J.C. Holdway
California Muscle Meets Knoxville's Best Table
Downtown Knoxville · Knoxville · Seasonal, Southern American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 24, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
You're not expecting a California-focused wine list this serious in downtown Knoxville, and that's exactly the point. J.C. Holdway opens with a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence on the wall and a sommelier named Andrew Woodland who clearly did the homework. The list lands somewhere between focused and ambitious — not trying to be everything, but confident in what it is.
Selection Deep Dive
The backbone here is California, and it's a California worth drinking — Ridge Vineyards, Kistler, Shafer, Stag's Leap, Duckhorn, Jordan, Cakebread. These aren't random grocery-store pours; they're names that belong on serious lists. The 150-250 bottle range gives Andrew enough room to build some depth without the list becoming unwieldy, and the California-first approach feels intentional rather than lazy. That said, if you came looking for Burgundy rabbit holes or natural wine detours, you'll need to adjust expectations — this list plants its flag and stays there.
By the Glass
Twelve to twenty options by the glass is a genuinely solid BTG program for a mid-size restaurant, especially in a market where four or five pours is still the norm. Pricing runs $12–$18, which sits in reasonable territory for the caliber of producers on the bottle list. We'd love to see more rotation signaling, but what's here gives you real options across a meal.
Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $45-$65 (bottle estimate)
Jordan consistently punches above its price point — structured, food-friendly, and made for a table like this. Given the wood-grilled proteins on the menu, it's the most honest bottle on the list for the money.
Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel
Most people walk past Ridge when they see Kistler and Shafer on the same list, which is a mistake. Ridge makes some of the most food-honest, terroir-driven California reds in existence, and with a seasonal Southern menu built around fire and char, this is quietly the most interesting match in the room.
Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay
Cakebread is a perfectly fine wine, but at restaurant markup it's paying for a brand name that's been on every hotel banquet list for twenty years. With Kistler on the same menu, there's no reason to go here.
Kistler Vineyards Chardonnay + Local Trout
Kistler's Chardonnay brings enough richness and structure to stand next to the wood-fired preparation without flattening the fish. It's the rare California Chardonnay that earns its place at a serious seafood course rather than just overwhelming it.
🎲 The Bottom Line
J.C. Holdway is the kind of restaurant that makes you reconsider what you expect from Knoxville — the food is serious, Andrew Woodland's California-focused list backs it up, and the whole thing feels like a grown-up dinner out. Send a friend here for wine without hesitation.
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