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 →
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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.
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
North Columbus · Columbus · American Barbecue and Grill
Smokey Bones is a perfectly fine place to eat ribs and watch a game — just don't come here for the wine. Order a cold beer, save your wine budget for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Columbus / Whittlesey Boulevard · Columbus · Modern American
Ivory & Oak is a reliable wine stop in a city that isn't exactly crawling with serious lists — the room is great, the pours are familiar, and the markup is the main thing holding it back from something better. Go for the steak, order the Merlot, and don't expect to be challenged.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Airport / East Columbus · Columbus · Hotel Restaurant
If you're stuck at the DoubleTree and the flight is delayed, Houlihan's will keep you fed and adequately watered — but don't mistake that for a wine program worth seeking out. Order the Etude Pinot or the Malbec, skip the sangria, and manage your expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
· Overland Park · New American
Tavern in the Village isn't trying to be a wine destination, but the all-by-the-glass format, fair pricing, and a handful of genuinely good picks — Picpoul, Sancerre, Riesling — make it more than worth a glass or two. Send a friend here knowing they won't get gouged, even if they won't get their mind blown.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Vancouver · New American
The Hammond isn't a destination wine list, but it punches above its weight for a craft bar — especially if you love Pacific Northwest reds. Send a friend here, point them toward the Oregon section, and tell them to skip the cocktails.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Montgomery · New American
La Jolla isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it's putting in more effort than most restaurants in Montgomery. Fair prices, a surprising Loire pick hiding in plain sight, and enough glass options to keep the table happy all night.
Solid Range
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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