Great Whiskey, Wine List Phoning It In
Downtown · Baton Rouge · Cocktail Bar & Whiskey Lounge with Small Plates · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 27, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The River Room’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The River Room is a genuinely cool spot — low lights, vinyl spinning, historic downtown bones — and then you see the wine list. It reads like a grocery store endcap that someone formatted into a menu. This place is built for whiskey, and the wine program knows it.
The list leans hard on familiar California labels: Meiomi, Josh Cellars, Kendall-Jackson, Apothic. There's a token nod to New Zealand with Kim Crawford and a La Marca Prosecco for bubbles fans, but that's basically where the adventure ends. No old-world depth, no regional Louisiana character, no small producers — just the brands you'd recognize from a chain restaurant or your uncle's fridge. The Masi Modello bottlings (Pinot Grigio and Merlot) at least hint at something slightly more considered, but it's still squarely in the 'safe and recognizable' lane.
You're looking at roughly 8–12 pours in the $9–$15 range, which covers the usual suspects without much rotation or inspiration. The Wednesday Wine Down drops glass prices to $8 and halves bottle prices from 4–7 PM, which is genuinely the most interesting thing happening on this wine list. Outside of that window, there's little reason to be here for the wine specifically.
Masi Modello Pinot Grigio Trevenezie IGT — $35 (half-price Wednesday)
At half-price on Wine Down Wednesday, this is a clean, honest Northern Italian pour at a price that's actually fair. It's the one bottle on the list where the markup stops feeling like a penalty.
La Marca Prosecco
Everyone sleeps on bubbles at a whiskey bar, which means you'll rarely fight anyone for the last pour. La Marca is approachable and sessionable, and it plays surprisingly well against the savory small plates. Not a revelation, but smarter than ordering the Apothic.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
At $40 a bottle for something that retails around $14, you're paying nearly three times what this wine is worth. Josh Cellars is a perfectly fine grocery store cab — emphasis on grocery store. That markup is hard to swallow.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc + Charcuterie or small plates
The bright acidity and citrus snap of Kim Crawford cuts through cured meats and soft cheeses without asking too much of either you or your wallet — at least relative to the rest of this list.
Wednesday — $8 wine by the glass and half-price bottles dine-in only, 4–7 PM. Masi Modello Pinot Grigio and Masi Modello Merlot Trevenezie IGT specifically listed. No stacking with other discounts or coupons.
The Bottom Line
The River Room is a legitimately great whiskey lounge that treats its wine list as an afterthought, and the steep markups on mass-market bottles make that neglect sting a little. Come for the bourbon, come for the vibe, come on a Wednesday if you insist on wine.
· Baton Rouge · Fine Dining / French-Creole
French Market Bistro has the bones of a solid wine program — 72 labels, real Champagne houses, and one genuinely exciting Burgundy — but the list plays it so California-safe that the French-Creole kitchen deserves better company. A reliable stop, not a destination.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Baton Rouge · Mexican / Coastal
Veracruz has a coastal Mexican concept with real potential, but nine bottles — mostly California supermarket staples — is not a wine program worth seeking out. Order the MAN Chenin Blanc or the rosé, and hope the food carries the night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Jefferson / Airline · Baton Rouge · Barbecue and Seafood
BRQ is a solid neighborhood restaurant with a wine list that knows its audience — approachable, inoffensive, and honestly fine for what it is. Hit it on a Wednesday, grab the seasonal rosé or a bottle of The Prisoner at half price, and you'll leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown Baton Rouge · Baton Rouge · Italian
The Little Village isn't your wine destination, but Tuesday happy hour from 5–7 PM flips this into a genuinely good deal — half-price bottles on a $40–$140 list changes the math entirely. Come for the veal, order early, and let Tuesday do the heavy lifting.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
South Baton Rouge / Airline Highway · Baton Rouge · Italian
The Little Village Airline is not a destination for wine — it's a destination for lasagna, and the wine list knows it. Come on a Wednesday, order a bottle of La Crema at half price, and you'll leave happy enough.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Mid City / Perkins Road Overpass · Baton Rouge · Cajun and Creole Seafood
Parrain's is a legitimately great seafood spot that simply doesn't care about wine, and the list proves it. Order the étouffée, have a beer or a cocktail, and save your wine enthusiasm for somewhere that's earned it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
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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