California Cab Heaven in Cherry Creek
Cherry Creek · Denver · American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The list lands like a confident handshake — 400 to 600 bottles deep, California-forward, and completely unapologetic about it. This is a steakhouse wine list built to move serious Cabernet, and it does that job extremely well. Wine Spectator has handed out Best of Award of Excellence honors here every year since 2017, and one look at the lineup tells you why.
California dominates and rightfully so — Caymus, Silver Oak, Far Niente, Jordan, Stag's Leap, Dominus, and Opus One are all present, covering the spectrum from crowd-pleasing to genuinely cellar-worthy. France gets its due with Chateau Margaux and Chateau Lynch-Bages anchoring a Bordeaux section that pairs naturally with the aged prime beef program. Italy shows up with Tignanello and Sassicaia, which is exactly the right call — Super Tuscans belong at a steakhouse. The list doesn't venture far off the beaten path, but within its lane it's thorough, well-curated, and clearly maintained by someone who cares.
With 20 to 35 options by the glass, there's enough range that you won't feel cornered into a bottle if you're not ready to commit. Expect the glass program to skew California red — this is not the place to hunt for obscure by-the-glass Burgundy. Nicolas Eymar is the sommelier on staff and his fingerprints show in a glass program that makes sense for the room.
Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $80–$120
Jordan is the sleeper of the California Cab set — elegant, food-friendly, and priced below the Caymus and Silver Oak crowd at most lists. At a steakhouse where markups run high, this is often your best entry point into a quality bottle without feeling like you got robbed.
Chateau Lynch-Bages
Most tables here are chasing California icons, which means the Bordeaux section gets overlooked. Lynch-Bages is a Pauillac that punches well above its fifth-growth classification and is exactly the kind of structured, dark-fruited wine that holds its own next to a prime ribeye — often sitting in the shadow of flashier names on the list.
Opus One
Opus One is a genuinely great wine, but at a steakhouse with a four-plus times retail markup, you're paying a significant premium for the label recognition. The wine will be fine. The value won't.
Antinori Tignanello + USDA Prime Ribeye
Tignanello's Sangiovese-Cabernet blend brings enough acidity to cut through the fat of a prime ribeye while the structure and dark fruit match the char on the crust. It's a slightly unexpected move in a room full of California Cabs, and it works better than most people expect.
🔥 The Bottom Line
801 Chophouse is exactly what it promises — a serious steakhouse with a serious wine list, a credentialed sommelier, and zero ambiguity about what you're getting. Markups are what they are in this category, but if you're dropping money on a prime steak dinner in Denver, this is the room to do it in.
Downtown Denver · Denver · American, Steakhouse
Range is a confident, well-kept steakhouse list that won't surprise you but absolutely won't let you down — especially if California Cabs are your language. Just come in with your eyes open on pricing, and let Dan steer you toward the Jordan.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Cherry Creek · Denver · American, Seafood
Salt Water Social plays it safe with wine but plays it well — California classics at fair prices, with a Wednesday half-price night that makes it a genuine weekly option. No one's discovering anything new here, but you won't be disappointed either.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Denver · Denver · Regional Steakhouse
Urban Farmer is a solid, no-drama wine stop for anyone who loves California Cab and wants a proper glass with a well-cooked steak. It won't surprise you, but it won't disappoint you either — and in Denver's steakhouse scene, that's worth something.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
LoDo · Denver · Mediterranean, Spanish
Rioja earned its Wine Spectator nod, and then some — a Spanish wine list this focused and this well-stocked is rare anywhere, let alone Denver. If Spain is your thing, or you want it to become your thing, this is the room.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Denver · Denver · Italian
Restaurant Olivia is the kind of neighborhood Italian spot that quietly holds a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and earns it without making a fuss about it. Send your friends who think Denver can't do wine right — this list will change the conversation.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
RiNo · Denver · American, Seasonal
Nocturne is a jazz club that moonlights as a serious wine destination — the combo shouldn't work this well, but it does. Tuesday half-price nights make this an easy recommendation; any other night, lean toward the Flowers or the Leroy and let the music do the rest.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Hanes Mall / Strickland Rd · Winston Salem · American Steakhouse
Firebirds isn't trying to reinvent anything, and the wine list reflects that — it's a dependable, California-forward selection that does its job without embarrassing itself. If you want adventure, look elsewhere; if you want a solid bottle with a good steak in a comfortable room, this gets you there.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Jersey City Waterfront · Jersey City · American Steakhouse
Fire & Oak is a hotel steakhouse wine list that does exactly what it's supposed to do: make business travelers feel at home and move bottles that everyone recognizes. If you're expecting something beyond that, you're in the wrong restaurant.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Nob Hill / Van Ness Corridor · San Francisco · American Steakhouse
House of Prime Rib is one of San Francisco's great dining institutions and the wine list knows its assignment — California Cabs to drink with California beef, no fuss. It won't thrill anyone looking for adventure, but it won't embarrass anyone either, and for a night built around tableside carving and Yorkshire pudding, that's probably enough.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.