Champagne dreams, markup realities, solid brasserie list
Downtown · Winston Salem · French Brasserie, European, New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 25, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into The Katharine inside the Kimpton Cardinal, the wine list feels like it belongs here — polished, French-leaning, and a little aspirational. The Champagne section is the obvious headliner, and it's genuinely impressive for Winston-Salem. But flip past the bubbles and you start to wonder if the rest of the list got the same attention.
The Champagne program is the real story: Salon, Delamotte, Philippe Gonet, J. Lassalle — this isn't a list padded with Moët and called it a day. There's genuine grower Champagne cred here, and a nod to North Carolina via Dynamis Estate Wines, which is the kind of local inclusion that earns goodwill. The broader list covers the French classics — Bordeaux, Loire, Sancerre territory — plus a Pan-European sweep that keeps things from feeling too narrow. That said, outside the Champagne section, the depth gets a bit thinner and you're working with familiar names rather than anything that'll make a serious wine drinker lean forward.
An estimated 12–20 options by the glass is solid for a brasserie of this size, and the price range of $12–$22 is reasonable for a hotel restaurant at this level. We'd love to see the glass program rotate more aggressively — right now it feels like it was set at opening and hasn't been revisited. If you're here for a quick dinner at the bar, there's enough to work with, but don't expect anything that'll surprise you.
Jean Josselin 'Audace' Rosé NV — $100
At roughly 82% markup over retail, it's the least punishing bottle on the Champagne list and it's a genuinely fun, food-friendly grower rosé that most tables will love with the Moules Frites.
Dynamis Estate Wines
North Carolina wine gets dismissed at a lot of restaurants, even the ones pouring it. Dynamis is one of the state's more serious producers, and having them on a list anchored by French Champagne is a quiet statement worth exploring — order it before you default to something French.
J. Lassalle 'Angeline' 1er Cru Brut 2011
A 110% markup on a wine you can find at retail for $95 is a tough ask, even for a beautiful vintage Champagne. It's a lovely bottle but at $200 you're paying a serious hotel tax for the privilege. Save it for when someone else is buying.
Philippe Gonet Grand Cru TER Blanc de Blancs NV + Bouillabaisse
Blanc de Blancs and seafood broth is a reliable move — the Gonet's chalky, citrus-driven profile cuts right through the richness of the saffron base without stepping on the fish. At $125 it's not cheap, but it's the kind of pairing that makes the meal feel intentional.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Katharine is a genuinely good wine destination by Winston-Salem standards, with a Champagne list that punches above its weight class for a mid-sized Southern city. Just go in knowing you're paying hotel-rate markups — budget accordingly and lean toward the grower Champagnes and local bottles for the best return.
Reynolda / North Winston-Salem · Winston Salem · Upscale American
Graylyn Estate is a genuinely beautiful place to have dinner, but the wine list is an afterthought in a room that deserves intention. Order the sea bass, grab the La Crema, and try not to think too hard about what this list could have been.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Clemmons · Winston Salem · New American
Sixty Vines is a solid, reliable wine stop in Winston-Salem — the by-the-glass breadth is real and the staff knows their stuff, but the list reads like a greatest hits album rather than anything adventurous. Come for the volume, stay for the pizza, but don't expect to have your mind changed about wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Winston Salem · Indian
Oh' Calcutta's wine list is unremarkable on its own — but Tuesday nights flip the script entirely, and a $19 Pinot Noir with lamb vindaloo is a genuinely good time. Come for the food, plan around Tuesday, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Winston Salem · American
Cin Cin isn't a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — but Wednesday half-price wine all day on bottles and glasses turns a generic list into a genuinely good deal with a burger in hand. Show up any other night of the week and order a beer.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Brookstown · Winston Salem · Italian
Quanto Basta punches above its weight for a mid-size Southern city Italian spot — the Italian-focused list is thoughtful, the prices are fair, and Thursday half-price bottles make it one of the best weekly wine deals in Winston-Salem. Come hungry, come on a Thursday, and order the Falanghina.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Silas Creek Pkwy · Winston Salem · Japanese / Sushi
Umi is a fun hibachi night out, and the wine pricing is honestly fairer than it has any right to be — but the list itself is an afterthought, and no amount of fair markup fixes a selection that's two bottles deep in personality. Order sake, or a cocktail, and come back to us when they add a Grüner Veltliner.
Grocery Store
Fair
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.