Solid steakhouse list, no surprises necessary
National Harbor · Alexandria · Italian-American Steakhouse & Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 27, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The list at Bond 45 reads exactly like what you'd expect from a buzzy harbor-district steakhouse — Napa Cabs, Italian whites, a Sonoma name-drop or two. It's not going to surprise you, but it's not going to embarrass you either. This is a wine list built for people who know what they want before they sit down.
The 80-120 bottle range covers the obvious bases: California red muscle (Turnbull, Chappellet), Italian whites anchoring the lighter end (Casalini and Zenato Pinot Grigio), and a token Côtes du Rhône rosé for the table that can't agree. There's a Cascina D'Of Nebbiolo from Langhe that hints at some genuine interest in northern Italy beyond just pasta wines, and a Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc that's a quality pick even if it's slightly out of place on a steak menu. Oregon shows up in the region notes but doesn't make a big appearance in the named bottles, and if you're hunting for Burgundy, aged Barolo, or anything south of Rome, keep hunting.
The glass program is slim — at least five options in that $13–$14 range — and reads more like a placeholder than a curated experience. You've got the Casalini Pinot Grigio, the Ferme de Gicon rosé, and the Between the Vines Pinot Noir holding down the pours. Nothing wrong with any of them, but at $13–$14 a glass, you're not getting a story, you're getting a drink.
Cascina D'Of Langhe Nebbiolo — $89
Langhe Nebbiolo is essentially baby Barolo — same grape, same region, fraction of the price. At $89 on a list that has Napa Cabs pushing $225, this is the move for anyone who wants something serious with a dry-aged steak without wrecking the credit card.
Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma Coast)
Merry Edwards is better known for Pinot Noir, but this Sauvignon Blanc is a genuinely distinctive pour — richer and more textured than its category suggests. Most tables here will default to Pinot Grigio and miss it entirely.
Cabernet Sauvignon Chappellet (Napa)
At $225, you're paying a hefty restaurant premium for a bottle you could find retail for considerably less. Chappellet is a fine producer, but this is steakhouse markup at its most unapologetic. The Turnbull at $182 isn't exactly a bargain either, but at least it stings a little less.
Cascina D'Of Langhe Nebbiolo + Dry-Aged Steak
Nebbiolo's high acidity and firm tannins are built to cut through fat and lift the savory depth of a dry-aged cut. It's the kind of pairing that makes the steak taste better and the wine taste better — both doing the work.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Bond 45 is a dependable wine stop for what it is — a lively harbor steakhouse with a list that keeps the crowd happy. Just don't come looking for discovery; come with a plan and go straight for the Nebbiolo.
Purcellville · Alexandria · American Comfort
Magnolias at the Mill is a genuinely pleasant place to drink Virginia wine in the building where the region's agricultural history happened. The markups are a bit aggressive on the entry-level bottles, but the Virginia representation and the presence of serious names like RdV and Barboursville make this worth a visit if you're wine-touring Loudoun County.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Old Town · Alexandria · Balkan
Ambar isn't the place to drink wine you already know — it's the place to drink wine you've never had a chance to try. If you're even slightly curious about what's fermenting in the Balkans, this list is worth your time.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Old Town Alexandria · Alexandria · Craft-focused neighborhood bar & restaurant
The Kiln is the wine list you don't see coming at a craft cocktail bar in Old Town — thoughtful producers, fair prices, and a selection that respects the people ordering it. If you're in Alexandria and care about what's in your glass, this is where you go.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Old Town · Alexandria · Brazilian Steakhouse / Churrasco
Fogo de Chão's wine list is never going to win points for adventurousness, but the permanent half-price South American bottle deal is one of the best recurring wine values in Alexandria — full stop. Send your friends here for the meat, tell them to order the VIK, and don't let anyone touch the Catena Alta Chardonnay.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Old Town · Alexandria · French Brasserie
Josephine is doing something rare in Northern Virginia: a short, serious, exclusively French wine list with fair prices and a sommelier who clearly gave a damn putting it together. If you eat French food and want to drink French wine without getting gouged, this is your room.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Penn Quarter · Alexandria · Modern Indian
Rasika is the rare upscale Indian restaurant that takes its wine list seriously enough to earn the detour. If you're the kind of person who wonders whether a sommelier actually thought about the pairing problem of Indian food and wine, someone here did — and they came up with good answers.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.