625 Bottles Deep, Sky-High and Worth It
Downtown · Seattle · Steakhouse and Sushi · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed April 7, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You open the wine list on the 31st floor of a Bellevue high-rise with Lake Washington sprawling out below you, and the thing runs 625 selections deep with 8,500 bottles in the cellar — that's not a wine list, that's a statement. The Pacific Northwest representation alone would make most restaurants blush. This place takes wine seriously, and it shows before you've even flagged down your server.
The list is anchored in France and California the way you'd expect from a steakhouse at this price point, but what separates Ascend is its genuine commitment to Washington wine — producers like Cadence, Buty Winery, Cote Bonneville, WT Vintners, and a'Maurice Cellars aren't filler picks, they're legitimate regional heavyweights that most fine dining programs still ignore. Oregon gets its due too, and Italy shows up with enough depth to keep the pasta people happy. The spread across Old World and Pacific Northwest is genuinely impressive and coherent — someone with real knowledge built this list, not a distributor rep with a quota.
Twenty to thirty pours by the glass is a strong program, and at $18–$50 a glass you're squarely in premium territory — this isn't the place to casually order a round. That said, the range means you're not stuck choosing between the same Cab and Chardonnay that appear on every other Seattle-area steakhouse list. Rotation appears consistent with the overall list rather than a dynamic, frequently changing program, but the quality floor is high.
a'Maurice Cellars (Washington) — $60+
One of Walla Walla's most undersung producers makes an appearance here, and relative to the stratospheric ceiling on this list, bottles from a'Maurice represent a chance to drink serious Washington wine without blowing past three figures. Smart order for the table.
Cote Bonneville (Washington)
Most guests at a place like this are reaching straight for Napa Cab or a French Burgundy. Cote Bonneville is a Yakima Valley estate that produces some of Washington's most compelling Cabernet Franc and red blends — the kind of wine that rewards the curious diner who actually reads past page two of the list.
By-the-glass Chardonnay at $50/glass
At the top of the glass pour range, you're paying a premium that likely reflects the room and the view as much as what's in the glass. Unless the sommelier can tell you exactly what's in that pour and why it's worth fifty bucks, you're better off putting that money toward a bottle with better provenance.
Cadence (Washington Red Blend) + Aged Prime Ribeye
Cadence makes some of the most structured, age-worthy red blends in Washington — the kind of wine built for exactly this moment. An aged prime ribeye off the wood grill has the fat and char to stand up to tannin and intensity, and a Pacific Northwest bottle at a Pacific Northwest steakhouse just makes sense.
The Bottom Line
Ascend is one of the most serious wine programs in the greater Seattle area, full stop — 625 selections, a legitimate sommelier, and a Pacific Northwest roster that actually reflects where you're eating. The markups are real and the view is definitely priced into your bill, but if you're going to spend money on wine, this is a list worth spending it on.
Downtown · Seattle · Brazilian Churrascaria
The real headline here is the half-price South American bottles — available Monday through Thursday, all day, on bottles under $150 — which turns a polished steakhouse into a legitimately reasonable wine night. The list won't excite anyone who came for the wine, but if you came for the meat and want a solid regional bottle at a fair price, this deal is worth planning around.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Active Program
Acceptable
Ballard · Seattle · Italian
A short, Italian-leaning list with most of its bottles in the Old World red section. Order the $11 Montepulciano by the glass, or the $69 Travaglini Gattinara if you want to splurge a little, and confirm prices on the day. This unrated guide covers the posted wine menus, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Seattle · Pacific Northwest / New American
A hotel wine list with a Pacific Northwest page up front, Champagne, Bordeaux and Italian sections behind it, and a separate glass list on the drink menu. Start with the $12 Treveri Blanc de Blancs at happy hour or the Mark Ryan 'Goldfinch Tavern Red Blend', and check the current list before you go, since the restaurant says menus are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list and drink menu, not service, storage or markups.
Lake Union · Seattle · Steakhouse
A long, Northwest-first steakhouse list with plenty of bottles under $100 as well as a $300-to-$550 tier of Leonetti and Quilceda Creek Cabernets. Start with the $20 Five Star Cellars “Prime” Cabernet by the glass, or the same wine at $55 on the bottle pages, and confirm prices because the list says vintages and availability change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Capitol Hill · Seattle · Italian
An all-Italian list that is easy to navigate: 11 wines by the glass from $13 to $30, a bottle list sorted by region, and $8 house wine during Apericena. Order the Soave at $13 or the $17 Kerner by the glass, or the Villa Venti Sangiovese with the tagliatelle al ragu, and confirm prices because the page says they are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Central District · Seattle · Seafood
A mostly natural, mostly French bottle list that stretches from $60 Muscadet to a $455 Champagne, with a deep run of Jura, Savoie and Loire bottles. Start with the $60 Hautplanty Muscadet or the $72 Laurent Herlin Cabernet Franc, and ask about the list’s ◆ and ◉ key if you want help choosing between classic and wild. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks selection, not service, storage or markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp