Downtown Asheville's Quietly Serious Wine Program
Downtown Asheville · Asheville · Farm to Table · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 28, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The Blackbird's wine list opens with intention — this is not an afterthought tucked behind the cocktail page. At 150-plus bottles anchored in California, France, and Italy, it reads like a list curated by someone who actually drinks wine. The Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator, held since 2018, is well-earned here.
California, France, and Italy form the backbone, and the heavyweights are present and accounted for: Kistler Chardonnay, Gaja Barbaresco, Antinori Tignanello, and Chateau Pontet-Canet for the Bordeaux faithful. Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel and Duckhorn Merlot round out a California section that covers both the serious collector and the casual drinker without pandering to either. Domaine Drouhin Oregon sneaks in a Pacific Northwest nod, which is a smart and honest addition given how well Oregon Pinot plays with the farm-to-table format here. The list doesn't push into deep-cellar territory or natural wine experimentation, but what it does, it does with conviction.
Twelve to twenty options by the glass is a strong program for a restaurant of this size — enough to stay interesting without becoming unmanageable. Prices in the $12-$18 range are fair for Asheville, and the range likely mirrors the bottle list's California-France-Italy axis. We'd like to see more rotation to keep regulars guessing, but what's here is reliably drinkable.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir — $40s (estimated bottle entry)
Drouhin's Oregon Pinot punches well above typical restaurant markup — elegant, food-friendly, and a natural fit alongside the farm-to-table menu. It's the bottle we'd reach for first.
Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel
Most guests are eyeing the Burgundy or the Bordeaux, and Ridge gets overlooked. That's a mistake. Ridge makes Zinfandel with real structure and age-worthiness — this is not a fruit bomb, it's a serious wine at a friendlier price point than half the list.
Antinori Tignanello
Tignanello is a great wine, but it's also one of the most recognizable and widely distributed Super Tuscans on the market. At restaurant markup, you're paying a premium for a label you could find at any decent wine shop. Save it for a night when someone else is buying.
Louis Jadot Burgundy + Goat Cheese
A well-chosen Jadot Burgundy — earthy, bright with red fruit, and not too heavy — plays right into the tangy creaminess of the goat cheese preparation. It's the kind of pairing that makes you slow down and actually notice what's in your glass.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Blackbird is doing wine right in a town that's more known for craft beer — there's a real sommelier (Sarah Reder) behind this list and it shows. Send your wine-curious friends here without hesitation.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.