California Classics, Cold Cuts, Half-Price Wednesdays
Reno · Steak House
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 17, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Cactus Creek Prime Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Cactus Creek reads like a greatest hits album of California Cabernet — and honestly, for a steakhouse in Reno, that's not the worst thing in the world. Leather booths, dim lighting, and a list anchored by Napa heavyweights sets the tone immediately. This is a place that knows its crowd and plays to them.
The 150-250 bottle list leans hard into California, with Caymus, Silver Oak, Jordan, Stag's Leap, and Far Niente leading the charge — a murderers' row of crowd-pleasing Napa Cabs that any steak eater will recognize. There's no adventurous detour into Burgundy, Rhône, or even domestic Oregon Pinot; this list exists to sell confident, recognizable bottles to people who already know what they like. The Duckhorn Merlot is a thoughtful nod to anyone not in full Cab mode, and the Rombauer and Far Niente Chardonnays cover the white wine bases competently. If you're hunting for discovery, you won't find it here — but if you want a bottle you trust next to a prime ribeye, the cellar delivers.
Twelve to twenty pours by the glass in the $10–$18 range is a decent spread for a steakhouse at this level, and the price ceiling is reasonable. We'd expect the Rombauer Chardonnay and something from the Caymus or Jordan family to anchor the glass list. Rotation appears limited — this feels like a set-and-forget program rather than a dynamic by-the-glass showcase.
Stag's Leap Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 — $135
Artemis consistently punches above its weight in the Stag's Leap lineup — it's approachable, structured, and genuinely delicious next to red meat. At $135 it's not cheap, but relative to the Napa prestige bottles surrounding it on this list, it's the smartest spend in the room.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot
In a sea of Cabs, the Duckhorn Merlot gets overlooked by basically everyone — and that's a mistake. Duckhorn essentially put Napa Merlot on the map, and their flagship is plush, structured, and genuinely complex. Order it before someone at the next table takes the last glass pour.
Opus One 2019
At $595 on the list, you're paying a serious premium for the logo on the label. Opus One is a fine wine, but in a restaurant context with no retail comparison to anchor the markup, you're almost certainly overpaying significantly for a bottle you can find elsewhere. Save it for a special occasion with a better price tag.
Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon + Prime Ribeye Steak
Jordan Cab is built for exactly this moment — it's got enough tannin structure to stand up to a fatty ribeye without being a fruit bomb, and its classic Sonoma profile keeps things elegant rather than overwhelming. This is the pairing that justifies the whole list.
Wednesday — Half-price wine bottles on Wednesdays — this is the night to visit and finally justify that Silver Oak or Far Niente you've been eyeing.
The Bottom Line
Cactus Creek earned its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence by doing one thing consistently well: stocking California Cabs that belong next to a prime steak. The markups sting and the list won't surprise anyone, but Wednesday's half-price wine night resets the value equation entirely — if you're in Reno and you're eating red meat, this is your spot.
Downtown / Casino Row · Reno · Upscale American Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Reno is a reliable, well-run steakhouse wine program inside a casino resort — competent glassware, proper storage, and a sommelier who knows the list cold. Just don't come here looking for discovery; come here knowing exactly what you want and prepared to pay full freight for it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Reno · American small plates, tapas-style, steakhouse-influenced
Sierra St. Kitchen punches above its weight for downtown Reno — the list has real producers, genuine range, and a sommelier keeping it honest. Just know the markups are real, and steer toward the Old World and Pacific Northwest bottles where the value hides.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · Reno · Italian – Tuscan & Coastal
Calafuria isn't trying to be a destination wine list — it's trying to be the right wine list for this restaurant, and it mostly succeeds. Send your friends here if they want something Italian that doesn't feel phoned in; just don't expect fireworks beyond the bottle.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Northwest Reno · Reno · Health-focused American café with organic, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and paleo options
Great Full Gardens isn't a wine destination and it doesn't pretend to be — but for a health-focused café in Northwest Reno, the glass prices are honest and the pours are solid enough to enjoy alongside the food. Send a friend here for lunch, just don't tell them to order the Chardonnay.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · Reno · New American / Fine Dining
LuLou's wine list won't win any awards, but it won't ruin your dinner either — and in a city where restaurant wine programs often feel like an afterthought, that counts for something. Send a friend here for a solid meal with a bottle of Jordan; just don't expect to discover anything new.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Eldorado Resort Casino · Reno · Californian / Steakhouse
Roxy isn't a destination wine program — it's a competent casino steakhouse list with the right bottles for the room. Show up on a Wednesday, order the Jordan at half price, and you'll leave happy.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Washington · Washington · Steak House
A 20-wine by-the-glass list with every pour between $14 and $30, split across four sparkling, six white, two rosé and eight red. With a steak, start with the $26 Clos Duval Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon or the $22 Monte Antico Supremus; for the cheapest glass, take the $14 Dr. Loosen Riesling. Pour sizes aren't posted and the page is undated, so confirm today's wines. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Chicago Loop · Chicago · Steak House
A Napa-leaning Cabernet list with a Library & Reserve section that reaches 3,098 and glass pours from $13.99 to $49.99. Start with the $15.99 Broadbent Cabernet by the glass, or the $41.99 Stag's Leap Artemis if the ribeye is on the table, and confirm current availability since the list does not guarantee vintages. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Union Square · San Francisco · Steak House
A glass list that does the steakhouse job: 36 pours, a tidy Napa Cabernet set and prices from $13. Order the $15 Beringer Cabernet with your steak, or the $14 Guado Al Tasso Vermentino if you are starting with seafood, and confirm availability since the page is undated and Morton's says pricing may vary. This unrated guide covers the posted glass list, not service, storage or markups.
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