California Muscle in the Middle of Nowhere
Downtown Sioux Falls · Sioux Falls · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 24, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Brix Wine Bar’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Walking into a serious wine bar in Sioux Falls, South Dakota is genuinely surprising — and Brix earns that surprise. The list skews heavily California, which makes sense given their Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and their obvious affection for Napa heavyweights. It's polished, intentional, and a clear step above what this market typically offers.
This is a California-first list with a capital C — Caymus, Silver Oak, Stag's Leap, Duckhorn, Jordan, Rombauer, Far Niente. The producers are household names in wine circles, and there's real depth here with 150-250 bottles to work through. What you won't find is much adventurousness outside the Golden State — if you're hunting Burgundy, Barolo, or anything with a screw cap and a natural-wine aesthetic, you're in the wrong zip code. That said, for the audience Brix is clearly serving, this list hits exactly the right notes with sommelier Hank Freese clearly steering the ship toward crowd-pleasing quality.
Twenty to thirty-five pours by the glass is a genuinely strong program — that's not a list you skim, that's a list you sit with. The California focus carries through here, so expect big Chardonnay and Cab-forward options to dominate the pour selections. Rotation details are unclear, but with a certified sommelier on staff, there's reason to trust the glass picks are thoughtfully managed.
Jordan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon — null
Jordan consistently overdelivers for its price tier — it's the Cab you bring to a dinner party when you want to look smart without breaking the bank. On a list loaded with Napa trophy bottles, Jordan is where the actual value lives.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot
Everyone walks past the Merlot to grab the Cab, which is exactly why you shouldn't. Duckhorn's Merlot is the reason Sideways got it so wrong — it's serious, structured, and tends to be underordered on lists like this, which means your server has actually had time to taste it.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is fine. It's also on every steakhouse list from here to Houston, marked up at every stop along the way. On a list with Silver Oak and Far Niente in the same neighborhood, there are better ways to spend the same money.
Far Niente Chardonnay + Housemade Pasta
Far Niente's Chardonnay is rich and buttery enough to stand up to a cream-sauced pasta without smothering it — the acidity keeps things honest while the oak plays nicely with anything that has some weight behind it.
The Bottom Line
Brix is doing something genuinely rare for South Dakota — running a legitimate, sommelier-led wine program that earned national recognition in its first year. The list is California-safe rather than adventurous, and the markups reflect the market, but if you want a real wine experience in Sioux Falls, this is the only game in town worth playing.
Southwest Sioux Falls (Lake Lorraine area) · Sioux Falls · Casual American bar bites and light fare
This is a lobby bar wine list at a business hotel — it was never trying to be more than that, and it isn't. Grab a beer or a cocktail, save the wine for dinner somewhere in town.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Sioux Falls · Sioux Falls · Hotel Restaurant / American
This is a wine list for people who aren't thinking about wine, and that's fine — the Holiday Inn City Centre isn't trying to be a wine destination. Order the Ste. Michelle Riesling, skip everything else, and save the real drinking for somewhere else in Sioux Falls.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Southwest Sioux Falls (Empire Mall/85th & Western corridor) · Sioux Falls · Upscale American Steakhouse
Morrie's is a reliable steakhouse wine list in a city where that already puts it near the top of the pack — the Coravin program shows genuine ambition, but the core list plays it too safe to earn anything beyond a confident recommendation for a special-occasion dinner. Come for the Tomahawk, drink the Zinfandel, skip the house Chardonnay.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
South Sioux Falls · Sioux Falls · Italian · Steakhouse
Spezia is a reliable dinner option in Sioux Falls if you want a recognizable bottle with a nice steak and no surprises. Just don't expect the wine list to challenge you — it's here to comfort, not to excite.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown – Empire Mall area · Sioux Falls · American and Sushi
CRAVE is the rare hotel restaurant wine list that clears the bar rather than crawling under it — the by-the-glass selection is better than the room deserves, even if the markups could use some recalibration. Send a friend here for wine? Sure, as long as they're not expecting to geek out.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Sioux Falls · Mexican, Enchilada-Focused
Mama's Ladas is a great little spot for enchiladas — the wine list just isn't why you're here, and it doesn't try to be. Order the sangria, enjoy your meal, and save the serious wine for somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Napa · Napa · Italian
A16 Napa is a genuine Wild Card in Napa's sea of big-bottle Cab temples — if you want to drink interesting Italian wine with great food and actually get some guidance doing it, this is your spot. Just know that Napa real estate prices show up on the wine list, so budget accordingly.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
· Franklin · Italian
Pelato Franklin isn't going to make wine pilgrims drive down from Nashville, but it's doing more than the Italian-suburban average — an orange wine, some solid regional Italian whites, and a few California names that earn their spot. Come for the food, stay curious about the list.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Duluth · Italian
Va Bene is presumably doing something right in the kitchen, but the wine list is a two-item afterthought that tells you this place doesn't take wine seriously. Order a glass, enjoy your pasta, and don't expect anything more.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
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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