Columbia's White-Tablecloth Workhorse Gets the Job Done
Five Points · Columbia · Southern / Fine Dining · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 3, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Saluda's arrives looking confident — 90-plus labels, a proper bottle range stretching into the triple digits, and enough geographic spread to suggest someone actually thought this through. It reads like a restaurant that takes wine seriously enough to have a real list, but not seriously enough to do anything surprising with it. Think airport business lounge, but make it Southern.
California carries most of the weight here, with the usual suspects — La Crema Pinot Noir, Decoy Cab, J. Lohr Seven Oaks — doing the heavy lifting across the mid-tier. France gets a decent showing with Louis Jadot village Burgundy and a nod to Bordeaux, but the depth thins out fast once you get past the big names. Argentina shows up via Catena and Alamos Malbec, Italy clocks in with Chianti and Pinot Grigio, and Spain gets a Rioja slot — enough to say the list has range, not enough to call it adventurous. The ceiling is a reserve Cabernet up around $190, which is fine for a fine dining room in Columbia, but there's no real cellar depth and no indie producers to get excited about.
Fourteen to eighteen options by the glass is a respectable pour program for this market, covering red, white, sparkling, and rosé with prices running $9 to $17. Alamos Malbec and Mionetto Prosecco anchor the approachable end, while Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay and La Crema Pinot Noir give the mid-range some credibility. Rotation appears minimal — this looks like a set-it-and-leave-it program rather than something that's getting refreshed with the seasons.
Catena Malbec — $32
Catena is one of Argentina's most reliable names and consistently punches above its price point — structured, dark-fruited, and a natural fit with Saluda's red meat-heavy menu. At the entry end of the bottle list, it's the move if you want quality without flinching at the bill.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling
Most tables at a place like this reflexively order Chardonnay or Cab, so the Washington State Riesling from Chateau Ste. Michelle gets overlooked — which is a mistake. It's off-dry, food-friendly, and genuinely interesting next to the kitchen's Southern flavors. Order it before someone else at the table vetoes it.
Moët & Chandon Imperial Champagne
Moët by the bottle at a fine dining markup is one of the oldest overcharges in the restaurant business. You're paying a significant premium for a brand name that's fine but uninspiring — and there's no grower Champagne or interesting alternative on this list to justify the comparison. If you want bubbles, the Mionetto Prosecco by the glass is a smarter spend.
Louis Jadot Burgundy + Rack of Lamb
Village-level Burgundy and lamb is a classic for a reason — the earthy, red-fruited profile of Jadot's Pinot cuts through the richness of the rack without overpowering the meat. It's the most classically correct pairing on the menu, and one of the few moments where Saluda's list earns its fine dining billing.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Saluda's is doing what a lot of upscale Southern restaurants do: a reliable, familiar list that keeps the room happy without taking any real swings. We'd send a friend here for wine if the alternative is skipping dinner — just steer them toward the Catena or the Burgundy and away from the Moët.
Forest Acres · Columbia · Contemporary American Bistro with Southern Influences
Tombo Grille isn't going to win any points for boldness, but it delivers exactly what Forest Acres wants: familiar wines, fair-enough execution, and a menu worth eating. Send a friend here for a reliable dinner out — just temper expectations if they're hoping to discover something new.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Irmo / Northwest Columbia · Columbia · Contemporary American-Italian
Travinia is a reliable neighborhood wine bar that gets the basics right — solid selection, good by-the-glass volume, food-friendly pours — without ever swinging for the fences. Send your friends here for a comfortable bottle with dinner, not for a wine discovery experience.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Sandhill · Columbia · Contemporary American-Italian
Travinia Sandhill is a reliable wine bar in a market that doesn't have many — not adventurous, not cheap, but consistent enough that you won't regret the reservation. Just steer clear of the obvious traps and you'll have a decent night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Unknown · Columbia · Seafood
The Bluefish plays it safe and the pricing reflects more confidence than the list deserves, but the core selection is competent enough for a solid seafood dinner with the right pour. Stick to the whites, ask about the Albariño, and don't let anyone talk you into a $78 Cakebread.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
St Andrews · Columbia · Japanese, Sushi
Inakaya Watanabe is clearly a solid neighborhood sushi spot, and the food likely earns its loyal following — but the wine program is an afterthought that nobody has revisited in years. Come for the fish, order sake if they have it, and treat the wine list as a last resort.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
The Vista · Columbia · Asian / Sushi & Pan-Asian
M Vista's wine list is functional, fairly priced, and completely unambitious — which honestly fits the room. Send a friend here for sushi and a casual bottle of J Lohr; don't send them here expecting a wine experience.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.