The Market Place Restaurant
Asheville's Downtown Classic Plays It Safe
Downtown Asheville · Asheville · American farm-to-table · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed February 21, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The Market Place's wine list reads like a greatest hits compilation from Wine Spectator's top 100. It's the kind of list that won't offend anyone at the table, but won't surprise anyone either. For a 40-year Asheville institution, we expected more personality.
Selection Deep Dive
The 100+ bottle list leans heavily on familiar names: Rhône stalwarts like E. Guigal, Napa heavy-hitters including Orin Swift, and safe bets from Marlborough and Mendoza. There's a token nod to local with Biltmore Estate bubbles, but the list feels frozen in 2015. Missing: any natural wines, orange wines, or adventurous producers that define modern farm-to-table dining. The Rhône selection shows promise with some depth beyond Guigal, and the Champagne corner features Billecart-Salmon, which is a smart choice. But overall, this is a list built for tourists who want recognizable labels, not locals hunting for discovery bottles.
By the Glass
Twelve by-the-glass options at $10-$18 covers the bases without much flair. You'll find a predictable lineup: a Sancerre, a Napa Cab, probably a Malbec, definitely a Pinot Grigio. The pricing is fair for Asheville, but the selection rotates about as often as the restaurant changes its address. These are Wednesday night pours, not pours that make you lean across the table and say 'taste this.'
E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône — $48
A workhorse Rhône that drinks well above its price point and pairs with half the menu
Billecart-Salmon Brut Réserve
Most people skip Champagne with farm-to-table, but this grower bottle elevates the Whole Sunburst Trout like nothing else on the list
Orin Swift 8 Years in the Desert
A $95+ markup on a wine that's already overpriced retail—pure name recognition tax
Guigal Côtes du Rhône + Cider Braised Pork Shank
The Grenache-Syrah blend mirrors the braising liquid's fruit-forward sweetness while cutting through the richness
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Market Place does its job: you'll drink well enough with your Wood Grilled Bistro Steak, and you won't get gouged on the Guigal. But for a restaurant celebrating four decades in Asheville's most dynamic food scene, the wine program feels like it's coasting on reputation. We'd send a friend here for the food and the history, then tell them to order cocktails.
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