California Royalty, Dallas Beef, Zero Apologies
Dallas · Seafood, Steakhouse
Reviewed April 9, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Al Biernat's North’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Al Biernat's North reads like a greatest-hits album of California Cabernet — and it's not trying to be anything else. With 400-600 selections and a dedicated sommelier in Mark LaRocca, this place takes wine seriously without making you feel like you need a decoder ring to order. It's a steakhouse list that actually earns its steakhouse reputation.
California is the undisputed center of gravity here, and the roster backs that up: Opus One, Stag's Leap CASK 23, Shafer Hillside Select, Kistler Chardonnay, Paul Hobbs Cab — this is the Mount Rushmore of Napa and Sonoma, all in one room. If you're hunting for esoteric Burgundy or Barolo, you'll be left wanting, but that's a deliberate choice, not an oversight. The depth within California is genuinely impressive, spanning the full prestige spectrum from approachable Jordan to stratospheric Shafer. The Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence, earned in 2025, is well-deserved for any wine lover who thinks California is the center of the universe.
Twenty to thirty-five by-the-glass options is a serious pour program for a Dallas steakhouse, and the caliber of producers on the bottle list suggests the glass pours aren't an afterthought. Expect rotating Cabs and Chardonnays that mirror the list's California-first identity. We'd ask Mark LaRocca what's pouring before defaulting to the menu — that's exactly what he's there for.
Jordan Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $50
Jordan always punches above its price point — elegant, food-friendly, and a steal relative to what surrounds it on this list. It's the move when you want Cab without the trophy-wine markup.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot
Everyone at this table is ordering Cabernet, and that's exactly why you should order the Duckhorn Merlot. It's plush, serious, and criminally underordered at steakhouses where Cab gets all the glory.
Opus One
It's a legendary wine and the markup here will remind you of that. You're paying for the name recognition as much as what's in the glass — at a restaurant where plenty of excellent options exist at a fraction of the price, there are better ways to spend that money.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars CASK 23 + Prime bone-in ribeye
CASK 23 is structured enough to stand up to a big ribeye but refined enough not to bludgeon it — the tannins cut through the fat, the dark fruit mirrors the char, and suddenly dinner becomes an event.
The Bottom Line
Al Biernat's North is the California Cab cathedral of Dallas — serious wine, serious beef, and a sommelier who actually shows up. The markups will test your wallet, but the pedigree of the list earns that Wine Spectator badge for real.
· Dallas · Spanish/Latin
Rosa Negra is clearly built around tequila and tapas, and the wine list confirms that wine is an afterthought at best. If you need a glass of something with dinner and price is the only criterion, $7 works — but don't come here expecting anything beyond the most basic pour. Order the cocktails and let the wine list do what it does: exist quietly in the background.
Grocery Store
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Dallas · Steakhouse
Perry's is a reliable steakhouse wine program — fair pricing, a broad glass selection, and enough variety to keep most tables happy without any real effort on your part. If you want adventure or discovery, look elsewhere; if you want a competent, frictionless list that won't embarrass you on a work dinner, Perry's delivers exactly that.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Dallas · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Dallas brings a reliable, if uninspired, wine list that leans on brand recognition over discovery — the Bodega Garzón Albariño and Zuccardi Malbec are the standouts in a sea of familiar faces. If you're here for the meat, the wine list will keep you covered; just watch the markup on the glass pours, which can quietly run up a tab. We'd send a friend here for the experience, not specifically for the wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Dallas · Dallas · Steakhouse
STK Dallas is a place to be seen, not a place to drink well — the wine list is a predictable lineup of brand names with almost no by-the-glass program to speak of. Order a cocktail, or commit to a bottle and go straight for the Twomey.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Dallas · Steakhouse
Y.O. Ranch's wine list does the job without doing much else — it's a safe, brand-heavy selection that keeps the room happy but won't make any wine drinker's night. Come for the beef, order the Malbec or the Il Poggione, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Dallas · Steakhouse
Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse takes its wine as seriously as its beef, which is rarer than it should be. The Cabernet runs deep, the global bench is real, the Coravin program lets you drink up, the markups are fair for the tier, and the Texas section gives the whole thing a personality. Skip the trophy-label tax, lean on the Rioja, the Pinot, and the homegrown Texas pours, and you'll eat and drink like the buyer clearly intends.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Georgetown · Washington · Seafood, Steakhouse
An unpriced list that is easier to read for what it offers than for what it costs. If you want Bordeaux, ask for the 2020 Margaux de Brane Cantenac, or look at the Brunello di Montalcino in Sommelier's Selections, and get the price before you commit. This unrated guide covers the posted Beverage Menu, not service, storage or markups.
Back Bay · Boston · Seafood, Steakhouse
A beverage book that covers a lot more than California: 19 glass pours up front, then Napa, Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Rhône and Piedmont behind them. If you are spending, look at the Kistler Les Noisetiers Chardonnay at $175; if you are not, the Zlatan Otok Plavac Mali is the lowest-priced full bottle at $39. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks list, not service, storage or markups.
Bend · Bend · Seafood, Steakhouse
Brickhouse posts a steakhouse list with a long Washington Cabernet section and 6 oz glass pours from $12. Start with the $12 Green Wing Cabernet by the glass, or step up to the Eyrie Estate Pinot Noir at 85 for a bottle; if you are spending, the Quilceda Creek Cabernets in the Washington section run 425 to 475. Confirm today's availability and prices; this unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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