Napa on the river, steak in the mountains
River Road · Gatlinburg · Steakhouse, American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 29, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Peddler Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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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.
Downtown Parkway Rooftop · Gatlinburg · Mexican, Tex-Mex
Loco Burro is a great spot for a frozen margarita on a Smoky Mountain rooftop — the wine list is just not the reason you're here, and no one pretends otherwise. Order a cocktail, enjoy the view, and save your serious wine curiosity for a different night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Parkway · Gatlinburg · Pizza, American, Bar
Mellow Mushroom Gatlinburg is a genuinely fun spot for pizza and a cold beer — lean into that and you'll have a great time. The wine list, though, is an afterthought dressed up as a menu section, and no amount of hippie décor changes that math.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Newman Road / Hillside · Gatlinburg · Upscale Steakhouse & American Fine Dining
The Greenbrier is doing exactly what a fine dining steakhouse in a national park tourist corridor should do with wine — keeping it approachable, stocking names people recognize, and not getting too weird about it. It's not a wine destination, but it won't embarrass itself either; send a friend who wants a solid Cab with a great steak and a mountain view.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Parkway / Elks Plaza · Gatlinburg · Italian
The Best Italian's wine list does exactly what it needs to do: keep casual diners happy, not drain wallets, and get out of the way of the garlic knots. We wouldn't drive to Gatlinburg for the wine, but if you're already there and want something decent with dinner, you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Parkway · Gatlinburg · Winery Tasting Room
Tennessee Homemade Wines isn't trying to be a serious wine destination and it's better for it — this is a fun, honest, local-first tasting room that delivers exactly what Gatlinburg visitors are actually looking for. Send your friends here if they want a taste of Appalachian winemaking culture, not if they're chasing a Riedel-and-Rhône experience.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Cherry Street · Gatlinburg · Winery
This isn't a destination for serious wine drinkers, and it knows that — Smoky Mountain Winery is a cheerful, unpretentious regional stop that delivers exactly what it promises. If you're in Gatlinburg and curious about Tennessee fruit wines, this is the place; if you're hunting for a serious cellar, keep driving.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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
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