South American fire, surprisingly serious pours
West Town · Chicago · Brazilian, South American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 13, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walk into Brasero and the wood smoke hits first — this is a party restaurant with serious food ambitions, and the wine list quietly keeps up. It's tight, South America-only, and deliberately focused in a way that most steakhouses aren't. For a buzzy West Town spot that could easily coast on cocktails, the list shows real conviction.
Argentina and Chile own every page here, and that's the right call for a Brazilian wood-fired concept pairing with Manion's hearty, smoke-forward cooking. The anchors are exactly who you'd want: Catena Zapata and Achaval Ferrer holding down Malbec duty from Mendoza, Zuccardi representing the high-altitude Valle de Uco with real seriousness, and Clos de los Siete rounding out the Argentine side with Rolland-influence depth. Chile gets its due with Don Melchor and Santa Rita Casa Real at the top end, and Montes Alpha doing honest work in the mid-range. There's no Old World detour, no token California Cab — this list picked a lane and committed, which is more than we can say for most restaurants in this price bracket. Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence since 2024 is well-earned; they clearly built the list with intention.
Twelve to eighteen options by the glass is a generous pour program for a restaurant this size, and if the bottle list is any indication, the glass pours lean Malbec-heavy with some Chilean Cab representation. We'd expect Terrazas de los Andes Reserva and Montes Alpha to appear here — approachable, crowd-friendly, and priced fairly enough to make a two-glass dinner an easy call.
Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon — $55
Montes Alpha punches well above its price point — structured, dark-fruited, and built to handle the char on a wood-fired steak without flinching. It's the list's most reliable overachiever and the bottle we'd order without hesitation.
Clos de los Siete
Michel Rolland's Malbec-led blend from Valle de Uco is chronically underordered at restaurants because people don't recognize the name — their loss. It's a sophisticated, layered pour that sits in a sweet spot between the approachable Terrazas and the prestige-priced Catena Zapata. Order it before someone else at your table does.
Terrazas de los Andes Reserva Malbec
Terrazas Reserva is widely distributed and easy to find at retail for well under $20. At restaurant markup, you're paying a steep premium for a bottle that's fine but forgettable when Zuccardi and Achaval Ferrer are sitting right there on the same list.
Zuccardi Valle de Uco Malbec + Moqueca
Counterintuitive on the surface — a bold Malbec with a coconut-broth seafood stew — but Zuccardi's high-altitude freshness and mineral edge cut right through the richness of the coconut and complement the smokiness of the shrimp and mahi-mahi without bulldozing the dish. It's the kind of pairing that makes you feel smarter than everyone else at the table.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Brasero isn't a wine destination, but it's a damn good wine restaurant — focused, fairly priced, and built around a list that actually matches what's coming out of the kitchen. If you're eating wood-fired Latin food in Chicago, this is where you want a bottle of Argentine Malbec in your hand.
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Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
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Small but Thoughtful
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Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Small but Thoughtful
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Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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