Oregon-Forward Sipping in a Railroad Town
Historic Railroad District · Ashland · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 24, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Peerless Restaurant & Bar’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Fourteen labels isn't a lot to work with, but Peerless earns points fast by leading with local pride — Oregon producers anchor the list, and the international picks feel chosen rather than defaulted to. This isn't a wine-destination list, but it's clearly not an afterthought either. Someone made actual decisions here.
The list punches above its weight by mixing Rogue Valley locals like Foris with Willamette heavyweights like Archery Summit, then sliding in smart international picks — a Granbazan Albariño from Rias Baixas, a Couteau Gamay from Morgon, and a Prinzsalm from Rheinhessen that most restaurants in a 50-mile radius wouldn't touch. The California presence is light but credible: Scharffenberger bubbles and Dashe Cellars Zinfandel from Sonoma hold their own. Gaps exist — no Italian, no red Burgundy, no real skin-contact moment — but for a 14-bottle list in Ashland, the hits outnumber the holes. The André Clouet Champagne in a 375ml format is a genuinely charming touch.
Every bottle on the list is available by the glass, which is either generous or a sign there's no real cellar program behind the curtain — probably a bit of both. At $13–$18 a pour, the pricing is on the higher side for a short list with no obvious premium service justification. Rotation doesn't appear to be a feature here; what you see is what you get, season to season.
Foris Pinot Blanc Rogue Valley Oregon 2023 — $13/glass
Foris is a Rogue Valley stalwart that doesn't get nearly enough credit, and Pinot Blanc is an undersung grape that overdelivers on texture and food-friendliness. At the lowest glass price on the menu, this is the move before you even sit down.
Prinzsalm 'Two Princes' Rheinhessen Germany 2022
Nobody at a New American restaurant in Southern Oregon is ordering German white wine, which is exactly why you should. Rheinhessen Riesling-adjacent blends bring nervy acidity and low alcohol that make everything on the plate taste better — and this one likely clears the table at a fraction of what a comparable French white would cost.
Granbazan 'Etiqueta Verde' Albariño Rias Baixas Spain 2023
Granbazan is a fine producer and Etiqueta Verde is a solid Albariño, but at $18/glass and $66/bottle it's priced like a trophy wine when it's really a weeknight sipper. Retail on this bottle sits well south of $25 in most markets, which makes the markup here hard to swallow.
Couteau Gamay Morgon France 2023 + Duck or charcuterie board
Morgon Gamay has the structure and dark fruit to stand up to rich, fatty proteins without steamrolling delicate preparations — exactly the kind of tension a New American kitchen tends to play in. It's the kind of red that makes a table feel like they've discovered something.
The Bottom Line
Peerless is a reliable pour in a theater town — the list is short but considered, the Oregon selections are genuinely good, and the pricing won't ruin your evening as long as you pick wisely. Send a friend here for a pre-show glass, not a deep-dive wine dinner.
· Ashland · Winery Tasting Room (snacks)
Dana Campbell Vineyards is a Wild Card precisely because it shouldn't work on paper — two wines, no full menu, tucked in Ashland — and yet the vibe, the setting, and the novelty of a Vionillo from the Rogue Valley make it a genuinely worthwhile stop. If you're already in southern Oregon wine country, swing in; just don't come here expecting options.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
· Ashland · Italian
Martino's is a comfortable, unpretentious Italian spot in a town with serious wine credentials — and the list seems to match that energy more than it challenges it. We don't have enough verified detail on the wine program to give you specific guidance on what to order, so our honest advice is to ask your server what's local and go from there. It's probably a fine night out. Just don't come here expecting a deep cellar.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Ashland · Alsatian French / Fine Dining
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.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· 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
· Round Rock · New American
Whiskey Cake Round Rock isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — the all-by-the-glass format keeps things approachable, the pricing is honest, and there are a couple of genuinely good pours hiding in a short list. If wine is your priority tonight, look elsewhere; if you're here for the vibe and want something decent in your glass, Chehalem and Altocedro have you covered.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Columbia · New American
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.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
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
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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