Southern comfort food, decent wine to match
· Atlanta · Southern · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 3, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Southern Gentleman’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
Thirteen bottles, thirteen by-the-glass options — every wine on the list pulls double duty, which tells you exactly what kind of program this is. It's lean, approachable, and clearly built for the guest who wants a glass of something decent without overthinking it. No deep cuts, no cellar surprises, but nothing embarrassing either.
The list covers the usual bases — bubbles, rosé, white, red — with names that scan as recognizable rather than adventurous. You've got Stags' Leap Winery Chardonnay and Northstar Merlot 'Polaris' flying the American flag, while a Willems-Willems Riesling Feinherb and Laetare Pinot Gris nod vaguely toward Europe. The reds lean California-heavy with Valravn Zinfandel, Bonanno Family Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Ride Cab rounding things out. There's no real region of focus here — it's a highlights reel from the distributor catalog, built for breadth over depth.
The entire list is available by the glass, which is generous even if the selection isn't revelatory. Prices land between $14 and $18 a pour, which feels reasonable for Atlanta and doesn't sting too badly on a second glass. Rotation doesn't appear to be part of the playbook — what you see is likely what you'll get on your next visit too.
Willems-Willems Riesling Feinherb — $14
Off-dry German Riesling at the bottom of the price range is a genuine find on a list this conventional. It's got the acidity and slight sweetness to handle bold Southern flavors, and most guests will walk right past it — which means more for you.
Northstar Merlot 'Polaris'
Northstar is one of the more serious Merlot producers in Washington State and 'Polaris' is their second label — structured, dark-fruited, and dramatically better than the Cab-reflexive crowd it shares a menu with. Most people ordering red here will default to Cabernet and completely miss it.
Ride Cabernet Sauvignon
Generic California Cab at the higher end of the bottle range with nothing particularly interesting in the glass. When Northstar Merlot is sitting right there on the same list, there's no reason to go this route.
Valravn Zinfandel + Fried Chicken
A jammy, fruit-forward Sonoma Zin with enough body to stand up to crispy fried chicken and the richness that comes with it. The slight spice in the wine plays off the seasoning without fighting it — this is the kind of pairing that makes sense even if nobody planned it.
The Bottom Line
The Southern Gentleman isn't here to win wine awards, and it doesn't pretend to be. But fair prices, a full glass pour program, and a couple of genuinely smart picks buried in a short list make it more than serviceable — come for the food, order a glass, and don't overthink it.
· Atlanta · Sushi / Omakase
Sushi By Bou is clearly here to serve great fish — and the wine list confirms that wine is very much an afterthought. Order the Dom if you're feeling flush or the Hampton Water if you're being sensible, and let the food do the heavy lifting.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Mediterranean / New American
Rose & Rye isn't a destination for wine nerds, but it's a perfectly functional list for a date night where the wine is supporting the evening, not headlining it. Order the Crémant, avoid the Caymus markup, and you'll do just fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Steakhouse
Hal's delivers a competent, Napa-forward bottle list that does exactly what a steakhouse wine program is supposed to do — just without much surprise or value mercy. Send a friend here if they want a reliable big-red experience; warn them to leave the credit card breathing room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Fast Casual
Nando's is here for the chicken, and the wine list knows it — eight uninspired labels that exist to check a box, not to enhance your meal. Order the Vinho Verde, enjoy your peri-peri, and don't overthink it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Stemless Casual
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Italian
Bici's wine list won't knock you sideways, but it's honest, Italian-focused, and fairly priced — a reliable partner to the food. We'd send a friend here and tell them to skip the Sauvignon Blanc and go straight for the Greco.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Southern
SouthernNational is doing something genuinely unusual — running a tight, Europe-forward wine list inside a Southern kitchen, and mostly pulling it off. If you're tired of the same Sonoma Pinot and overpriced Malbec at every restaurant in town, this list is worth your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Lakeland · Lakeland · Southern
Cracker Barrel's wine program exists in the same way the decorative horseshoes on the wall exist — for atmosphere, not function. Order the biscuits, order the sweet tea, and save the wine drinking for a restaurant that's actually trying.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bessemer · Bessemer · Southern
Bright Star isn't a destination for wine lovers, but it's not pretending to be — and the Skouras on that list is enough to earn our respect. Come for the history and the seafood, order the Greek white, and don't look too hard at the Sancerre pricing.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pearl District · Portland · Southern
Screen Door is a Wild Card — a Southern comfort food spot that has no business having a thoughtful Oregon wine list, and yet here we are. The markups sting a little, but the Lambrusco alone is worth the detour.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
