Great Gumbo, Forgettable Wine List
Cherry Street · Tulsa · Creole and Cajun · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 12, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The New Orleans vibes are strong at Nola's — vintage speakeasy aesthetic, lively room, classic Creole comfort on every plate. Then you open the wine list and the spell breaks a little. It reads like someone handed a distributor rep a $500 budget and said 'just fill it up.'
This is a grocery store shelf in disguise: La Marca Prosecco, Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay, Meiomi Pinot Noir, Josh Cellars Cab, Cavit Pinot Grigio — the hits are all here, and none of them are actually hits. There's no regional curiosity, no nod to the Southern Louisiana spirit the kitchen is clearly channeling, and nothing that would make a wine-forward diner feel seen. A Muscadet, a Côtes du Rhône, even a domestic Grenache would do so much heavy lifting alongside this food — but that's not the list Nola's built. The 20-to-35-bottle range gives them room to be interesting; they just didn't use it.
Eight to twelve pours by the glass sounds generous until you realize they're all from the same predictable shortlist. The glass options mirror the bottle list almost entirely — no rotation, no seasonal surprises, no reason to stray from ordering a cocktail instead. Honestly, the cocktail program probably earns its name here more than the wine does.
Decoy by Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 — $14/glass, $56/bottle
At 124% markup it's the least-gouged bottle on the list. Decoy isn't groundbreaking but it's a real wine from a real producer, and at this restaurant it's as close to a sensible pour as you're going to find.
Meiomi Pinot Noir 2022
Look, it's not a hidden gem in any wine-nerd sense — but if you're here for shrimp and grits and want something that won't fight the food, the soft, slightly smoky fruit in Meiomi actually does the job. Most people reach for the Cab out of habit; this is the smarter call at the table.
Ménage à Trois Red Blend 2021
A $11 retail bottle marked up to $40 is a hard no. You're paying nearly 4x for a supermarket blend that tastes like it — sweet, simple, and not worth a second glass. Order literally anything else.
Decoy by Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 + Jambalaya
The spice and smoke in the jambalaya need something with enough body and dark fruit to hold up without adding heat — Decoy's soft tannins and black cherry profile absorb the Cajun seasoning without turning bitter. It's the one combo on this list that actually makes sense.
❌ The Bottom Line
Nola's is a genuinely fun place to eat Creole food in Tulsa, but the wine list is an afterthought dressed up in nice stemware. Lean hard into the cocktail menu or bring your own bottle — check if they have a corkage policy, because that might be your best move here.
Midtown · Tulsa · Classic American Steakhouse and Continental Fine Dining
Celebrity is a Tulsa institution for a reason, and the wine list does exactly what it needs to do for a white-tablecloth steakhouse crowd — no more, no less. Send a friend here for the prime rib and a bottle of Jordan; just don't send them expecting to be surprised.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Brookside · Tulsa · Italian
Mondo's wine list won't blow anyone's mind, but it does its job honestly — fair prices, decent Italian representation, and enough options to keep a table happy all night. Send your friends here for dinner without hesitation; just steer them toward the Allegrini instead of the Meiomi.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Brookside / Peoria corridor · Tulsa · Italian
Prossimo is doing the right things with wine in a city where many restaurants don't bother — the Italian focus is genuine and the top-shelf picks show range. The markups keep it from being a great wine destination, but as a neighborhood Italian with a real list, it earns its place.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Brookside · Tulsa · Modern American
Oren is the kind of wine list that makes you recalibrate your expectations for a mid-size city. It's not a deep cellar and there's no half-price night to celebrate, but the curation is thoughtful, the markups are mostly honest, and the picks are the kind you'd expect from a much bigger food scene. Worth ordering from the list — not just the cocktail menu.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Brady Arts District · Tulsa · Craft cocktail bar with beer and wine
Valkyrie is a cocktail bar first and a wine bar never, but the list has more backbone than it has any right to. Come for the drinks, stay curious about the Gamay.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Tulsa · Private Club Fine Dining (Contemporary American)
The Summit Club's wine program is exactly what it needs to be for its audience — polished, reliable, and heavy on the classics that members expect. Just know you're paying club prices, and plan accordingly.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.