Oysters, good pours, absurdly fair prices
South Main · Memphis · Seafood
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 21, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Pearl's Oyster House’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Pearl's is short, unpretentious, and priced like they actually want you to order a bottle. We're talking bottles in the $39–$58 range with markups so thin you'll do a double-take. It's not a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — and that honesty is refreshing.
The list leans on a tight roster of Italian and California standbys — Friuli whites, a Montepulciano from Abruzzo, a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, and a handful of private-label bottles under names like 'Bespoke' and 'Exclusive.' Don't expect old-world depth or anything remotely adventurous. What you get instead is a focused, no-drama lineup built for seafood-forward eating without requiring a wine degree to navigate. The Fantini Montepulciano is the one regional producer worth calling out by name — everything else is crowd-pleasing filler that does its job without embarrassing anyone.
Nine-plus pours by the glass, nearly all in the $12–$15 range, which is genuinely remarkable for a restaurant in 2024. The Mohua Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough makes a strong case for itself as the glass to order with a plate of oysters. Rotation appears minimal — this is a set list, not a program with a pulse.
Fantini Montepulciano, Abruzzo, Italy — $46/bottle
Farnese's Fantini line consistently over-delivers at retail and Pearl's is basically passing that value straight to you. At $46 a bottle, this is one of the more honest pours on the list — juicy, food-friendly, and built for the kind of casual seafood dinner where nobody's pretending to be serious.
Mohua Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
Most people at an oyster bar reach for Prosecco or Chardonnay on autopilot. The Mohua SB is the smarter move — bright acidity, citrus-forward, and a natural match for briny shellfish. It's sitting right there at $14 a glass and most tables walk right past it.
Moët & Chandon Brut Rosé, Champagne, France (187ml split)
A 187ml split of Moët at $46 is a tough sell when you can get a full bottle of something more interesting for the same money. The math just doesn't work — you're paying Champagne prestige pricing for a single-serve format at a casual oyster bar.
Mohua Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand + Char Grilled Oysters
The char and smoke on the grilled oysters need something with enough acidity and herbaceous punch to cut through without getting lost — the Mohua does exactly that. It's not a complicated pairing, it's just a correct one.
The Bottom Line
Pearl's isn't a wine destination, but the markups are so legitimately fair that we'd order a bottle here without flinching. Come for the oysters, stay because the wine list won't clean out your wallet.
Midtown · Memphis · Steak House
Porch and Parlor is a reliable Southern steakhouse wine list that plays to its crowd — if you love California Cabernet with your dry-aged beef, you're in the right place. It won't challenge you, but it'll take care of you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Memphis · Memphis · American
Flight is the most wine-serious restaurant in downtown Memphis, and it earns that title without being stuffy about it. If you want California confidence with a sommelier who actually knows the list, this is your spot.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Memphis · Memphis · American, French
Chez Philippe is the wine list of a well-run fine dining institution that has been doing this right for 30 years — not a revelation, but reliably good and properly stored in a room that knows how to use it. Send a friend here if they want California Cab with a French menu inside one of Memphis's great hotels; don't send them if they're looking for anything off the beaten path.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Memphis · Memphis · Steak House
Char is a dependable, well-executed steakhouse wine list that earned its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence by doing the classics right — but it's not trying to surprise you, and it won't. Send a friend here for a special occasion Cab and a steak; just don't expect the list to spark any new obsessions.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Cooper-Young · Memphis · Italian
Bari is the kind of Italian wine program Memphis deserves more of — specific, serious, and fairly priced for what you're getting. If you're anywhere near Cooper-Young and want to drink real Italian wine with real Italian food, this is the move.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Unknown · Memphis · Bistro
Hu. Bistro isn't trying to be a wine destination, but its by-the-glass list is priced fairly and built with more care than you'd expect from a hotel rooftop. If you're in Memphis and want a decent glass without getting gouged for the privilege, this works.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Carmel · Carmel By The Sea · Seafood
Catch is a dependable wine stop for a seafood dinner in Carmel — nothing here will disappoint you, but nothing will surprise you either. If you go in with calibrated expectations and order the Schramsberg with your crab, you'll leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Hood River · Hood River · Seafood
Votum is operating a world-class wine program in a town most people only stop through on the way to a hike — the depth of this cellar belongs in a major city restaurant, and the sommelier presence means you're not navigating it alone. The markups on the prestige bottles will sting, but find your entry point and this list rewards serious attention.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Bowen's Wharf · Newport · Seafood
The Lobster Bar isn't a wine destination, but it's a perfectly competent list for what the restaurant is — a casual waterfront spot where the lobster is the star. Order the Sancerre, eat the oysters, watch the boats.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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