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 →
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 · Italian bakery and cafe
Rosetta Bakery has no business having a wine list this considered. Eight labels, nearly all pourable by the glass, priced so fairly it almost seems like a mistake — and anchored by producers like Monchiero Carbone and Antica Fratta that would look at home on a dedicated wine bar menu. If you're nearby and want a glass of something genuinely Italian and genuinely good without paying downtown wine bar prices, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Smyrna · Atlanta · New American
Muss & Turner's isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — and that honesty is oddly refreshing. If you're in Smyrna on a Tuesday, the reported wine-focused night is reason enough to show up early, grab a seat, and let the shrimp and grits do the heavy lifting while you figure out what's on the list.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Atlanta · New American
Soho's wine list is built for people who already know what they like — California reds, recognizable labels, no curveballs. The markup is real (Faust at $132/bottle and Moët at $138 are tough to justify), but the by-the-glass depth gives you flexibility to stay in a reasonable range. If you're here for the food and want a no-drama pour, you'll find it — just don't come expecting discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · French
St. John's is running a lean, all-by-the-glass program that's more considered than it looks at first glance — a Vouvray, a Barolo, and an aged Languedoc Syrah on a 14-bottle list isn't an accident. The lack of bottle service is a real limitation for a French dinner, but if you're grazing through courses and glasses, the pricing stays honest. Worth a visit if you want something beyond the usual steakhouse pour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Buckhead · Atlanta · French-American
St. John has the bones of a place worth drinking well at — a thoughtful regional spread, a dining room that takes itself seriously, and a menu built for wine-friendly food. But without confirmed list details or pricing, we can't promise the experience lives up to the setup. Go for the Welsh Rarebit and the mood, and ask your server what they're excited about on the list — that answer alone will tell you what kind of night you're in for.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Southern breakfast and lunch
Bantam + Biddy is a perfectly decent brunch spot that simply has no interest in wine — and that's fine, but you should know going in. If your table is splitting Mimosas and splitting biscuits, great. If you want an actual glass of wine with your eggs, eat somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
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
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
