Where to Sip, Taste, Eat & Explore Like a Sommelier

There is something about Franklin, Tennessee that I don’t think can quite be replicated.

When I moved to Middle Tennessee four years ago, Franklin was already charming, but it has changed dramatically since then. More restaurants, more shops, more hotels, more visitors, and certainly a lot more national attention. Franklin has become a destination.

And yet, somehow, the charm is still here.

The historic buildings, live music spilling out onto Main Street, locally owned shops, restaurants tucked into beautifully restored spaces, and that unmistakable feeling you get walking around downtown Franklin hasn’t gone away. Sure, it’s busier now, but the Franklin vibe simply can’t be matched.

As a sommelier, I also look at a destination a little differently.

If I’m spending money on a glass of wine or cocktail, I want it to be worth it. I want thoughtfully selected wines, interesting producers, well-made cocktails, knowledgeable people, and food that makes me immediately start thinking about pairings.

I teach sold-out wine and mixology classes every month at Saint Goose Wine & Spirits, and one of the questions I constantly get is:

“Where do you actually go for wine and great mixology in downtown Franklin?”

Most visitors stay close to the square, but venture just a little farther and you’ll discover some fantastic gems.

I recently had the opportunity to collaborate with Visit Franklin, the tourism organization for Franklin and the surrounding Williamson County area. Their team works incredibly hard to showcase what makes this area special, so naturally, I wanted to experience Franklin through my favorite lens: wine, cocktails, food, olive oil, and incredible pairings.

I did everything below in one day, because apparently that’s how I operate.

However, I would absolutely turn this into a two-day weekend itinerary.

Give yourself time to sit with the live music, wander the shops, grab a biscuit or some fresh bread, maybe sneak in an ice cream, and simply enjoy being in Franklin.

But when you’re ready to drink like a sommelier, here’s where I would send you.

Start With Live Music at Gray’s on Main

Because we’re just outside Music City, it only makes sense to start with live music.

One thing I love about Franklin is that you’re constantly stumbling across someone playing somewhere, and Gray’s on Main is one of those quintessential Franklin stops.

Gray’s is definitely better known for its cocktails than its wine program, and I’m perfectly okay saying that.

From the wines available by the glass, there were two I would personally gravitate toward: the H&B Rosé and Albariño. Is this where I’m going for a massive, sommelier-driven wine list? No. But that’s also not why you go to Gray’s.

You go for the signature cocktails, live music, atmosphere, and Pimento Cheese Balls.

And those pimento cheese balls deserve their own moment.

Gray’s occupies what was once an old pharmacy, and the restaurant does a wonderful job weaving Franklin history into the experience. Pimento cheese is also something I admittedly didn’t fully appreciate until moving South.  Now? I get it.

These were some of the best pimento cheese balls I’ve ever had. Warm, gooey and cheesy inside, perfectly fried outside, and absolutely delicious with a cold glass of rosé.

The acidity and freshness of the rosé cut through all that fried, cheesy richness beautifully. Albariño would be another easy pairing because of its brightness and acidity.

My husband went with one of their cocktails, which leaned sweeter, but on an August Tennessee afternoon it was refreshing and delicious. And if you’re hungry for something more substantial, Gray’s fried chicken is another favorite. Upstairs, the atmosphere becomes moodier and more intimate. We listened to a mix of country and classic rock, basically our perfect playlist, and I love how close you feel to the stage. It was such a fun way to begin the day.

Whiskey & Country Music at Leiper’s Fork Distillery Tasting Room

I’ve been wanting to stop into the Leiper’s Fork Distillery tasting room in downtown Franklin since it opened, and somehow hadn’t made it in yet. That needed to change. We walked right down the block for some country sliders, cocktails, whiskey, and more live music.

I ordered a refreshing limoncello vodka cocktail and, naturally, also stole a few sips of my husband’s white whiskey margarita, which was delectable. This spot gives you exactly what you want from a distillery tasting room: whiskey flights, approachable cocktails, good food, and fantastic live music.

We met a local artist from Spring Hill who was performing that day, and her voice was incredible. She played so many of our favorite country songs that I was completely in my element.

Starting a Franklin day with live music and cocktails? I highly recommend it.

Now, Back to the Wine

This is a Sommelier’s Guide, after all. Franklin has plenty to explore, but here’s my rule: don’t get distracted by every wine list you see. If I’m spending money on wine, I want wines that are thoughtfully selected, interesting, approachable, and well crafted. Which brings me to one of my favorite wine destinations in Middle Tennessee.

Saint Goose Wine & Spirits

Located beside The Harpeth Hotel, Saint Goose Wine & Spirits is a beautiful shop specializing in thoughtfully curated wines and spirits, including plenty of organic, biodynamic, and sustainably produced selections.

It’s also where I host many of my own wine and mixology classes, so yes, I spend quite a bit of time here.

But there is a reason I continue recommending it.

They host complimentary open tastings every Friday and Saturday, and we stopped in during the Saturday tasting from 1pm–5 p.m.

That weekend they were revisiting several past Wine Club selections, which was especially fun for me. Because I’m constantly receiving wine for work, joining wine clubs isn’t something I get to do often. Saint Goose’s wine club, however, is one I would recommend.

Joel, their wine and spirits buyer, has an incredible palate, and I genuinely trust his selections. He walked us through three previous club wines, and there were some fantastic bottles in the lineup. Joel moved here from AZ and has won the hearts of so many wine lovers in downtown Franklin with his incredible buyers eye and selections of wine and spirits.

One of my favorites was BUMPS by Field Recordings, a juicy, incredibly fun Sauvignon Blanc.

And yes, I immediately wanted caviar with it. The name practically demands it.

Another standout was the Lucien & Fanny Rocault Coteaux Bourguignons Rouge 2020, a beautiful expression of Burgundian elegance made from Pinot Noir.

It showed juicy blackberry and cherry alongside black pepper, earth, herbs, and subtle oak. This is exactly the kind of bottle I love discovering in an independent wine shop, something with personality that makes you stop and pay attention.

Don’t Skip the Cigars

After our tasting, we wandered over to Saint Goose’s cigar selection.

Their cigar program is exactly what I want from a shop like this. It’s not overwhelming just for the sake of having hundreds of options. Instead, the selection feels intentionally curated, with excellent cigars chosen for the clientele who actually shop there.

We left with an herbal mezcal I love and some Montecristo White Series cigars, because I buy wine from them often after every curated experience I host.

Once Tennessee cools down a little, that bottle is getting opened and those cigars are absolutely getting smoked.

Take a Boozy Break at Olivia Olive Oil

At this point, it was time for a break from alcohol. Luckily, one of Franklin’s cutest olive oil stores is within walking distance.

Olivia Olive Oil carries an array of flavored balsamics and olive oils, but as a Certified Olive Oil Sommelier, you know where I went first: the single-varietal, unflavored extra virgin olive oils.

I tasted their Picual and Coratina, of course. These were from a riper harvest rather than an extremely early harvest, but you could still taste that beautiful bitterness and pungency associated with the oils’ phenolic compounds. I also discovered a varietal I had never tasted before, ZOI, which was particularly high in polyphenols. That is exactly why, even as an olive oil sommelier, I believe you have to keep tasting.

You never know everything. There are always new cultivars, regions, producers, harvest styles, and flavor profiles to discover.

Christi, the owner, is incredibly knowledgeable about her selection, and nearly everything in the store is available to taste. She even made us a fun balsamic spritz while we were there. They also host cooking classes and carry plenty of gifts, pantry items, oils, and balsamics.

Naturally, I couldn’t leave empty-handed. I went home with a bottle of aged apple balsamic because apparently I’ve decided it’s fall even though Tennessee was approximately 100°F outside.

I regret nothing. It’s SO good.

Pizza, Calamari & Wine at Culaccino

A few feet away from Olivia Olive Oil is a Franklin favorite: Culaccino.

Everyone knows Culaccino, but there’s a reason it continues to be one of my recommendations. The wine list is solid, the Italian food is wonderful, and that 72-hour fermented pizza dough gets me every single time.

We grabbed calamari and went classic with a Margherita pizza. I ordered rosé by the glass, while my husband chose Pinot Noir. Both worked beautifully. Rosé has enough acidity and freshness for the tomato and richness of the cheese without overpowering the simplicity of a Margherita pizza. Pinot Noir brings enough red fruit and acidity to complement the tomato while still remaining light enough for the dish.

Sometimes the classic pairings really are the best pairings. Culaccino remains one of my Sommelier Must-Do Franklin stops when I want Italian food, wood-fired pizza, and a good glass of wine.

And Don’t Forget Culamar

If it hadn’t been nearly 100°F outside, you probably would have found me across the street enjoying oysters and wine at Culamar.

Owned by the same restaurant group, Culamar offers beautiful seafood, a fantastic wine program, and a stunning rooftop. August in Tennessee wasn’t exactly rooftop-and-oysters weather for me. But fall? You better believe I’ll be there. For seafood lovers who also care about what’s in their wine glass, put this one on your Franklin list.

A Sommelier’s Spice Stop: Savory Spice

Wine isn’t the only thing that makes a great pairing. Spices matter.

We took a little shopping break at Savory Spice, one of my favorite stores in downtown Franklin. I restocked my dried shallots and somehow also “needed” cumin and their infamous Chanterelle Saffron Risotto.

If you know, you know.

It’s one of my favorites and ridiculously easy to make. I jokingly call Savory Spice my Somm-worthy spice store because I’ve found so many spice blends here that genuinely elevate my cooking and at-home wine pairings. Fair warning, though. If you enjoy cooking, enter at your own risk. I don’t think I’ve ever successfully left without spending $75+. In my defense, many of these blends aren’t things you’re finding at a normal grocery store, and they last quite a while.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Finish at Franklin Butchery

Our final stop was one of downtown Franklin’s newer additions, Franklin Butchery.

And frankly, downtown needed this. They completely renovated what was formerly an old music store, transforming it into a beautiful butcher shop, market, and dining space.

I had the pleasure of meeting owners Konrad and Laurie, as well as their partner, Chef Carlos, who leads the butcher and culinary side of the operation and is responsible for so many of the flavors you’ll find on the menu.

They focus on quality meats, source locally when possible, and bring in fresh seafood when available. But you know what immediately caught my attention.

They have wine by the glass. I chose a crisp Spanish white blend, which was exactly what I needed after a long day of tasting. They also offer House of Mustaine wines by the glass, which wine lovers will be happy to see. The list isn’t enormous, nor should it be. It’s a butcher shop.

But compared with many casual places where you might grab a burger, sandwich, or glass of wine, this wine selection absolutely makes my Sommelier’s Choice list.

Get the Burger

Their burger is one of their bestselling menu items, and after tasting it, I completely understand why.

Fresh beef, perfectly cooked, caramelized onions, signature seasonings, and a fresh bun.

Nothing unnecessarily complicated. Just a really good burger. Pair it with their tallow fries and a crisp Spanish white, and I’m happy. Then Chef Carlos brought out what I consider the hidden gem of the menu: the beef pierogies. Inspired by the ownership’s Polish roots, these were genuinely some of the best pierogies I’ve ever had. They also offer potato-and-cheese pierogies in their grab-and-go section to prepare at home, but do yourself a favor and order the beef version while you’re there. They’re a game changer.

Sommelier pairing? I’d put them alongside the She-Wolf Rosé from House of Mustaine.

Chef also brought us their smoked chicken wings, a newer menu addition. They were smoky, crispy, and the kind of wings I could easily eat every week. And once again, that Spanish white worked beautifully.

The Sommelier Grocery Haul

Obviously, I couldn’t just leave.

We went home with:

• Duck fat
• A beautiful boneless ribeye
• Pierogies
• 20 steamer clams

Basically, my version of a perfect grocery haul. If you want to see what happened to all those ingredients afterward, head over to my Instagram because, naturally, I documented the aftermath.

Franklin Is More Than a Tourist Town

Yes, Franklin, Tennessee has become a major tourism destination.

It has grown tremendously in the four years I’ve lived in Middle Tennessee, and I don’t expect that growth to slow down anytime soon.

But don’t let the crowds around the square fool you into thinking Franklin has lost what makes it special.

And definitely don’t assume downtown Franklin is only about tourist-driven restaurants and predictable wine lists.

You just have to know where to look. There are certainly places where you’ll find the same wines you’ve walked past hundreds of times at the grocery store. The places on this list aren’t those places.

These are the stops where I can find thoughtfully selected bottles, knowledgeable people, well-made cocktails, beautiful olive oils, quality ingredients, great food, and pairings that genuinely excite me.

As both a sommelier and olive oil sommelier, that’s what I’m looking for when I travel, and it’s what I want visitors to experience when they come to Franklin.

So stay a little longer. Walk a little farther beyond the square. Listen to the music. Talk to the shop owners.

Taste something you’ve never tasted before. Order the good bottle. And give yourself enough time to understand why those of us who live here continue to fall in love with Franklin, even as it changes around us.

Because Franklin may be growing, but that unmistakable Franklin charm is still very much here.

And yes, there are absolutely Somm-worthy wines, cocktails, bites, and pairings waiting for you downtown.

This experience was created in collaboration with Visit Franklin. As always, all opinions, pairings, and recommendations are my own.