Pelican & Pig

The wine list at Pelican & Pig feels like an afterthought to the wood-fired spectacle happening in that open kitchen. It's compact—30 labels that stick to the greatest hits—and priced like they know you're here for the ribeye, not the Riesling. Nothing adventurous, nothing offensive, just a workmanlike selection that won't distract from the pork.

The list leans heavily on California workhorses and crowd-friendly options from obvious regions: Willamette Pinot, Mendoza Malbec, a token Italian sparkler. We're seeing producers like Goldschmidt and generic "Whole Cluster" designations that suggest a distributor's portfolio rather than a curated vision. The Durigutti Malbec from 2016 is the only bottle with any real age on it, which is a missed opportunity given the charred, fatty proteins coming off that hearth. No natural wines, no orange experiments, no deep cellar finds—just the wines your neighbor orders at Outback, upgraded one tier.

Glass pours run $13-$15, which is fair for Nashville if the quality matches. We're guessing 6-8 options based on the compact list size, likely the Perelada Cava, Love & Exile Prosecco, the Goldschmidt Chardonnay, and the usual red suspects. No mention of rotation or seasonal changes, so expect the same lineup whether it's January or July.