Mountain Views, California Bottles, Zero Surprises
Grove Park · Asheville · Regional
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 20, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Sunset Terrace’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
You sit down, the Blue Ridge Mountains stretch out in front of you, and the wine list lands in your hands like a confident handshake from a California wine rep. It's polished, approachable, and leans hard into the classics — nothing edgy, nothing obscure, nothing that's going to make your pulse race. But given the setting and the resort crowd, it mostly works.
This is a California-first list, full stop. The anchors are names you recognize immediately — Stag's Leap, Jordan, Duckhorn, Cakebread, Ridge, Sonoma-Cutrer — and that's basically the story. At 150-250 bottles, there's breadth on paper, but don't come looking for grower Champagne, obscure Rhône producers, or anything that required a buyer with a passport. The Ridge Zinfandel is the most interesting thing on here, and it's still a recognizable label. Wine Spectator has held this list to an Award of Excellence since 2019, which tracks — it's competent and consistent, not inspired.
Twelve to twenty by-the-glass options at $12-$18 is a reasonable spread for a resort dining room, and the pours lean predictably into the same California hits from the bottle list. There's no sign of a rotating glass program or anything that suggests someone is actively curating these pours week to week — what's on the list is what's on the list.
Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay — $40-range
Russian River Ranches consistently punches above its price point — it's a benchmark Sonoma Chardonnay with enough acid and restraint to avoid the butter-bomb trap, and at the lower end of this list's range, it's the bottle we'd order without hesitation.
Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel
Most people at a resort steakhouse gravitate toward the Cab, but Ridge's Zinfandel is the most interesting wine on this list — complex, earthy, and from one of California's most serious producers. It tends to get overlooked next to the flashier names, which means it might actually be easier to get a good bottle.
Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc
Cakebread is a fine producer, but the Sauvignon Blanc is consistently one of the most marked-up 'safe' choices at restaurants like this — you're paying for the name recognition more than what's in the glass. There are better places to spend your money on this list.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Hand Cut Steak
Stag's Leap Cab is structured enough to stand up to a properly seared steak without bulldozing it — it's got the tannins for the fat, the fruit for the char, and enough Napa polish to feel right at home with a view like this.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Sunset Terrace isn't a wine destination — it's a destination where wine happens to be available and handled competently. Come for the mountains and the steak, order the Ridge or the Sonoma-Cutrer, and enjoy the fact that at least nobody's pouring you something terrible.
Downtown Asheville · Asheville · Farm to Table
The Blackbird is doing wine right in a town that's more known for craft beer — there's a real sommelier (Sarah Reder) behind this list and it shows. Send your wine-curious friends here without hesitation.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Asheville · Asheville · American
Vue 1913 is a reliable wine destination for guests who know what they like and want to drink it with a jaw-dropping view — just don't expect the list to push you anywhere new. Send your California Cab-loving friends here without hesitation; send your natural wine friends somewhere else.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
West Asheville · Asheville · American, Farm to Table
Jargon is doing something real with wine in a neighborhood that doesn't demand it, and that's exactly why it deserves your attention. Send a friend here — just tell them to skip the Napa Cab and ask about the Minervois.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Asheville · Asheville · American
The Dining Room is genuinely worth the trip, and not just because of the mansion backdrop — the sommelier team is real, the cellar is serious, and Wednesday half-price wine night turns a splurge into a steal. Markups on the prestige bottles are steep, but the overall program earns its Best of Award of Excellence.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Asheville · Asheville · Middle Eastern
Jerusalem Garden Cafe does Middle Eastern food well, but the wine program is non-existent. Stick to the Turkish coffee or mint tea and save your wine budget for literally anywhere else in Asheville.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Red Flag
MIA
Set & Forget
Hot Mess
Downtown · Asheville · Southern
Husk isn't trying to be a wine destination, and that's fine—it's a solid supporting cast to excellent Southern cooking. The list is fair, approachable, and won't leave you feeling gouged or bored.
Solid Range
Fair
Stemless Casual
Willing but Green
Occasional
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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