Three Bottles Do Not a Wine List Make
· Columbia · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed October 21, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Motor Supply Co. Bistro’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Motor Supply Co. Bistro is, in the most literal sense, a list — three wines, full stop. For a New American bistro in Columbia with real culinary ambition, that number is startling in the worst way. It reads less like a curated selection and more like someone grabbed what was on sale.
What we have: a Burgundy in Domaine Vincent Pommard Les Vignots, a Bordeaux in Chateau Simart Saint-Emilion, and a southern French red from the Corbieres Montagne Jurassic. There's a loose old-world thread here — France, France, and more France — but three bottles isn't a wine program, it's a footnote. No whites, no rosé, no sparkle, no half-bottles — nothing that suggests anyone is really thinking about the wine drinker at the table. The Corbieres is at least an interesting left-field choice for a restaurant wine list, but interesting alone doesn't cover the gaps.
We have no data on by-the-glass pours here, and with only three bottles on the list, it's hard to imagine a meaningful glass program exists. If you're looking for flexibility — a white before dinner, a glass of something bubbly — you're likely out of luck.
The Bottom Line
Motor Supply Co. Bistro appears to put its energy into the kitchen, and that may be the right call — but three wines is not a wine program. Until this list gets a serious rethink, order a cocktail or call ahead to ask about corkage.
· Columbia · New American Seafood
Cola's is a reliable neighborhood anchor with a wine list that plays it safe — approachable for most guests, but unlikely to surprise anyone paying close attention. If you're in Columbia for the food (and the food sounds genuinely good), drink what sounds familiar and don't overthink it; just don't come expecting the wine list to be the main event.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Columbia · New American / Southern
Terra keeps it simple with an all-by-the-glass format, fair pricing, and a few genuinely interesting picks tucked inside a short list. It won't satisfy anyone looking for a deep cellar dive, but it absolutely does the job for a New American dinner in Columbia.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Columbia · Wine Bar
Vino Sabor is betting that Downtown Columbia is ready for a real wine bar, not just wine at a bar — and based on the vibe, they might be right. We'd go back with a curiosity about Italian wine and an open mind; just don't come expecting a deep cellar or a Burgundy nerd behind the counter.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Columbia · Spanish-inspired / tapas
This is a wine list built for people who aren't really thinking about wine, and honestly that might be the point. If you're serious about drinking well with your tapas, order a cocktail and revisit the wine program if they ever add a Txakoli or a Garnacha.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Forest Acres · Columbia · Contemporary American Bistro with Southern Influences
Tombo Grille isn't going to win any points for boldness, but it delivers exactly what Forest Acres wants: familiar wines, fair-enough execution, and a menu worth eating. Send a friend here for a reliable dinner out — just temper expectations if they're hoping to discover something new.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Irmo / Northwest Columbia · Columbia · Contemporary American-Italian
Travinia is a reliable neighborhood wine bar that gets the basics right — solid selection, good by-the-glass volume, food-friendly pours — without ever swinging for the fences. Send your friends here for a comfortable bottle with dinner, not for a wine discovery experience.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · New American
THREE isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list makes that abundantly clear. If you're here for cocktails or the bar scene, you're probably in the right place — but if wine matters to you even a little, this four-item lineup isn't going to do much for you. Order the House Champagne at $5, accept the situation for what it is, and move on.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Sandy Springs · Sandy Springs · New American
Brooklyn Cafe's wine list is doing more than it has to for a Sandy Springs neighborhood restaurant — the white selections alone, from Rudi Pichler to Merry Edwards, show real editorial intent. Pricing transparency is a question mark without confirmed figures, and the glass program is a mystery we couldn't resolve. Worth a visit if you're eating in the area; just go in ready to ask questions.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Eau Claire · New American
The Lakely is a genuinely likable neighborhood anchor in a hotel package that punches above its weight for Eau Claire. The wine program is modest and not fully transparent online, but the vibe, the food — that Friday fish fry especially — and the fair pricing keep this squarely in the worth-a-visit column. We'd go back for the burger and whatever's pouring by the glass. We'd hold off on building a whole evening around the wine list.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
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.
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