Spain's Greatest Hits in a River North Townhouse
River North · Chicago · Spanish, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 13, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Asador Bastian’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You walk into olive green leather banquettes and vintage Murano glass chandeliers, and the wine list matches the room — serious, considered, and unapologetically Spanish. This isn't a list that's trying to please everyone; it's a love letter to the Iberian Peninsula written by someone who actually knows the words. A steakhouse in Chicago with Vega Sicilia and Pingus on the menu is not something you see every day.
The list runs 150–250 bottles deep with Spain doing nearly all the heavy lifting — and doing it well. Rioja is the backbone: CVNE Imperial Gran Reserva, Muga Prado Enea, and R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia represent the old-guard classics, while Telmo Rodriguez brings some contemporary range across multiple regions. Ribera del Duero flexes hard with Vega Sicilia Unico and Pingus sitting at the top of the list — these are trophy bottles, not everyday pours, but their presence signals that Christian Shaum, the sommelier on staff, is building toward a real cellar. The gap is everywhere outside Spain: if you're looking for a French Burgundy or an Italian Barolo to anchor your steak dinner, you may find the options thin.
The by-the-glass program runs 12–20 options with prices landing between $12 and $22, which is reasonable for a room this polished. Expect Spanish-forward pours that rotate with the list's overall focus — you're not getting a token Malbec here. The upper end of that BTG range should get you something worth drinking; don't settle for whatever's cheapest if you're eating their best steak.
Numanthia Termes (Toro) — $45
Toro is still one of Spain's most undervalued regions and Termes is Numanthia's entry point — dense, serious Tempranillo that punches well above its bottle price. On a list that reaches into the hundreds, this is where you find real QPR.
R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia (Rioja)
Most tables will gravitate toward the big Ribera names, but Viña Tondonia is one of the most distinctive wines in all of Spain — aged in American oak the old-fashioned way, with a tertiary, almost oxidative character that's unlike anything else on this list. The people who know, know.
Alvaro Palacios L'Ermita (Priorat)
An undeniably iconic wine, but at this price point in a restaurant setting you're paying a significant premium over retail for a bottle that needs years of cellar time to show its best. Unless you're celebrating something major, save L'Ermita for a night when you can actually do it justice.
CVNE Imperial Gran Reserva (Rioja) + best steak
Gran Reserva Rioja and a properly rested steak is one of the great no-brainer pairings in European-influenced dining — the wine's structure and earthy, leathery depth cut through fat and amplify the char without overwhelming the beef. Imperial specifically has the age and complexity to hold its own against Bastian's main event.
The Bottom Line
If Spanish wine is your thing — or you've been meaning to make it your thing — Asador Bastian is the best argument in Chicago for why it should be. The markups aren't gentle, but the list is curated with real conviction and a sommelier who can actually guide you through it.
Logan Square · Chicago · Italian
Come to Osteria Langhe for a focused trip through Piedmontese wine. Thursday’s advertised half-price selection is worth asking about, and Wednesday offers a wine pairing alongside the four-course menu. The linked wine list is dated December 2025, so confirm today’s bottles and prices before choosing.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Lincoln Park · Chicago · American Casual
Summer House is not a wine destination, but it's a reliable place to drink well enough without getting gouged on the low end — just steer clear of the big-name bottles where the markup climbs. Send your friend here if they want something easy and good; don't send them here if they're chasing something serious.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chicago · Italian
il Carciofo is doing something genuinely rare: building a wine list that treats Italian regional variety as the main event, not the footnote. If you're tired of the same Pinot Grigio and Chianti Classico circuit, this is exactly where you should be eating dinner.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Chicago · Chicago · Steakhouse
STK Chicago is here to sell you a night out, and the wine list is just part of the set dressing. If you care about what's in your glass, eat here for the steak and order water.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chicago · French Brasserie
La Grande Boucherie Chicago is a reliable wine destination for anyone who wants a French-focused list executed with genuine effort and the occasional smart value. The markups aren't shy, but the BTG program and specials take some of the sting out — go in with a plan and you'll drink well.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
· Chicago · Steakhouse
This is not the wine list you expect to find at The Palm, and that's exactly why it earns attention. Six bottles, zero filler, genuinely fair pricing — if someone's tending this list, they deserve a raise.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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