Wine Wednesday Saves an Otherwise Predictable List
Murrayville/Market Street · Wilmington · Modern American / Southern Comfort · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 15, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at JohnnyLukes reads like a greatest hits album you've heard a hundred times — Meiomi, Josh Cellars, Kendall-Jackson, Cupcake. There's nothing wrong with any of it, exactly, but there's nothing that makes you lean in either. What does make you lean in is Wednesday, when select bottles go half-price all day and night.
The list is California-heavy with a few value imports sprinkled in — Il Masso Pinot Grigio from Friuli, Lillie's Collection Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, 19 Crimes from Australia. It's approachable and readable in about 90 seconds, which is kind of the point for a neighborhood scratch kitchen on Market Street. Don't come looking for Burgundy or anything with a vintage story; this list is built for the table that wants something easy with their shrimp and grits. The Decoy Cabernet from Duckhorn is the one name that signals someone at some point cared enough to step up one tier.
Roughly 10 to 15 options by the glass, priced between $7 and $13, which keeps things accessible even if the markups on a per-bottle basis are doing a lot of heavy lifting. The Sea Sun Pinot Noir by Caymus at $12 a glass is the clear quality ceiling here. Rotation appears limited — this is a set list, not something that changes with the seasons.
Sea Sun Pinot Noir by Caymus — $12/glass
Caymus's value-tier Pinot punches well above its price point for a by-the-glass option, and at $12 it's the most interesting pour on the list without being a stretch. On Wine Wednesday, the bottle version becomes genuinely good value.
Il Masso Pinot Grigio
Most people will default to the California Pinot Grigio, but the Il Masso from Friuli is the real thing — leaner, more mineral, less fruit-forward grocery-store generic. It's one of the few wines here that has a sense of place.
Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon
At $13 a glass, you're looking at a 352% markup on a bottle you can grab for $20 at Total Wine. It's a fine wine — Duckhorn's influence keeps the quality honest — but the math is brutal. Wait for Wine Wednesday or order a cocktail.
Lillie's Collection Sauvignon Blanc + Crab Cake
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and fresh crab are practically made for each other — the wine's citrus edge and grassy brightness cut right through the richness of the crab cake without bullying the delicate seafood flavor. At $9 a glass it's one of the better-value pours on the list too.
Wednesday — Half-priced select bottles of wine all day and night every Wednesday. Advertised as 'Wine Wednesday' — the single best reason to visit for wine drinkers.
✔️ The Bottom Line
JohnnyLukes is a solid neighborhood spot that happens to have a wine list, not a wine destination that happens to serve food — and that's fine. Show up on a Wednesday, grab the Sea Sun or the Il Masso at half price, and pair it with the crab cake. You'll leave happy.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.