Napa on the river, steak in the mountains
River Road · Gatlinburg · Steakhouse, American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 29, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed The Peddler Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into The Peddler, you get the full Gatlinburg romance package — log cabin walls, the sound of the river below, candlelight flickering. The wine list arrives and it's exactly what you'd expect: a tight California-forward card that plays to the crowd ordering ribeyes. No surprises here, but no disasters either.
The list runs 30 to 50 bottles and almost every one of them lives in California, with Napa doing most of the heavy lifting. You've got your Caymus, your Jordan, your Stag's Leap — the holy trinity of steakhouse Cabernet for people who learned about wine from a restaurant menu in 2009. There's nothing wrong with any of these wines, they're just not interesting, and the list doesn't venture far enough to give adventurous drinkers much of a reason to explore. If you're looking for a Burgundy, a Rhône, or honestly anything from the Old World, keep looking.
Eight to twelve pours by the glass gives you enough to work with for a multi-course dinner without committing to a bottle. Expect the usual suspects — Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay and Meiomi Pinot Noir are almost certainly anchoring the list. Rotation appears minimal; this feels like a set-it-and-forget-it program rather than something a wine-curious manager is actively tending.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $85
Jordan consistently punches above its price point as a producer, and in a steakhouse setting where Caymus is inevitably priced at a premium, Jordan is often the smarter pick — classically structured, less hyped, and genuinely built for red meat.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
Stag's Leap doesn't have the same name-drop cachet as Caymus at a tourist-heavy spot like this, so it tends to get passed over — but it's a more serious wine with better bones. If it's on the list, it's the most credible Napa Cab in the room.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is the most requested Cabernet in American steakhouses and restaurants know it — which means they price it accordingly. You're paying for the name recognition here, and the markup reflects that. The wine is fine, but your money goes further elsewhere on this list.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon + Custom-cut ribeye
Jordan's firm but approachable tannins and dark fruit profile are textbook for a well-marbled ribeye. It doesn't fight the fat — it works with it, and the structure holds up through the whole cut without overwhelming the beef.
The Bottom Line
The Peddler is a legitimately great steakhouse experience in a gorgeous setting, and the wine list is competent enough to get the job done — but it's a supporting cast, not a destination. Order the Jordan, get the steak, enjoy the river view, and don't expect the list to surprise you.
· Gatlinburg · Brewery and Pub
Smoky Mountain Brewery is a beer destination that happens to have a functional wine list — and that's not a knock. The pricing is fair across most of the menu, the by-the-glass selection is broad, and the familiar producers mean no one at the table is guessing. If you're here for wine first, you're in the wrong building. If you're here with a group and need something other than a pint, you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Gatlinburg · Winery and Tasting Room
Hillside Winery earns its Wild Card badge because it's doing something genuinely unexpected in the middle of Gatlinburg's tourist corridor — making Italian-style wines in Tennessee and inviting you to taste them for free. We can't verify specific bottles, pricing, or how deep the cellar actually goes, so treat this as an adventure rather than a sure thing. If you're in the Smokies and curious about American regional wine outside the usual suspects, this is worth an hour of your afternoon.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Gatlinburg · Brewery and Pizza
This is a brewery that serves wine the way a steakhouse serves veggie burgers — technically available, clearly not the point. At $7 flat, the pricing is painless, but with zero producer information and a list built entirely from generic varietals, there's no reason to come here for wine. Grab one of their beers, enjoy the Smokies, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that returns the favor.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Gatlinburg · German
Hofbräuhaus Gatlinburg is here to sell you a liter of beer in a giant mug, and honestly, that's the right call. The wine program is six unlabeled varietals with no pricing transparency and zero evidence of anyone tending to it with care. Order the Märzen, skip the wine.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Gatlinburg · Seafood
Chesapeake's Gatlinburg isn't trying to win a wine award, and it doesn't need to — the list is honest, the pricing is fair for what it is, and the white wine depth is genuinely appropriate for a seafood restaurant. If you're in Gatlinburg and want a bottle that won't break the bank or embarrass you, you can do a lot worse than landing on that Dry Creek Chenin Blanc.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Gatlinburg · Southern American
Ole Red is a concert venue and bar that happens to have wine on the menu — and it shows. If you're in Gatlinburg for live music and cold beer, this place probably delivers. If you're looking to drink well, skip the wine entirely and order a cocktail or a local beer. There are better uses for your $10.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Parkway · Gatlinburg · Steakhouse, American
Alamo Steakhouse is genuinely great at what it does — the oak-fired meats are the draw and they deliver. But the wine list is purely functional, overpriced for what it is, and built for tourists who aren't going to push back on a Kendall-Jackson upcharge. Come for the steak, order a bourbon, and save the wine enthusiasm for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lionshead · Vail · Steakhouse, American
Vail Chophouse is a dependable après-ski and dinner destination that plays its wine program straight down the middle — familiar names, steep but expected mountain-town pricing, and a list that won't let you down if you stick to the California Cabs. We'd send a friend here for the steak and the view, with a note to skip the Josh and go straight to Jordan.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Santa Ynez · Solvang · Steakhouse, American
Whiskey 'N Rye isn't trying to be a destination wine program, but if you're eating a serious steak in Santa Ynez Valley and drinking the local Syrah or Foxen Pinot, you're doing exactly what this region was made for. Send a friend here — just tell them to skip the Cab and go local.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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