Five Bottles, One Price, Zero Imagination
· Charlotte · Brazilian Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 14, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Chima Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
You open the wine menu at Chima and find five bottles, all priced at exactly $89. That's not a wine program — that's a price point masquerading as one. The whole thing has the energy of someone who needed to put something on the menu before the printer deadline.
The list is five California Cabernet-forward bottles: Jordan, Stag's Leap, Caymus, Cakebread, and Faust. These are all recognizable, respectable producers, but they're also the wine world's equivalent of a classic rock radio station — you know every song before it plays. There's no white wine, no rosé, no Burgundy, no Rhône, nothing from outside California, nothing that would surprise anyone who's ever browsed a Total Wine. For a steakhouse, skipping even a token Argentine Malbec or Italian Barolo feels like a deliberate choice to keep things as inoffensive and low-effort as possible.
We couldn't find any by-the-glass program listed, which tracks — when your entire bottle list is five wines, building a glass pour menu requires effort this list doesn't seem interested in. If you're hoping to try something before committing to a bottle, you may be out of luck.
The Bottom Line
Chima is clearly a steakhouse that sells meat and uses wine as an afterthought. Order the beef, have a caipirinha, and save your wine enthusiasm for somewhere that returns the favor.
· Charlotte · Steakhouse
STK Charlotte is a party venue with a wine list to match — familiar, expensive, and built for people who order by brand recognition. If you're serious about what's in your glass, you'll be working against the room all night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ballantyne · Charlotte · American, Californian
Juniper Grill is a reliable, California-focused wine list that earns its Wine Spectator nod — just don't come looking for adventure. If you want a great Napa Cab with your short ribs in a comfortable room, this is your spot.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Charlotte · Charlotte · American
Caroline's isn't trying to be a wine destination — it's an oyster bar with California ambitions and prices that don't punish you for ordering well. Wednesday half-price wine night alone is worth putting in your rotation.
Plays It Safe
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Plaza Midwood · Charlotte · Southern American, Steakhouse
Supperland is a genuinely wild place to drink wine — stained glass overhead, a cast iron skillet on the table, and a bottle of Tignanello on the list. The markups aren't generous and no sommelier is guiding you, but if you know what you're looking for, this Wine Spectator-recognized list delivers for a Southern steakhouse in a church.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
South End · Charlotte · Italian, Steakhouse
Dean's is a dependable upscale steakhouse wine list that does exactly what it promises — California and Italy, done well, at prices that sting a little but don't embarrass anyone. Send a friend here if they want a proper Barolo with their ribeye; skip it if they're hunting for value or adventure.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
SouthPark · Charlotte · American, Seasonal
Reid's is doing real work on this wine list — the Italian depth alone justifies the drive across Charlotte. The markup can sting and there's no dedicated sommelier to guide you through it, but the bones here are excellent and the Wine Spectator recognition is well earned.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Boston · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão is here to sell you a meat experience, and the wine list is an afterthought that exists to support that mission — not elevate it. Stick to the Zuccardi Malbec or the Garzón Albariño and spend your energy on the food.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Paramus · Brazilian Steakhouse
The food at Fogo de Chão does the heavy lifting here, because the wine list is not trying. Five bottles at $6 each is a convenience tray, not a wine program — come for the meat, order the Malbec, and don't expect anything more.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Woodland Hills · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão is worth every penny for the meat — the wine list, however, is an afterthought wrapped in a 2017 PDF. Order the Malbec, drink it fast, and let the food do the heavy lifting.
Grocery Store
Steal
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.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
