California classics done right in small-town Tennessee
Franklin · Franklin · Regional · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 24, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Red Pony Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Walking into Red Pony, you get the sense that someone put real thought into the wine list — it's not an afterthought stapled to the back of the menu. The California-heavy lineup reads like a greatest hits of familiar, bankable names, which is exactly what a nice dinner crowd in Franklin, Tennessee wants to see. It's approachable, it's confident, and it's been holding a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2014.
The 100-150 bottle list leans hard into California, and it doesn't apologize for it — you've got Stag's Leap and Jordan anchoring the Cab side, Duckhorn's Merlot for the crowd that hasn't forgotten the 90s (in the best way), and Flowers Vineyard Pinot Noir adding a coastal cool factor. Cakebread Chardonnay and Ridge Zinfandel round out a lineup that's reliably solid without ever getting adventurous. There's no deep Burgundy section, no Rhône detour, no weird natural wine sneaking in — this is unapologetically a California list. For a regional restaurant in a smaller Tennessee market, that focus is a feature, not a bug.
With 12-20 pours available by the glass, Red Pony gives you real options without overwhelming the table. The selection tracks predictably with the bottle list — expect a Chardonnay, a Cab or two, probably a Pinot Noir — so you won't be hunting for surprises. It's a solid program for a dinner crowd that wants to order a glass with the starter and a different one with the main.
Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel — $55
Ridge is one of the most consistently over-delivering producers in California, and their Zinfandel shows up here at a price that doesn't punish you for the choice. Bold, structured, and interesting enough to carry a conversation — this is the move if you want something that's not just another Cab.
Flowers Vineyard Pinot Noir
Most tables at a restaurant like this are reaching for the Cabernet, but Flowers makes a case for Sonoma Coast Pinot that's genuinely worth your attention. It's leaner and more nuanced than anything else on this list, and it gets consistently overlooked in favor of the bigger, flashier names.
Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay
Cakebread is a fine wine, but it's also one of the most marked-up brand names in restaurant wine programs nationwide. You're paying a premium here for name recognition, and at this price point there are better expressions of California Chardonnay to be found.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot + Shrimp and Grits
Duckhorn's Merlot brings enough body and dark fruit to stand up to the richness of the grits without bulldozing the shrimp. It's a softer, rounder red that works where a big Cab would overwhelm — and it's the kind of pairing that makes people feel smart at the table.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Red Pony is exactly the kind of reliable wine program a well-run regional restaurant should have — familiar producers, fair prices, and no real landmines. It won't blow a wine geek's mind, but it'll keep a table of six happy on a Saturday night, which is honestly the harder job.
Cool Springs · Franklin · Steakhouse
Perry's Cool Springs is a reliable night out if someone else is paying, but the wine list is doing the bare minimum — crowd-pleasing producers, steep markups, and a noticeable lack of anything that earns its price on merit alone. Stick to Social Hour if you want to drink well without the sticker shock.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Proper
Cool Springs · Franklin · Upscale Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Franklin is a reliable wine execution at a chain price point — nobody's going home unhappy, but nobody's going home with a story either. Go on a Wednesday, hit the half-price bottle promotion, and drink better than the menu's markup would otherwise allow.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Proper
Cool Springs · Franklin · Italian Chain
The wine list at Olive Garden Franklin is a corporate checklist, not a wine program — the markups are steep for what you're getting, the selection hasn't taken a risk in its life, and the best move is honestly to order a cocktail or just lean hard into the breadsticks. If you're committed to wine, grab the Chianti and don't look back.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Cool Springs · Franklin · Steakhouse Chain
Outback Franklin's wine list is competent in the way a rental car is competent — it gets you where you're going, but you're not going to talk about it later. Order the steak, consider a cocktail, and save the serious bottle for somewhere that actually cares.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Cool Springs · Franklin · Steakhouse, Classic American
Sperry's Cool Springs is a dependable steakhouse wine list that doesn't ask much of you — and doesn't ask much of itself either. Come on a Monday, grab a bottle at half price, order the ribeye, and you'll have a genuinely good night without overthinking it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Cool Springs · Franklin · Asian fusion / Chinese-inspired chain restaurant
P.F. Chang's Cool Springs is here to feed a crowd, not to impress a wine drinker. The list is fine the way an airport moving walkway is fine — it gets you somewhere, but nobody's excited about it. If you're eating here, pick something by the glass, keep it simple, and save the serious wine for a different night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Historic Third Ward · Milwaukee · Regional
Ash is a reliable, California-centric wine program that earns its Wine Spectator nod without overreaching. Send a friend here if they want a good bottle with a great meal — just tell them to stick to the West Coast and avoid the trophy bottles.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Easton · Easton · Regional
The Stewart is a genuine surprise on the Eastern Shore — a cocktail lounge with a brass-and-marble soul that quietly runs a Wine Spectator-recognized program with a real sommelier steering it. Hit it on a Wednesday and you've found one of the best wine deals in Maryland.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Waikīkī · Honolulu · Regional
Hau Tree earns its Wine Spectator nod — this is a genuinely considered list in a setting where mediocrity would have been completely forgiven. If you're in Waikīkī and want a glass of something real with your toes near the sand, this is the place.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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