St. Louis

Cinder House is a reliable, well-run hotel wine program — the sommelier keeps things dialed in and the glassware is genuinely good. But if you're coming for the wine list rather than the view and the feijoada, you might leave a little underwhelmed.

801 Chophouse in St. Louis earns its reputation — fair pours, a thoughtful list that goes beyond the obvious, and a sommelier who's actually there. This is where you take someone you want to impress without worrying the wine list will embarrass you.

Mango isn't a wine destination, but it's doing the right things for a casual Peruvian spot — leaning into Argentine bottles that actually make sense with the food. Show up, order the Malbec, eat the lomo saltado, and don't overthink it.

The Crossing is the best wine list in Clayton and makes a genuine argument for top-five in St. Louis. Markup creep on the trophy bottles is real, but the depth, the staff, and the sheer range of what's available make it worth the trip across town.

Spencer's is the rare hotel steakhouse that actually deserves its wine reputation — fair pricing on serious bottles, a sommelier who clearly influences the list, and enough depth to reward the curious diner willing to look past the Napa section. If you're eating steak in St. Louis and you care about what's in your glass, this is where you go.

Dominic's Trattoria is the kind of wine list that takes care of you without taking chances — reliable, a little steep on markups, but never embarrassing. Send your parents here; maybe order the Schramsberg instead of the Veuve.

Charlie Gitto's is a St. Louis legend that earns its reputation on food and history, not its wine program — the list is safe, a little overpriced in spots, and unlikely to thrill anyone hunting for discovery. Come for the toasted ravioli, order the Averaen or the Nebbiolo, and don't expect the wine to be the story.

Eleven Eleven Mississippi is a genuinely enjoyable place to drink wine — the setting is great, the list is thoughtful enough, and the glass count is above average for the market. Just know you're paying a St. Louis premium for some very recognizable labels, and the real value hides in the bottles most people won't order.

City Winery St. Louis isn't where you go to geek out on obscure Jura producers — it's where you go to drink something made in-house, eat well, and catch a show all in one shot. For what it is, the wine program punches above its lane, and that's worth something.

The Capital Grille Clayton is exactly what it promises — a polished, expensive, reliable wine experience that won't surprise you but won't let you down either. Send a friend here if they want a safe, impressive bottle with a great steak; send them somewhere else if they want to discover something new.

801 Fish is a reliable, well-run wine program that plays to its audience — upscale Clayton diners who want familiarity with a few thoughtful detours. If you stick to the French whites and ignore the celebrity California Chardonnays, you'll eat and drink very well here.

Wild Crush is a smart, low-stakes wine bar concept that delivers on its core promise — fresh pours, fair prices on some bottles, and no intimidation factor. It's not a deep cellar experience, but for a casual glass of something good in Town and Country, it earns its spot.

Acero is a reliable neighborhood Italian with a wine list that keeps things tidy and Italian-focused — just don't expect fair pricing or adventurous pours. If you're here, order the Etna Rosso and focus on the food.