Big steaks, solid pours, no surprises
Downtown · Kansas City · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated October 2026
Reviewed March 27, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed A. 801 Chophouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at 801 Chophouse arrives the way the room looks — dark, serious, and dressed for the occasion. It's an award-winning list built to complement a bone-in ribeye, and it doesn't pretend to be anything else. You're not here to discover an obscure Jura producer; you're here to drink well with a very large piece of beef.
The list leans hard into California Cabernet territory, which makes sense when your menu is anchored by USDA Prime dry-aged cuts. You'll find familiar, crowd-pleasing names like Daou and Justin sitting alongside more interesting callouts — Fontanafredda Barolo is a legitimate nod to old-world red meat drinking, and L'Ecole No. 41 Merlot shows someone was paying attention when they built this list. Oregon gets a seat at the table via Adelsheim Pinot Noir, and Argentina checks in with Catena Malbec. It's not a list that takes many risks, but it covers its bases competently and then some.
Eighteen-plus options by the glass is generous for a steakhouse, and the price range — $14 to $55 a pour — tells you they're not holding back on the top shelf. That's a real program, not an afterthought. We'd love to see more rotation or a defined seasonal selection, but what's here gives you legitimate choices before you've even opened the bottle list.
Adelsheim Pinot Noir — $14
At the entry point of the by-the-glass range, Adelsheim is a reliably well-made Willamette Valley Pinot from one of Oregon's most consistent producers. It's the move if you're not going full red-meat mode and want something that actually has some nuance to it.
Fontanafredda Barolo
Most tables here are going straight for California Cab, which means this Barolo is sitting quietly while everyone else grabs the obvious choice. Fontanafredda is a storied Piedmontese producer, and Barolo's tannic structure and dried cherry depth is actually a killer match for a dry-aged steak — arguably better than your average Napa Cab at this price point.
Rombauer Chardonnay
Rombauer is a perfectly fine wine that has been marked up aggressively at every white-tablecloth restaurant in America for the past two decades. You're paying for the name recognition here, not the juice. If you want Chardonnay, you can do better elsewhere on this list.
L'Ecole No. 41 Merlot + Bone-in Ribeye
Washington Merlot at this level has a dark fruit depth and structured tannin that holds up to the fat and char of a bone-in ribeye without the sometimes overpowering oak bomb you get from heavier Cabs. L'Ecole is the kind of wine that makes the steak taste better and vice versa — that's the whole point.
The Bottom Line
801 Chophouse does exactly what a downtown steakhouse wine list should do — it gives you enough range to drink well, a sommelier who knows the list, and proper glassware to match. The markups sting, but you knew that when you sat down in a room with white tablecloths and a dry-age program.
· Kansas City · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Kansas City isn't a wine destination, but it's not a wine disappointment either. Prices are fair, the South American focus makes thematic sense, and the VIK and Lapostolle picks show there's a ceiling here above the house pour. Come for the beef, drink the Eulila, leave happy.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Stockyards District · Kansas City · Steakhouse
A steakhouse list with a 22-pour glass section at $12 to $20 and a Bottle List that runs from 46 to 348. Start with the Emilio Moro Tempranillo at $12 or the Amigoni Urban Drover at $14, and put a glass of the Daou Cabernet next to the Kansas City Strip. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups, so confirm what is pouring.
Crossroads / Westside border (Southwest Boulevard) · Kansas City · Spanish tapas / small plates
A tapas-bar drinks sheet with glass/bottle pairs starting at 9/36 and a separate sherry-by-the-glass list. Start with the Reino de la Vina Tempranillo Reserva at 12/48 alongside the Paella Valenciana, or the Venta Morales Tempranillo at 10/40, and confirm prices because the sheet is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
River Market · Kansas City · French
A French-led list with 25 two-price wines up front and a long run of Burgundy, Bordeaux and Rhône bottles behind them. Start with the Chinon Le Garenne at 42 or the Cornas 'Granit 60' at 88, ask which number is the glass price, and confirm prices, since the page is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Country Club Plaza · Kansas City · Winery Restaurant / American
A long, bin-numbered list that mixes dry wines, sweet wines and flavored sparklers on one page, with a Cakebread Cellars wine as its priciest bottle. Start with the $12.00 Pinot Noir or the $12.75 Winemaker's Barrel Reserve, and confirm prices at the Plaza location before you go. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
North Kansas City · Kansas City · Italian-American
A glass list that fits an Italian menu: 24 wines from $8 to $13, with Barolo, Amarone and Brunello available by the bottle. Start with the $8 Capasoldo Pinot Grigio, or the $13 Banfi Chianti Riserva if you are ordering the Veal Parmigiana, and confirm current prices. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks list, not service, storage or markups.
· Hoschton · Steakhouse
Jacks is a genuinely fun neighborhood hang with solid food, but the wine program doesn't match the ambition of the kitchen. If wine is your thing, call ahead or bring your own if corkage is an option — otherwise, lean into the cocktails and enjoy the patio. We'd love to revisit this rating if they ever put some real thought into the list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Point · Atlanta · Steakhouse
Malone's earns its loyal following on the strength of its pork chops and tenderloin, not its wine list. If wine matters to your meal, you may want to call ahead and ask what's available — or just lean into a cocktail and let the steak do the heavy lifting. This one's a food-first destination.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Acworth · Steakhouse
AG Steakhouse earns its reputation as a go-to for celebrations and big nights out on Lake Acworth — but the wine program appears to be in service of the experience rather than a destination in itself. If you're splurging on the filet or the Oscar-style halibut, budget accordingly for the bottle too, and don't expect the list to surprise you. A solid place to drink wine; not a reason to come specifically for wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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