Champagne dreams, markup realities, solid brasserie list
Downtown · Winston Salem · French Brasserie, European, New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 25, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Katharine Brasserie & Bar’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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.
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Small but Thoughtful
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Crowd Pleasers
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Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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