Columbus's Sneaky-Good Wine List Hiding in Plain Sight
· Columbus · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 21, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Animal Farm’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Twenty-two labels doesn't sound like much, but The Animal Farm's list punches well above its weight for Columbus, Georgia. There's a Terras Gauda Alvariño sitting next to a Wolf & Woman Chenin Blanc — this isn't a list that was assembled by checking a Sysco catalog. Someone here is paying attention.
The whites are the real story: you've got a Karl Josef Riesling, a Jasci Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, a Foris Chardonnay from Oregon's Rogue Valley, and the Matthiasson Chardonnay rounding out the bottle list — that's genuine range for a 22-label program. The reds are thinner, leaning on reliable grapes (Cab, Pinot, Garnacha) without much left-field action, though the Mi Terruno Cabernet Franc 2021 breaks the mold. The Bisogno El Perla Red Blend 2016 is the only wine with any age on it, and its presence signals that whoever built this list isn't just chasing the latest vintage. The bubbly section — Pizzolato Prosecco, Cavicchioli Sparkling Rosé, and Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne — covers all the bases without being exciting.
Ten pours by the glass at $10–$14 is a genuinely solid spread, and the range covers bubbles, white, rosé, and red without defaulting to the laziest possible choices. The Glup Glup Garnacha at $11 and the Karl Josef Riesling at $10 are standout glass options that you won't find at most restaurants in this zip code. The ceiling is $14, which means nobody's getting gouged for a round.
Karl Josef Riesling 2023 — $10/glass
A well-made German Riesling at $10 a glass is the kind of thing that makes you order a second pour before you've finished the first. Crisp, off-dry, and interesting in a way that most $10 glass options just aren't.
Jasci Trebbiano d'Abruzzo 2022
At $57 a bottle, this is the wine most tables will walk right past on their way to the Chardonnay — which is a mistake. Trebbiano d'Abruzzo from a quality producer like Jasci is food-friendly, textured, and genuinely Italian in a way that makes dinner feel like a bigger deal.
Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne
At $90, you're paying a full restaurant markup on a Champagne house that's essentially the house brand of French cooperatives. It's not bad, but it's not $90-interesting either — grab the Cavicchioli Sparkling Rosé by the glass and put the difference toward another bottle.
Mi Terruno Cabernet Franc 2021 + Chef's featured meat dish
Cabernet Franc at $58 a bottle has the herbal edge and medium body to cut through rich proteins without bulldozing the plate — it's the kind of red that makes food taste better without demanding all the attention.
The Bottom Line
For Columbus, Georgia, The Animal Farm's wine list is a genuine Wild Card — small but considered, fairly priced, and stocked with producers most local restaurants haven't heard of. We'd absolutely send a friend here with instructions to start with the Riesling and work their way through the whites.
Uptown · Columbus · Fusion / New American
Vertigo shouldn't have a wine list this interesting — and that's the whole point. If you're anywhere near Columbus, Georgia and care even a little about what's in your glass, this place is worth the detour.
Surprising Depth
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Columbus · Seafood chain
This is a wine program in name only — three crowd-pleaser labels at chain markups with no soul behind the selection. Order a cocktail or a beer and spend your money somewhere it's appreciated.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Columbus · Rooftop American
Eighteen85 is a place to drink wine, not to drink well. Come for the view, order something cold, and set your expectations accordingly — the list won't surprise you, but at least it won't bankrupt you either.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Columbus · American / Bistro
The Loft is a great time if you're there for the music, the scene, or a solid burger — but the wine list is along for the ride, not leading the charge. Come thirsty for the atmosphere; manage your expectations on the glass.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown Columbus · Columbus · Seafood
Red Lobster 13th St. is not a wine destination — it's a seafood chain where wine exists because a menu has to have one. Order the Riesling with your lobster tail, enjoy the Cheddar Bay Biscuits, and make your peace with it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Riverwalk / Downtown Columbus · Columbus · American
Denim & Oak isn't going to make anyone's wine pilgrimage list, but for Columbus, Georgia, it's a legitimately decent place to drink — fair prices, a deep BTG program, and Wine Down Wednesday as a reason to come back. Just steer clear of the Concha y Toro and head straight for the Orin Swift or the Oregon section.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
· Jersey City · New American
Amanda's isn't going to make a wine lover's heart race, but it's doing the honest work: fair prices, enough variety to match a proper New American menu, and a by-the-glass program deep enough to drink your way through a multi-course meal without getting stuck. If you're in Jersey City and want a reliable bottle without a markup argument, this list delivers.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · New American
Anthony David's wine list is reliable without being exciting — it does the job for a casual dinner without making you work too hard or feel gouged at the lower price points. The by-the-glass program is legitimately strong for a list this size, and the Crémant de Loire is a smart pour. If you're a wine-first diner, this isn't your destination, but if you're coming for a neighborhood meal and want a decent glass to go with it, you'll leave satisfied.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· McMinnville · New American
Thistle is the kind of neighborhood restaurant that McMinnville deserves — rooted in place, edited in approach, and situated in one of the best wine regions in North America. We can't name specific bottles right now, but the regional focus on Willamette Valley and France tells us the list has a point of view. If you're heading to wine country and want a real dinner, this is worth a reservation.
Small but Thoughtful
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.
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