Eight Bottles, Zero Apologies, All Intention
· Ashland · Alsatian French / Fine Dining · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 20, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Nous Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Eight labels. That's it. Most restaurants treat that as a Wednesday night oversight; Nous treats it as a philosophy. The list reads less like a wine program and more like a curated end-of-meal argument — nearly everything here is a dessert wine, a late harvest, a fortified, or a non-alcoholic option, and it's clear that was entirely on purpose.
This is not a list for people who want a Cab with their steak — there is no steak, and there is no Cab. What there is: a Castelnau de Suduiraut Sauternes from 2020, a Royal Tokaji Late Harvest from 2018, a Kopke Tawny Port, and a Fattoria Selvapiana Vin Santo del Chianti Rufino 2017 that alone would make us show up. The rotating Alsatian-style white and West Coast red slots hint at a broader curiosity the rest of the list doesn't fully reveal. The Allendorf non-alcoholic Riesling and Duché de Longueville cider round things out and signal that Nous is genuinely thinking about who sits at their tables, not just what's easy to pour.
Seven of eight labels are available by the glass, which for a dessert-forward list at these prices is the right call — nobody needs a whole bottle of Vin Santo on a Tuesday. Prices run $8 for the rotating pours up to $20 for the Selvapiana, which is ambitious but defensible for a 2017 from that producer. The Duché de Longueville cider is the lone bottle-only option at $30.
The Bottom Line
Nous is doing something genuinely unusual — building a wine list entirely around the logic of what they serve, not what's expected. If you walk in wanting a simple glass of red before dinner, you're at the wrong place; if you walk in willing to let the restaurant lead, the Vin Santo and Tokaji alone make it worth the trip. For Ashland, this is the most interesting eight-bottle list we've seen.
· Ashland · American Bar & Grill
Louie's of Ashland is doing what a neighborhood bar-and-grill should — keeping the list approachable, nodding to local producers like Abacela and Del Rio, and not gouging anyone in the process. It's not a destination for wine, but it's a comfortable place to drink something decent while you eat. If you're in Ashland and not chasing a serious cellar, you won't leave disappointed.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Ashland · American Bistro / Fine Dining
Cocorico is quietly running one of the more interesting wine lists in southern Oregon — 73 labels, fair pricing, a bubbles section that punches above its weight, and a by-the-glass program that respects your intelligence. We'd send a friend here without hesitation, especially if they're the kind of person who orders Gruner instead of Chardonnay.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Plaza · Ashland · Wine bar with small plates
Liquid Assets is the kind of wine bar that rewards curious drinkers willing to look past the safe pours and dig into what the list is actually offering. Send your wine-curious friends here without hesitation — just steer them away from the Cupcake.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Ashland Hills · Ashland · Wine country fine dining / contemporary American
Belle Fiore is a destination, not a stopover — and the wine program knows it. If you're willing to let Southern Oregon do all the talking for an afternoon, this list rewards that trust. Just don't come expecting to wander the Old World.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Railroad District · Ashland · Cafe
You're not coming to Rogue Valley Roasting Company for a wine-focused evening — but if you're in Ashland, want a glass of legit local wine without the prix-fixe atmosphere, and don't mind that the list tops out at three options, this is a surprisingly honest little pour stop. Send a friend here? Sure, if they need a break from the Shakespeare crowd.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Creekside · Ashland · Pizza
Creekside Pizza isn't a wine destination, but it doesn't pretend to be — and at these prices in this market, the honest, unpretentious list earns a pass. Send a friend here if they want something decent to drink without a lecture or a markup.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
