Biltmore's Wine Room Earns Its Crown
Asheville · Asheville · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 9, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into The Dining Room at Biltmore with a wine list in hand feels like the building is trying to tell you something — and it is. A 300-500 bottle list anchored in California and France, a four-person sommelier team, and a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence earned in 2025 make it clear this program is taken seriously. The Blue Ridge views don't hurt either.
The list leans hard into California and France, and it does both well — Kistler Chardonnay and Stag's Leap sit alongside Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet and Louis Jadot Burgundy, which tells you the kitchen and the cellar are speaking the same language. Opus One and Ridge Monte Bello anchor the prestige California section for guests who want to splurge in a room that warrants it. Domaine Drouhin Oregon sneaks in as a nod to domestic Pinot beyond Napa, and Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling gives the list some breadth for guests who aren't chasing cabs. There are gaps — no real natural wine presence, and the Southern hemisphere is largely absent — but within its wheelhouse, this list is deep and well-curated.
Twenty to thirty-five options by the glass is a serious pour program, and at $12–$22 a glass the pricing is reasonable given the setting. Glasses rotate with seasons and the sommelier team cycles through producers thoughtfully rather than just defaulting to house pours. If you can't commit to a bottle, you won't feel punished here.
Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $12–$22 by the glass
Jordan overdelivers for what it costs almost everywhere — structured, food-friendly, and recognizable enough that nobody at the table will question your pick. In this room, it's the sensible move.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir
Most guests gravitating toward this list are chasing Napa Cabs or classic Burgundy, which means the Domaine Drouhin Oregon gets overlooked. That's a mistake — it's a proper Willamette Valley Pinot from a house with real Burgundian DNA, and it's flying under the radar on a list full of bigger names.
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Vosne-Romanée
At $1,250 on-list, you're paying a serious premium for the bragging rights in an already elevated setting. DRC deserves reverence, but unless someone else is signing the check, this is a wine better enjoyed somewhere you can sit with it for three hours.
Kistler Vineyards Chardonnay + Seared Scallops
Kistler brings enough texture and oak-influenced richness to hold up to the brine and butter of the scallops without steamrolling them — it's the kind of pairing that makes a Wednesday half-price night feel criminally affordable.
Wednesday — Half-price wine night every Wednesday — the best reason to plan a mid-week trip to Biltmore.
🔥 The Bottom Line
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.
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
Grove Park · Asheville · Regional
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.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
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 · 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
Southwest / Time Corners · Fort Wayne · American
Catablu is exactly what it needs to be for its neighborhood — a reliable, thoughtfully maintained list that won't embarrass you on a date night or bore you entirely. It's not a destination wine list, but it's a solid supporting act for a kitchen that clearly takes food seriously.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Otay Ranch Town Center · Chula Vista · American
BJ's is a fine place to drink a craft beer and eat a Pizookie. It is not a place to drink wine. Order a Brewhouse Blonde, skip the wine list entirely, and save your wine night for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SanTan Village · Gilbert · American
The Cheesecake Factory is a perfectly fine place to eat — the wine list just isn't a reason to go. Order a cocktail, split a bottle of Santa Margherita if you must, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that earned it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.