Bourbon Town, Wine Takes a Back Seat
Lansdowne / Tates Creek · Lexington · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 4, 2026
RagingWine reviewed OBC Kitchen’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
Walk into OBC Kitchen and it's clear bourbon is the star of this show — the dark wood, the lively bar, the whiskey-forward menu all tell you exactly what this place is about. The wine list feels like an afterthought, a concession to the table that didn't want a cocktail. Nothing here is going to surprise you.
The list runs 50–80 labels deep on paper, but depth is an illusion when you're staring at Meiomi, Kendall-Jackson, Josh Cellars, and Apothic lined up like a grocery store endcap. California dominates, and not the interesting parts of California — we're talking the heavily-marketed, sweetness-forward value brands that sell themselves. There's no real regional exploration, no old-world character, no independent producers fighting for space. If you drink wine regularly and have opinions about it, this list will bore you inside of thirty seconds.
The by-the-glass program runs roughly 10–15 options in the $9–$15 range, which sounds reasonable until you realize you're essentially choosing between the same handful of household names in different formats. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority here — what's on the list today is probably what was on it six months ago.
Decoy by Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon — $55
It's the only bottle on the list with any brand credibility behind it. Yes, it's marked up 2x retail, but relative to everything else here, Decoy is at least a wine that was made with some intention. If you're going bottle, this is the least bad option.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
Look, it's not exciting, but Santa Margherita is the granddaddy of the category for a reason — clean, consistent, and genuinely food-friendly in a way that the reds on this list aren't. Order it cold with the deviled eggs and you'll be fine.
Apothic Red Blend California
At $32 a bottle, you're paying a 167% markup on a $12 grocery store wine engineered to taste like dessert. Apothic is built for people who don't like wine yet — there's no reason to spend restaurant prices on it.
Decoy by Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon + Duck Fat Fried Chicken
The Decoy's dark fruit and soft tannins hold up against the richness of the duck fat without fighting the crispy coating. It's the one combo on this menu that actually makes you glad you ordered wine instead of bourbon.
Wednesday — Half-price bottles on Wednesdays through Bluegrass Hospitality Group promotions, with some exclusions. Details not prominently advertised — worth calling ahead to confirm.
The Bottom Line
OBC Kitchen is a genuinely fun spot for food and drinks — just let bourbon do the heavy lifting and don't expect the wine list to keep up. If wine is your thing, this is a cocktail night.
South Lexington / Harrodsburg Road · Lexington · Italian, Contemporary Italian, Seafood
Giuseppe's isn't a wine destination, but Monday night half-price bottles make it one of the better value plays in Lexington — show up then, lean on the seafood, and you'll leave happy. Any other night, the markups ask a lot and the list doesn't ask you to think very hard.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Lansdowne / Nicholasville Road · Lexington · Italian-American
Sutton's isn't a wine destination, but it's a perfectly reasonable place to drink a bottle of Chianti while someone else handles the cooking. The Tignanello alone earns this list a second look if you know to ask for it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Gratz Park · Lexington · New American / Southern
Jonathan at Gratz Park is the kind of reliable wine room you'd expect from a historic inn with a real sommelier — competent, well-stocked, and leaning safe. Pricing is on the steeper side and the list won't surprise you, but in Lexington, this is still one of the better places to order a full bottle with dinner.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Palomar / Harrodsburg Road · Lexington · Italian, Seasonal American-Influenced
Bella Notte isn't a wine destination, but it's a reliable neighborhood spot with one genuinely smart move: Thursday half-price bottles turn a steep list into a real value play. Go on a Thursday, order the Decoy Cab with a wood-grilled steak, and you'll leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Lexington · Italian
ItalX is a dependable Italian wine list for a night out downtown — not exciting, but not embarrassing either. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink well enough, as long as they steer toward the Italian reds and away from the obvious tourist traps.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Summit at Fritz Farm · Lexington · New American / Southern
33 Staves is a perfectly competent hotel wine list in a city where nobody's really coming for the wine. Drink it for what it is, keep your expectations calibrated, and save the serious bottle hunting for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
7th Ave / Dolores · Carmel By The Sea · New American
Seventh & Dolores isn't a destination wine list, but it's a respectable one that at least knows where it is geographically. Come for the steak, order the Wrath, and don't expect to go down any rabbit holes.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Vail · Vail · New American
Vin48 is a genuinely surprising wine program hiding inside a Colorado ski resort, and if you're a wine-first diner passing through Vail, it absolutely warrants a stop. The markups reflect the zip code more than we'd like, but the depth and curation of the list are the real deal.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown Solvang · Solvang · New American
Root 246 is the rare hotel restaurant that actually earns your wine attention — a focused Santa Barbara County list with real producers, a sommelier who knows the material, and pricing that doesn't punish you for being curious. If you're passing through Solvang wine country, this is where you eat.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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