Smashing Grapes

The name Smashing Grapes promises something bold, and the wine list mostly delivers — at least if you love California. Walking in, the Merriweather District vibe is lively and polished, and the list signals right away that this place takes wine seriously enough to earn a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in its first year. That said, if you were hoping for a globe-trotting adventure, you'll want to recalibrate expectations.

This is a California-forward list with genuine depth where it counts. Caymus, Jordan, Silver Oak, Stag's Leap, Duckhorn, Shafer, Cakebread, Rombauer — the California greatest hits are all present, and Opus One shows up to remind you this place isn't playing around. The 150-250 bottle range gives you room to explore within those California lanes, though anyone hunting for Burgundy, Barolo, or Iberian wines may feel a little stranded. It's a curated collection rather than a comprehensive one, and that curation has a clear point of view: West Coast, full-bodied, crowd-ready.

Twenty to thirty-five options by the glass is genuinely impressive for a Columbia neighborhood spot — that's enough range to let you graze through a meal without committing to a bottle. Glass pours run $12–$18, which is reasonable given the producers on the list. We'd like to see more rotation and some wildcard pours mixed in, but what's here is consistent and well-chosen.