knowing about, but the thematic coherence and Latin American focus make this a genuinely fun place to drink if you're eating Peruvian in Portland.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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