A serious steak list that earns its stripes
Downtown · Des Moines · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 13, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Three hundred and fifty selections with 1,250 bottles in inventory — this is not a list someone threw together on a slow Tuesday. 801 Chophouse is swinging with intention, and the California-forward lineup makes sense given the beef-heavy menu. There's a sommelier on staff, which immediately tells you someone actually cares about what's in that cellar.
California dominates, as you'd expect at a chophouse, but France and Italy keep things honest and give the list some range beyond cab country. The presence of Massican's 'Annia' — a serious Napa white blending Tocai Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, and Malvasia — signals that whoever built this list isn't just playing to the crowd. Our Lady of Guadalupe Pinot Noir from Sta. Rita Hills and Frog's Leap Estate Cab from Rutherford round out a trio of picks that show real range across California's diverse appellations. At 350 selections, there's enough depth here to reward a second and third visit without repeating yourself.
The by-the-glass program runs a half-price deal on all glass pours priced at $30 or under — an unusually generous cut that makes the glass program worth taking seriously. Exact pour counts and specific wines by the glass aren't confirmed on the current menu, but the markup data suggests glasses start reasonable and the deal sweetens them further. If you're dining solo or just want to explore without committing to a bottle, this is a legitimate play.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley — $40
Jordan retails around $70 and routinely outdrinks bottles twice its price. Picking it up for $40 by the glass or as part of the deal structure here is a genuine win — classic Sonoma structure, cedar and black cherry, built for red meat.
2023 Massican 'Annia', Napa Valley
Most people scanning a steakhouse list aren't looking for a field-blend white from Napa, which is exactly why this one gets overlooked. Massican's 'Annia' is bright, textured, and genuinely interesting — a smart opener before the red meat arrives, and one of the more distinctive bottles on this list.
Justin Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles
At $17 it's technically the cheapest option in the markup sample, but Justin Cab is available at every grocery store in America for $25. Nothing wrong with the wine itself, but you're at a 350-bottle steakhouse with a real sommelier — you can do better.
2022 Our Lady of Guadalupe Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills + Filet Mignon
Sta. Rita Hills Pinot has the acidity and red fruit lift to cut through the richness of a filet without overpowering it the way a big Napa cab can. It's the rare bottle that makes a tender cut taste more tender.
Day not specified — Half price on all by-the-glass options priced at $30 or under
✔️ The Bottom Line
801 Chophouse is the kind of wine list that surprises you inside a format that usually doesn't bother. Fair markups, a working sommelier, and depth that goes well beyond the expected — yes, send your friends here for wine.
Johnston · Des Moines · Wine bar / American
Louie's Johnston is exactly what a suburban wine bar should be — a big by-the-glass list, fair prices, and zero pretension. Send your friends here when they want to drink well without a side of attitude.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Clive · Des Moines · Steakhouse & American
Club Car is a reliable steakhouse wine list doing exactly what it was built to do: keep Cab drinkers happy and nobody walking out complaining. Don't come here for discovery, but don't leave without ordering the Jordan.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waukee · Des Moines · Japanese / Asian Fusion / Sushi
Wasabi Waukee is a genuinely good sushi restaurant that treats its wine list like an afterthought — familiar names, steep markups, and zero curiosity about what wines might actually sing alongside the food. Order the cocktails or sake instead, and save the wine discussion for somewhere that cares.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Ingersoll / Grand · Des Moines · Contemporary American
Louie's Wine Dive is the kind of place Des Moines needs more of — a real wine program in a no-pretense room, with Tuesday half-price deals that make experimenting genuinely low-stakes. It's not a destination list, but it's absolutely a destination night.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Clive · Des Moines · American, Brewpub
Granite City is a brewery that tolerates wine, and the list reflects that perfectly. Drink the beer — it's the whole point of being here.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Des Moines / Jordan Creek · Des Moines · Italian
Bravo! is a fine dinner out if the pasta is what you're after, but the wine list is purely functional — corporate-designed, safely marked up, and entirely forgettable. Order a glass of bubbles or the Chianti, make peace with your choices, and let the food do the heavy lifting.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
I-35 / North Creek · Laredo · Steakhouse
Outback Laredo's wine program is a national chain doing national chain things — predictable, overpriced relative to quality, and staffed by people who aren't expected to know anything about what they're pouring. Come for the Bloomin' Onion, stick to a cocktail, and save the wine order for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Creek / I-35 · Laredo · Steakhouse
Logan's Roadhouse is not a wine destination — it's a steakhouse chain where wine clearly wasn't part of the concept. Order a beer, order a cocktail, and save the bottle for a restaurant that's actually trying.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Mall del Norte Area · Laredo · Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse Laredo is a great spot for a $17 steak and a bucket of rolls — the wine list is an afterthought and everyone involved knows it. Order a margarita, or grab the Ste. Michelle Riesling and call it a night.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.