Big Tex steakhouse energy, serious wine chops
Dallas · Seafood, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed April 9, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Al Biernat's Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
An 800-plus bottle list at a Dallas steakhouse could mean wall-to-wall Caymus and Silver Oak with nothing else to say — but Al Biernat's actually has something going on here. The Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence since 2023 isn't just a trophy on the wall; the list backs it up with real range across California, France, Oregon, and Italy. Walking in, you sense this is a room that takes its wine seriously.
The California muscle is exactly what you'd expect from a place like this — Opus One, Dominus Estate, Far Niente Chardonnay, Chateau Montelena — but the list doesn't stop there. France shows up properly with Chateau Margaux, Chateau Lynch-Bages, and Louis Jadot representing Burgundy at a few different price tiers. Italy earns its seat with Gaja Barbaresco, Antinori Tignanello, and Sassicaia, which tells you the buyer isn't just checking boxes. Oregon gets a nod through Domaine Drouhin and Patz & Hall Pinot Noir, rounding out a list that actually rewards exploration beyond the obvious flex bottles.
Somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 to 35 options by the glass, with pours running $15 to $30 — respectable range for a room at this price point. The glass selection skews toward the crowd-pleasing end of the list, which makes sense for a steakhouse dining room where not every table wants to commit to a bottle. We'd like to see a bit more adventure in the by-the-glass rotation, but what's there is solid.
Jordan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon — $60
Jordan consistently punches above its sticker price — structured, approachable, and genuinely good with red meat. At the low end of this list's bottle range, it's the move for anyone who wants California Cab done right without bleeding out on Opus One.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir
Everyone in this room is ordering Cabernet, which means the Drouhin sitting on this list is getting ignored. That's a mistake. This is a serious Oregon Pinot from a producer with roots in Burgundy — lighter on its feet than the big Cabs, and genuinely interesting next to the lobster bisque or even a lighter fish preparation.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is fine wine — but it's also one of the most marked-up bottles on steakhouse lists across America. At Al Biernat's pricing levels, you can almost certainly do better for the money elsewhere on this list. It's the safe pick for people who don't want to think, which is exactly why we're telling you to think a little harder.
Gaja Barbaresco + Prime Ribeye
Barbaresco's high acidity and firm tannins are built to cut through the fat on a prime ribeye — it's a combination that's been working in Piedmont for a century. Gaja's version adds enough complexity to make both the wine and the steak feel more interesting than either would on their own.
The Bottom Line
Al Biernat's is a proper Dallas steakhouse wine list — deep, well-curated, and staffed by people who actually know what they're talking about. Markup runs steep as expected in this category, but the Wine Spectator credential is earned, and if you're willing to look past the obvious bottle picks, there's real drinking to be done here.
· 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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