Where to drink well in Knoxville by the glass and the bottle: natural, classical, and worth the cab fare.
Wine bars in Knoxville. natural, classical, and the grower-focused rooms worth the cab fare.
Lilou Brasserie on South Gay Street, Aaron Thompson and Jessica King's French brasserie, runs a built French and natural wine program at the bar.
Signature pour: By-the-glass French rotation
Wine focus: French and natural-leaning
Food: French brasserie plates and bar snacks
Tip: Daily 16:00-18:00 happy hour is the easiest entry to the by-the-glass list; brunch sits Saturdays and Sundays.
Emilia on Market Square, chef Matt Gallaher's Italian dining room since 2016, runs a deep Italian wine program with regional Emilia-Romagna focus.
Signature pour: Lambrusco by the glass
Wine focus: Italian regional, Emilia-Romagna emphasis
Food: Northern Italian plates, mozzarella, pasta
Tip: The bar seats fewer than a dozen; pair with the pasta menu rather than a full dinner reservation for a quicker visit.
Bistro at the Bijou on South Gay Street, attached to the historic Bijou Theatre, runs a selected French and Californian wine list paired with the pre-theater.
Signature pour: House Bordeaux by the glass
Wine focus: Curated French and Californian
Food: Pre-theater bistro plates
Tip: Pre-theater wine flight is the easiest way into the list; Tuesday live-jazz nights pair well with a bottle.
Osteria Stella on West Jackson in the Old City, Aaron Thompson and Jessica King's Italian dining room, runs an Italian-only wine program at the bar paired.
Signature pour: Northern Italian by the glass
Wine focus: Italian regional
Food: Italian wood-fired plates and pasta
Tip: The Italian-leaning list overlaps with the Brother Wolf cocktail list downstairs; do the wine first, then aperitivo below.
The Public House on West Magnolia, the cocktail bar with no TVs or live music, runs a small natural-leaning wine list to complement its cocktail.
Signature pour: Rotating natural by the glass
Wine focus: Small natural-leaning bottle list
Food: Southern bar plates
Tip: The wine list is short by design; the bartender will pick a pour off the list if you describe what you like.