Best Wine Lists in Louisiana

Mariner's isn't trying to be a wine destination — it's a waterfront restaurant in Natchitoches that happens to take its California Cab and Chardonnay seriously, and the Wine Spectator credential is earned. Send your friends here for the view and the Steak Oscar, and trust that the wine list won't let you down.

Chemin a La Mer is a solid steakhouse wine list wearing a French accent — dependable, occasionally exciting, and priced for the occasion rather than the adventurous drinker. If you're here for the river views and a bone-in cut, the wine list will take care of you without surprises.

Bin 77 isn't trying to be the most adventurous wine list in Louisiana — it's trying to be the most reliable, and it largely succeeds. If you want California done right with a knowledgeable staff and fair prices in Baton Rouge, this is your spot.

Bodega Wine Dive is the kind of place that earns its Wine Spectator badge honestly — a thoughtful California-forward list served without pretension in a town that doesn't have many options like it. If you're anywhere near Lake Charles and want a real glass of wine with your pasta, this is your spot.

The Saint plays it safe with a California-first list that matches its Southern dining room well — no surprises, but no embarrassments either. If you're in St. Francisville and want a solid bottle with your tenderloin, this is where you go.

The Country Club is a genuinely wild New Orleans experience that happens to have a respectable, fairly priced wine list attached — and that's more than most places with a pool and a clothing policy can say. Send a friend here for the vibe, tell them to order the Riesling with the shrimp and grits, and let the afternoon take care of itself.

Tableau is a reliable, well-curated stop for serious wine drinkers who also want one of the better dining rooms in the French Quarter. The list earns its Wine Spectator nod — just keep an eye on which bottles you're reaching for if the check matters.

Miss River earns its Wine Spectator nod — this is a genuinely thoughtful list tucked inside a hotel restaurant, with a real sommelier and real producers backing it up. Markup keeps it from being a destination for the wine alone, but paired with the food, it's one of the better all-in dining experiences on the river.

Meril is a reliable wine destination in a city that doesn't always take its wine lists seriously — with a real sommelier, a credible California-France selection, and fair pricing, it earns its Award of Excellence the honest way. Send a friend here, tell them to look past the obvious Napa picks, and let Lauren Briley's list do the rest.

MaMou is a Burgundy love letter set inside a French Quarter bistro, and for the right diner — someone who wants to eat duck confit and drink Drouhin — it absolutely delivers. Just know what you're walking into: a focused, France-first list with prices that reflect it.

King Brasserie earns its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence the honest way — a solid, well-kept list built around reliable California producers that won't embarrass you on a business dinner or a date night. It's not the most exciting wine list in New Orleans, but it's a dependable one, and in a city this competitive, that counts for something.

Jack Rose is the kind of place that surprises you — a lively, joie-de-vivre NOLA spot on St. Charles with a wine list that would hold its own in a more pretentious room. If you're eating in New Orleans and want serious wine without a serious atmosphere, this is your call.