An 11-Page Wine List, a Secret Book, and Century-Old Fortified Wines
Poncey-Highland · Atlanta · Wine Bar / New American · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed February 10, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Madeira Park’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Madeira Park is the wine bar Atlanta has needed for years, brought by Miller Union's James Beard-winning chef Steven Satterfield and wine expert Tim Willard. Sommelier and GM Jade Palmer curates an ever-evolving 11-page wine list spanning familiar favorites, boundary-pushing natural wines, and collector-level bottles. The secret weapon: ask for "the book," an off-menu handwritten list of limited-run and rare wines that Palmer keeps behind the bar. Fortified wine lovers will find a deep selection of vermouth, sherry, port, and Madeira, including century-old bottled-aged Sercial and Terrantez dating back to 1899. Wines by the half-glass encourage exploration without commitment.
The vibe is high-energy and casual. This is not fine dining. But the wine program is extraordinary. Entrees like gnocchi and poulet rouge run mid-range, making it easy to spend wisely on food and splurge on the pour. The Poncey-Highland location on North Highland Ave puts it in one of Atlanta's most walkable neighborhoods.
Ask for the book. Not the menu. The book. That handwritten list of limited-run and rare wines is why Madeira Park is a Rager and not just another wine bar. Start with a half-glass of something you have never heard of, then let Jade Palmer guide you deeper. The fortified wine collection alone makes this a destination for serious wine people.
The Bottom Line
Madeira Park is the most exciting wine program in Atlanta right now. An 11-page list, a secret rare-wine book, century-old fortified wines, and a James Beard-winning team behind it. This is not just a wine bar. This is a wine destination.
Brookhaven · Atlanta · New American/Southern
Roc South is a genuinely fun restaurant — the food sounds great and the vibe is undeniable — but the wine program doesn't give us enough to work with or get excited about. Until there's a verifiable list with real producers and fair pricing, let the bartender guide your evening instead.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · New American/Southern
Park 82 has a wine list in the same way a gas station has a wine selection — technically present, practically limiting. If you're a Pinot Noir devotee who doesn't mind paying restaurant markup for bottles you've seen at Kroger, you'll survive. Everyone else should probably lead with cocktails and ask what's on tap.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Asian
Tabla's wine list punches above its weight for an Asian restaurant in Atlanta. The white-heavy, aromatic-focused selection makes genuine sense with the food, pricing at the entry level is fair, and the BTG depth is real. We'd send a friend here for wine without hesitation — just order the Grüner first.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Other
MCK isn't trying to be a wine destination — it's a bar and restaurant with a list built for toasting and crowd comfort. The sparkling program punches above the list's weight, the by-the-glass selection is generous, and the markups on still wines are steep but not outrageous. Send a friend here if they want Champagne and something easy to sip; send them somewhere else if they're chasing a wine experience.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Gastropub/Tavern
Blue Moon Brewery & Grill is a beer bar first, second, and third — the wine list exists so your friend who doesn't drink beer doesn't feel stranded. If that's the situation, the Cava at $9 or the Elouan Rosé at $10 are perfectly fine. But if wine is the reason you're going out, go somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Thai
Pink Lotus has built a wine list that takes its cues from the food — acid-forward, bubbles-heavy, and genuinely curious — which is more than most Thai spots in town bother to do. Markups are fair, the by-the-glass selection is wide, and there are real finds here if you look past the Dom Pérignon showpiece bottles at the top. If you're eating Thai in Atlanta and you want something interesting in your glass, this list deserves your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Avalon · Johns Creek · Wine Bar / New American
CRÚ is doing something right in the sparkling department — a Champagne and bubbly selection this broad is rare in Johns Creek, and it earns the place real credit. The markups run steep across the board and the still wine list plays it very safe, but if you're meeting friends for a bottle of bubbles before dinner, this is a legitimate destination. Go in with the sparkling list in mind and you'll leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bridgeport · Wine Bar / New American
Scena has the bones of a genuinely good wine bar — a focused regional philosophy, a room that respects wine as a centerpiece, and a kitchen sending out dishes that should pair well with what's in those displays. The catch is the pricing sits at the high end for Fairfield County, and without a transparent, accessible wine list, you're leaning on the staff to guide you. Go with curiosity, ask a lot of questions, and don't be afraid to push back if a recommendation feels like an upsell.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Sedona · Wine Bar / New American
Vino Di Sedona earns the Wild Card badge by doing what few tourist-destination wine bars bother to do: stocking skin-contact pours, Arizona locals, and genuinely interesting worldly whites at prices that don't punish you for being in a scenery hotspot. If you're in Sedona and want a real glass of wine — not just something red in a big glass — this is the move.
Surprising Depth
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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