California classics done right in small-town Tennessee
Franklin · Regional · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed April 24, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Red Pony Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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.
· Franklin · Steakhouse
Char is a genuinely enjoyable steakhouse with a wine list that does the job without doing much more. The room earns its keep; the wine program is still a passenger rather than a co-pilot. If you're coming here for the Prime beef and the atmosphere, you'll eat well — just don't expect the list to take you anywhere the food isn't already going. Worth a visit, but bring your own expectations in check at the wine menu.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Franklin · Asian Street Food
Hawkers Franklin is doing more with twelve bottles than most casual chains do with thirty. The white-heavy, aromatic-leaning list is clearly built with the food in mind — even if it was done at the corporate level rather than by someone in this specific kitchen. If you're eating here, lean into the Gamay or Vinho Verde and skip the impulse to order Cab. It won't change your life, but it'll make dinner better.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Franklin · Seafood
If you're here for wine, you're at the wrong restaurant — but the pricing is honest and the Sauvignon Blanc won't ruin your dinner. Order a cocktail and save your wine energy for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Franklin · Italian
This is a chain wine list doing exactly what chain wine lists do — keeping it safe, keeping it recognizable, and marking it up just enough to pad margins. Drink here because you're having dinner, not because you're having wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Franklin · Franklin · Hotel Restaurant / Southern
1799 is a solid option when you're already staying at The Harpeth or dining for the atmosphere — the Southern food looks genuinely good and the room earns its upscale-casual reputation. But if wine is your reason for going out, Franklin has better options; this list is there to serve the food, not the other way around.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Franklin · Italian
Pelato Franklin isn't going to make wine pilgrims drive down from Nashville, but it's doing more than the Italian-suburban average — an orange wine, some solid regional Italian whites, and a few California names that earn their spot. Come for the food, stay curious about the list.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
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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