Ocean Views, Big Reds, Zero Apologies
Dana Point · Dana Point · Steak House · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list arrives and it means business — 400-plus bottles deep, anchored in California royalty with serious French and Italian muscle backing it up. This is a Waldorf Astoria steakhouse sitting on the Pacific Coast, and the wine program dresses the part. Sommelier Jaci Wilson's fingerprints are all over a list that feels curated rather than just collected.
California is the obvious star — Caymus, Silver Oak Alexander Valley, Opus One, Stag's Leap CASK 23, Chateau Montelena, Jordan — it reads like a greatest-hits record that still somehow earns its runtime. France holds its own with Chateau Margaux and Chateau Lynch-Bages anchoring the Bordeaux section, while Italy shows up swinging with Tignanello and Sassicaia for the crowd that knows to look. The Chardonnay game is equally serious, with Far Niente and Peter Michael covering both the approachable and the aspirational ends of the spectrum. The list skews classic over adventurous, but when your classics are this good, that's not a complaint.
With 20-35 pours available by the glass, there's enough range to drink well through an entire meal without committing to a bottle. The program trends toward crowd-pleasing Cabs and Chardonnays, which is exactly what a steakhouse clientele wants at the table. Rotation details are limited, but with Jaci Wilson running point, you can trust there's intention behind what's open.
Jordan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon — $60–$90
In a list loaded with triple-digit Napa heavyweights, Jordan punches above its price point every time — classic Alexander Valley structure, enough elegance to work with the butter-basted filet, and none of the markup drama you'll find two pages over.
Chateau Lynch-Bages
Everyone flips straight to the California section, so the Bordeaux page gets skipped — which is a mistake. Lynch-Bages is a fifth-growth that consistently drinks like something far more expensive, and at a steakhouse with proper storage, you're getting it in fighting shape.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Look, it's fine wine — but Caymus at a resort steakhouse carries one of the most predictable markups in the business, and you're paying a premium for the comfort of a label everyone at the table already knows. The list has better options at the same price or less.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars CASK 23 + USDA Prime dry-aged ribeye
CASK 23 is built for exactly this moment — the structured tannins cut through the fat of a dry-aged ribeye while the dark fruit and cedar notes echo the char on the crust. This is the pairing you're here for.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Bourbon Steak earns its Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence and then some — a deep, well-kept list with a real sommelier behind it, set against one of the better views in Southern California. The markups reflect the zip code, but this is where you go when the occasion demands it.
Dana Point · Dana Point · Indian
Kahani is the Wild Card because nobody expects a serious wine program inside a Ritz-Carlton Indian restaurant — and yet here we are, with Gaja on the list and a sommelier who can tell you why it matters. Steep prices are the price of the address, but if you're eating here anyway, the wine list absolutely earns your attention.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Dana Point · Dana Point · Italian
Luciana's isn't going to challenge your assumptions about wine, but it'll take care of you — fair prices, a few genuine gems buried in the California lineup, and a Wednesday half-price night that's legitimately worth planning around. Send your friends here if they want a great bottle with dinner, not a lecture about terroir.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Hartland · Hartland · Steak House
Palmer's is a reliable steakhouse wine list that delivers exactly what its suburban clientele wants — well-known California names, solid execution, and nothing too weird. If you're a wine adventurer, you'll want to temper expectations; if you're celebrating with a ribeye and a Jordan Cab, you'll leave satisfied.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Town Square · Jackson · Steak House
The Million Dollar Cowboy Steakhouse has a sommelier, a Wine Spectator credential, and a list that knows its audience — which is Jackson tourists who want great steak and great Napa Cab, full stop. Send a friend here if they want a proper California red with a serious piece of beef; just warn them to skip Opus One and let Jordan do the work.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Milwaukee · Milwaukee · Steak House
Ward's House of Prime is exactly what it says it is: a classic Milwaukee steakhouse with a wine list built to match big cuts of beef. The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence is well-earned, but don't come looking for adventure — come looking for a great California Cab and a slab of prime rib.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.