From craft breweries and cocktail bars to piano lounges and dives, Nashville’s beverage scene is packed with variety — and plenty of character. And when it comes to wine offerings, our great city is having a moment, with even more options to come. From East Nashville to Franklin and back again, here are 10 fabulous spots to have on your radar if you love a wine night. Cheers!
The Authentique
Neighborhood: East Nashville
More info: the-authentique.com
The Authentique — a French-inspired wine bar in the heart of East Nashville — remains true to its European roots. The bar offers wine and a few options for light bites, such as cheese boards, charcuterie, and desserts. But of course, the wine menu is where The Authentique truly shines. This is where you’ll find over 50 carefully curated options that range from sweet whites to dry reds. The bar and its staff are also preparing to offer a wine-inspired cocktail menu in the near future.
“Coming into The Authentique, you will be greeted by gorgeous 1900s Parisian decor and will have the opportunity to take part in a real French experience,” says co-owner Alexandre Meunier. “Our combination of imported European ingredients, a French grandmother’s recipes, and a long professionally curated wine list make for quite the experience.”
Barcelona Wine Bar
Neighborhood: Edgehill
More info: barcelonawinebar.com
With multiple locations nationwide, Barcelona Wine Bar offers one of the largest Spanish wine programs in the United States. Open since 2016, the Nashville location boasts a 20-page wine list that includes rosés, whites, and reds from Spain and South America. The bar also offers an ever-changing food menu of seasonal-inspired tapas to pair with your wine. The bacon-wrapped dates and crispy pork belly are standout items that are regularly included.
“Whether you’re stopping in for a drink at the bar for the first time or you’re a regular diner, Barcelona Wine Bar allows you to discover over 400 wines while experiencing our chefs’ ever-changing tapas and a captivating vibe that allows you to unplug and enjoy a night out,” says general manager Jen Camela.
SB Tip: Visit Barcelona Wine Bar on weekdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to enjoy happy hour specials!
Culture + Co.
Neighborhood: The Nations
More info: cultureandco.com
While this technically might not be considered a traditional wine bar, Culture + Co. is a cheese-focused restaurant with an extensive natural wine menu to boot. Owned and operated by a mother-daughter duo, Jacqueline Palladino and Ashton Judy offer a unique dining experience where cheese and charcuterie are offered via a conveyor belt. And what’s cheese without a little wine? The restaurant offers everything from brut champagne to riesling, sauvignon blanc, and more.
“Culture + Co. focuses on wine from all around the world, coming from thoughtful winemakers with lower intervention practices,” explains Ashton. In addition to some well-loved varietals and styles, they like to keep it fun with pét-nat-style sparkling wine, orange wine, unexpected rosés, and co-ferments. Everything is served by the half-glass, glass, and bottle, so you can try different wines while choosing your cheese plate from a moving conveyor belt.
JJs Wine Bar
Neighborhood: Franklin
More info: jjswinebar.squarespace.com
As Franklin’s first official wine bar, JJs Wine Bar sits in a historic home located in the city’s historic district. The bar offers 28 wines by the glass through unique wine-dispensing machines that pour three sizes — tastings (1 ounce), half servings (5 ounces), and full servings (8 ounces). Simply receive a smart card from your server, and you can pour your wine yourself! Patrons can also order wines by the glass from the wine bar’s official menu, which includes wines offered in the machines and from the restaurant’s bottle list.
SB Tip: JJs Wine Bar offers happy hour specials Tuesday through Friday, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., which includes 25% wine machine beverages.
Love & Exile
Neighborhood: East Nashville
More info: loveandexile.bar
You’ve likely spotted Love & Exile wines in liquor stores and restaurants around Nashville, but its brick-and-mortar shop reopened in 2021 after suffering damage from a tornado. Founded by wine aficionado Tyler Alkins — who recruited leading winemakers from California and Italy to help him get started — the bar offers indoor and outdoor seating, a delicious food menu, and a handful of original wines. Popular beverages include the Heartless Cabernet, Indecent Red Blend and Rosé, and Anonymous Chardonnay.
Sixty Vines
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: sixtyvines.com
Located on the third floor of the 5th and Broadway building, Sixty Vines offers a unique collection of 60 wines on tap from wine country — including Spain, California, France, and beyond. Not only does this unique tap option offer a delicious “from the barrel” taste, but it also promotes sustainability, saving thousands of wine bottles, corks, foil, and labels from ending up in landfills. While the restaurant offers wines you may come across at other businesses or restaurants, they also offer beverages made specifically by Sixty Vines. These include the Sesenta Cava Brut, Paul Hobbs’ Crossbarn’ Chardonnay, Fossil Point Pinot Noir, and more.
Van Gogh’s Wine Bar
Neighborhood: Five Points
More info: Instagram/@vangoghswinebar
In East Nashville’s Five Points neighborhood, Van Gogh’s Wine Bar offers 20 different (and delicious!) wines. Founded by celebrity chef Kevin Roberts, the bar is nestled in a traditional Victorian home on the corner of Woodland Street. In addition to an extensive wine menu, the bar also offers ample indoor and outdoor seating space in addition to food and a full bar. Wine is offered by the glass as well as the bottle, and craft beer is also available for non-wine drinkers.
By The Bottle Pop-Up
Neighborhood: Varies
More info: Instagram/@bythebottlenashville
By The Bottle is a wine bar pop-up that offers a rotating selection of natural wines. Owned and operated by Nashville native Kate Cunningham, By The Bottle arrived in Nashville in 2021 as a bottle-only service at Urban Cowboy Public House. Today, Kate hosts pop-ups throughout Nashville, and her business is known for about six wines that are offered by the glass as well as about 20 bottles of wine. In addition to pop-ups, Kate is currently searching for a permanent home for her wine bar and also accepts bookings for private events and tastings.
Wine Down Nashville
Neighborhood: Donelson
More info: winedownnashville.com
Wine Down Nashville is a music-themed wine bar created by musician Amy Don Billings. The wine menu offers everything from chilled sangria to sparkling options, pinot noir, and flights. As you enjoy your wine, you can sit back and enjoy a consistent lineup of live music from local musicians. Plus, if you find yourself working up an appetite, you’re in luck! Wine Down Nashville offers a collection of cheese plates, croissants, and brownie bites.
COMING SOON: Bad Idea
Neighborhood: East Nashville
More info: badideanashville.com
Bad Idea is a brand-new wine bar slated to open in East Nashville later this summer. The bar is owned and operated by the former wine director of Bastion and Henrietta Red, Alex Burch, who wants the space to focus on wine education and exploration. Named one of “the most anticipated restaurant openings in July 2023” by Bon Appétit, the bar is set to offer three curated wine lists — wine flights, wines by the glass, and wine bottles. The restaurant also plans to host regular tasting dinners alongside a menu of Laotian-American dishes. “Bad Idea will be an inviting wine-focused restaurant driven by a thirst for exploration,” says Alex. “Here, a glass of wine with a friend can evolve into dinner and a party going late into the evening.”
SB Tip: To stay updated on the restaurant’s opening, check out its crowdfunding page regularly.
Cheers, Nashville!
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If you’re inspired to broaden your culinary horizons, check out even more of our local restaurant favorites.
