Rogue Valley Roots, Bordeaux Ambitions
Downtown · Ashland · Steakhouse / French-Inspired · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 24, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Chateaubriand 36’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Chateaubriand 36, the wine list feels like it was built with intention — Willamette Valley Pinot, Rogue Valley Syrah, a nod to Bordeaux and the Rhône. It's a French steakhouse that actually remembers it's in Oregon wine country, which earns points right away. The list isn't massive, but it's curated enough that you won't be stuck choosing between Yellow Tail and Yellow Tail.
The regional spread here is the real story: Napa and Bordeaux anchor the big-ticket end while Willamette Valley and Rogue Valley producers fill in the middle ground in a way that feels genuinely local rather than obligatory. Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir shows up as the kind of credible anchor a list like this needs, and Abacela's Tempranillo is a smart nod to the Umpqua Valley's Spanish varietal experiment that not enough people know about. Del Rio Vineyards Syrah rounds out the Southern Oregon presence with a wine that can actually hold its own against a serious cut of beef. Gaps exist — don't expect deep Burgundy or much in the way of Italy or Germany — but for a smaller steakhouse in Ashland, this is a more thoughtful list than most.
By-the-glass specifics aren't fully documented, but the regional focus suggests there are local pours available alongside the expected Cabernet and Chardonnay placeholders. What we'd want to see is Del Rio Syrah and the Drouhin Pinot available by the glass — they'd be the moves if so. Without confirmed rotation or counts, we'd lean toward ordering a bottle unless a server can tell you exactly what's open.
Del Rio Vineyards Syrah — null
Del Rio is one of the Rogue Valley's most consistent producers and their Syrah punches well above its price point. It's the kind of local wine that makes you feel smart for not ordering the Napa Cab everyone else defaulted to.
Abacela Tempranillo
Most diners at a French steakhouse are reaching for Cabernet or Pinot and completely ignoring this. Abacela essentially put Tempranillo on the Oregon map and their version has the structure and earthy backbone to handle a serious steak without blinking.
Napa Valley Cabernet (generic)
At a steakhouse with entrees running $38–$63, the Napa Cabs on a list like this tend to carry the steepest markups with the least surprise. You're paying for the zip code on the label. The Southern Oregon options on this list are more interesting and almost certainly better value.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir + Braised Lamb Shank with Pommes Purée and Crispy Shallots
Oregon Pinot and braised lamb is a classic match that works because the wine's red fruit and earthy undertones mirror the slow-cooked richness of the shank without overpowering it. Drouhin's version has enough structure to cut through the pommes purée while keeping the whole thing feeling elegant rather than heavy.
The Bottom Line
Chateaubriand 36 is doing more with its wine list than most Ashland steakhouses bother to attempt, leaning into local Rogue and Willamette producers alongside the expected French and Napa anchors. Pricing skews steep in line with the upscale setting, but the right picks — Abacela, Del Rio, Drouhin — make it worth ordering a bottle rather than defaulting to cocktails.
· Ashland · Winery Tasting Room (snacks)
Dana Campbell Vineyards is a Wild Card precisely because it shouldn't work on paper — two wines, no full menu, tucked in Ashland — and yet the vibe, the setting, and the novelty of a Vionillo from the Rogue Valley make it a genuinely worthwhile stop. If you're already in southern Oregon wine country, swing in; just don't come here expecting options.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
· Ashland · Italian
Martino's is a comfortable, unpretentious Italian spot in a town with serious wine credentials — and the list seems to match that energy more than it challenges it. We don't have enough verified detail on the wine program to give you specific guidance on what to order, so our honest advice is to ask your server what's local and go from there. It's probably a fine night out. Just don't come here expecting a deep cellar.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Ashland · Alsatian French / Fine Dining
Nous is doing something genuinely unusual — building a wine list entirely around the logic of what they serve, not what's expected. If you walk in wanting a simple glass of red before dinner, you're at the wrong place; if you walk in willing to let the restaurant lead, the Vin Santo and Tokaji alone make it worth the trip. For Ashland, this is the most interesting eight-bottle list we've seen.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Ashland · American Bar & Grill
Louie's of Ashland is doing what a neighborhood bar-and-grill should — keeping the list approachable, nodding to local producers like Abacela and Del Rio, and not gouging anyone in the process. It's not a destination for wine, but it's a comfortable place to drink something decent while you eat. If you're in Ashland and not chasing a serious cellar, you won't leave disappointed.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Ashland · American Bistro / Fine Dining
Cocorico is quietly running one of the more interesting wine lists in southern Oregon — 73 labels, fair pricing, a bubbles section that punches above its weight, and a by-the-glass program that respects your intelligence. We'd send a friend here without hesitation, especially if they're the kind of person who orders Gruner instead of Chardonnay.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Plaza · Ashland · Wine bar with small plates
Liquid Assets is the kind of wine bar that rewards curious drinkers willing to look past the safe pours and dig into what the list is actually offering. Send your wine-curious friends here without hesitation — just steer them away from the Cupcake.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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