Barefoot Country, Population: Every Wine Here
Uptown · Columbus · Pub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 28, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Rail Pub’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at The Rail Pub reads like someone handed a bar back a grocery store circular and said 'order whatever.' Barefoot dominates the menu the way beer signs dominate the walls — completely and without apology. This is a pub that knows it's a pub, and the wine selection has been treated accordingly.
Of the 15 wines on the list, roughly half are Barefoot — the Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, White Zinfandel, Pinot Grigio, Moscato, and Riesling all clock in from that single mass-market label. The rest of the bench is filled by Knotty Vine (a Rodney Strong budget tier), 19 Crimes' novelty-label reds, and a small handful of slightly more serious bottles: J. Lohr 7 Oaks Paso Robles Cabernet, St. Francis Chardonnay, and Line 39 Pinot Noir. There's no old-world presence, no regional curiosity, no attempt at depth — just California mass-market on repeat. To be fair, this is a pub in Columbus, Georgia, and the list is at least internally consistent with that identity.
Nine of the 15 wines pour by the glass, which is a solid ratio — the problem is that nearly all nine are Barefoot. If you're here for a casual glass of something cold and uncomplicated, you'll be fine. If you want anything with a pulse, you're better off ordering from the beer menu.
J. Lohr 7 Oaks Paso Robles Cabernet — Price not verified
By a significant margin, the most legitimate bottle on the list. J. Lohr 7 Oaks is a reliable, well-made Paso Cab that usually retails around $16-18 — if the pub hasn't gone wild on the markup, this is the clear move for anyone who actually wants to drink wine.
St. Francis Chardonnay
St. Francis is a Sonoma producer that consistently punches above its price point. Sandwiched between a sea of Barefoot bottles, most people will scroll right past it — don't. It's the most serious white on the list and it's not close.
Barefoot White Zinfandel
Look, no judgment on sweet pink wine — but if you're paying bar prices for something you could grab at a gas station for $6 a bottle, that math just doesn't work in your favor. Skip it.
19 Crimes Shiraz + Pub burger
19 Crimes Shiraz is fruit-forward, a little smoky, and has enough body to stand up to a greasy, char-grilled pub burger. It's not a sophisticated pairing, but it's a functional one — and functional is the operative word at The Rail Pub.
The Bottom Line
The Rail Pub is not here to advance your wine education, and that's fine — it's a pub, it sells beer, and the wine list exists as an afterthought for the table that didn't want beer. Order the J. Lohr if you need a glass of something real; otherwise, get a pint and stop looking at the wine menu.
Midtown Columbus · Columbus · Seafood
Red Lobster 13th St. is not a wine destination — it's a seafood chain where wine exists because a menu has to have one. Order the Riesling with your lobster tail, enjoy the Cheddar Bay Biscuits, and make your peace with it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Riverwalk / Downtown Columbus · Columbus · American
Denim & Oak isn't going to make anyone's wine pilgrimage list, but for Columbus, Georgia, it's a legitimately decent place to drink — fair prices, a deep BTG program, and Wine Down Wednesday as a reason to come back. Just steer clear of the Concha y Toro and head straight for the Orin Swift or the Oregon section.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
North Columbus · Columbus · American Barbecue and Grill
Smokey Bones is a perfectly fine place to eat ribs and watch a game — just don't come here for the wine. Order a cold beer, save your wine budget for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Columbus / Whittlesey Boulevard · Columbus · Modern American
Ivory & Oak is a reliable wine stop in a city that isn't exactly crawling with serious lists — the room is great, the pours are familiar, and the markup is the main thing holding it back from something better. Go for the steak, order the Merlot, and don't expect to be challenged.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Airport / East Columbus · Columbus · Hotel Restaurant
If you're stuck at the DoubleTree and the flight is delayed, Houlihan's will keep you fed and adequately watered — but don't mistake that for a wine program worth seeking out. Order the Etude Pinot or the Malbec, skip the sangria, and manage your expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Airport / East Columbus · Columbus · American Bar & Grill
This is airport-adjacent chain wine, full stop — familiar labels at inflated prices for a captive audience that mostly wants something cold and wet after traveling. Order a cocktail instead, or hit the hotel bar and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Monroe Avenue / OSU · Corvallis · Pub
McMenamins On Monroe is not a wine destination — it's a pub that does wine responsibly and without embarrassment. Send a friend here if they want something decent by the glass without a markup hangover, but tell them to save their Willamette Valley deep-dive for somewhere with more ambition.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Iowa City · Pub
Micky's is a great Irish pub — for Guinness, whiskey, and a Reuben at midnight. The wine program is an afterthought dressed up as a menu section, and nobody on either side of the bar is pretending otherwise. Order the beer.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · Reno · Pub
Chapel Tavern is not a wine destination, but its pricing is so honest it borders on accidental generosity — and that earns it real credit. If you're in Midtown Reno and want something decent in your glass without getting gouged, this is a legitimate call.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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