The Steakhouse Wine List You've Seen Before
South Lansing · Lansing · Steakhouse / Grill · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 7, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Black Rock Bar & Grill – Lansing’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Black Rock feels like it was printed once and never looked at again. You're greeted with the usual suspects — brands you've seen at every chain steakhouse from here to Columbus — and nothing that suggests anyone in this building loses sleep over wine. It's functional, which is about the nicest thing we can say.
The list runs 30 to 50 bottles and leans hard on California and Pacific Northwest with zero surprises. Josh Cellars Cabernet, Meiomi Pinot Noir, Apothic Red Blend — these are grocery store endcap wines dressed up in a steakhouse setting and priced accordingly. Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling is the one nod toward something slightly more considered, but it's surrounded by so much mediocrity that the gesture gets lost. There's no Burgundy, no Rioja, no Barbera d'Asti — nothing that might push a guest an inch outside their comfort zone.
Eight to twelve pours by the glass sounds generous until you realize they're all pulling from the same shallow bench. Glasses run $8 to $14, and at the higher end of that range you're still drinking Apothic. The rotation appears nonexistent — what's on the list today is almost certainly what was on it six months ago.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $28
At the low end of the bottle pricing, this is the one wine on the list that actually has something to say. It's crisp and off-dry with enough acidity to hold up against the richness of a Black Rock meal. Drink it and feel marginally better about your choices.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling
Everyone at a steakhouse reaches for the Cab, which means this Riesling gets ignored. It shouldn't be. The slight sweetness and bright acidity make it one of the more versatile pours on the table, especially alongside anything with a crust or a glaze.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
You can buy this at Meijer for around $12 a bottle. Whatever they're charging you here, it's too much. It's a perfectly drinkable everyday Cab — just not at steakhouse markup prices.
Meiomi Pinot Noir + Lobster Bisque
Meiomi is soft, fruit-forward, and low on tannin — which actually makes it a reasonable call alongside the lobster bisque. The wine's coastal California berry character won't fight the richness of the bisque the way a bigger red would. It's the right move on an otherwise limited list.
The Bottom Line
Black Rock is here for the sizzling steak theater, and the wine list is clearly an afterthought that nobody's bothered to revisit. Order a cocktail, spring for the Chateau Ste. Michelle if you need wine, and save your serious bottle budget for somewhere that earned it.
East Lansing · Lansing · Mexican
El Azteco is a beloved college-town institution, and the wine list knows its place — it's there so you can technically order wine, not because anyone thought hard about it. Stick to the margaritas; they're the real program here.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Lansing · Lansing · American, Brew Pub, Bar
Beggar's Banquet is a beloved East Lansing institution and the wine list reflects that — it's comfortable, familiar, and a little overpriced. Come on a Wednesday when half-price bottles make the steep markups survivable, order the bubbles, and remember that the beer list is probably the real reason everyone keeps coming back.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
East Lansing · Lansing · American bar & grill
Peanut Barrel is a beloved East Lansing institution and a genuinely great place to grab a burger and a beer — emphasis on the beer. The wine list is a placeholder, not a program, and no one at the table or behind the bar is pretending otherwise.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Lansing · Lansing · Hotel Restaurant
If you're staying at the Crowne Plaza or just need a reliable glass of wine before a meeting in Lansing, Kindred Table won't let you down — prices are fair, the producers are legitimate, and nobody's trying to fleece you. Just don't come expecting discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Old Town Lansing · Lansing · Gastropub
Zoobie's isn't where you go to geek out on wine, but if you're meeting friends for dinner in Old Town and someone at the table insists on a glass, you won't be stuck with regret. Grab the Malbec or the Mawby rosé, let everyone else argue about the beer list.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Okemos · Lansing · Seafood and American
Real Seafood Company Okemos is a dependable neighborhood anchor where the wine list won't embarrass you or excite you — fair prices and familiar faces make it easy, just don't come expecting discovery. Order the La Marca with the oysters and leave the wine nerd hat at home.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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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