The Country Club
Clothing-optional pool, clothes-on wine list
Bywater · New Orleans · American, Creole · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 15, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The Country Club is already winning on vibe before you even crack the wine list — a sprawling Bywater mansion with a clothing-optional pool and Creole comfort food on the menu is not where you expect to find a Wine Spectator-recognized program. But here we are. The list is approachable and priced sanely, which earns immediate goodwill.
Selection Deep Dive
California and France anchor this 150-plus bottle list, which reads like a thoughtfully assembled neighborhood restaurant wine program rather than anything trying too hard to impress. You've got Jordan Cab and Caymus on the California side — crowd-pleasing, yes, but at least they're the real thing — and Louis Jadot handling the French flank with reasonable Burgundy coverage. Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling rounds out a solid supporting cast. The gaps are real: South America, Spain, and Italy are underrepresented, and this list isn't going to surprise anyone who drinks seriously. But it fits the room.
By the Glass
Twelve to eighteen pours by the glass in the $10–$18 range gives you enough to work with across a full meal without feeling trapped. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc and Meiomi Pinot Noir show up as expected workhorses, but that's fine — they're here for the pool crowd, not the Burgundy nerds. There's no indication the glass program rotates much, so don't expect seasonal surprises.
Jordan Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $75
Jordan consistently retails around $50-55, so restaurant pricing here stays reasonable rather than gouging. It's a polished, food-friendly Cab that holds its own against the fried chicken and shrimp and grits without steamrolling the flavors.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling
Nobody at a New Orleans Creole table is ordering the Riesling, and that's a mistake. The slight sweetness and bright acidity cut right through the richness of shrimp and grits in a way a Cab simply can't. Underordered, underappreciated, and almost certainly priced low.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is fine wine, but it's also the most marked-up brand in America at this point. You're paying for the name recognition more than anything in your glass, and Jordan does the same job for less money on this list.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling + Shrimp and Grits
The Riesling's gentle sweetness mirrors the natural sweetness of Gulf shrimp while its acidity keeps the creamy grits from feeling heavy. It's a smarter call than reaching for a Chardonnay, and it makes the dish taste more like New Orleans.
🎲 The Bottom Line
The Country Club is a genuinely wild New Orleans experience that happens to have a respectable, fairly priced wine list attached — and that's more than most places with a pool and a clothing policy can say. Send a friend here for the vibe, tell them to order the Riesling with the shrimp and grits, and let the afternoon take care of itself.
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