South American fire, surprisingly serious pours
West Town · Chicago · Brazilian, South American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 13, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Brasero’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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.
Logan Square · Chicago · Italian
Come to Osteria Langhe for a focused trip through Piedmontese wine. Thursday’s advertised half-price selection is worth asking about, and Wednesday offers a wine pairing alongside the four-course menu. The linked wine list is dated December 2025, so confirm today’s bottles and prices before choosing.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Lincoln Park · Chicago · American Casual
Summer House is not a wine destination, but it's a reliable place to drink well enough without getting gouged on the low end — just steer clear of the big-name bottles where the markup climbs. Send your friend here if they want something easy and good; don't send them here if they're chasing something serious.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chicago · Italian
il Carciofo is doing something genuinely rare: building a wine list that treats Italian regional variety as the main event, not the footnote. If you're tired of the same Pinot Grigio and Chianti Classico circuit, this is exactly where you should be eating dinner.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Chicago · Chicago · Steakhouse
STK Chicago is here to sell you a night out, and the wine list is just part of the set dressing. If you care about what's in your glass, eat here for the steak and order water.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chicago · French Brasserie
La Grande Boucherie Chicago is a reliable wine destination for anyone who wants a French-focused list executed with genuine effort and the occasional smart value. The markups aren't shy, but the BTG program and specials take some of the sting out — go in with a plan and you'll drink well.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
· Chicago · Steakhouse
This is not the wine list you expect to find at The Palm, and that's exactly why it earns attention. Six bottles, zero filler, genuinely fair pricing — if someone's tending this list, they deserve a raise.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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