California Classics Done Right for Steak Night
High Point · High Point · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 21, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The list at Chop House Mendenhall reads like a greatest hits of California wine — Caymus, Silver Oak, Rombauer, Cakebread — all the names you recognize from every upscale steakhouse you've ever been to. It's a confident, no-surprises approach that tells you exactly who this wine program is designed for. If you're here for a prime cut and a big Napa Cab, they've got you covered.
The 100-150 bottle list leans hard into California, with Cabernet Sauvignon as the clear anchor — Caymus, Jordan, Silver Oak, and Stag's Leap Wine Cellars all show up, which is exactly what you want when you're ordering a ribeye in a chophouse. Duckhorn's Merlot adds a softer option, and the Chardonnay side is covered by Rombauer and Cakebread, both reliable crowd-pleasers. There's not much adventurousness here — if you're hunting for a funky Jura white or a southern Rhône, you're at the wrong table. But for what this restaurant is doing, the list is coherent and purposeful, earning that Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2021.
With 12-18 pours available at $10-$18 per glass, the by-the-glass program is a reasonable spread for a steakhouse setting. Glass prices sit on the higher end for High Point, but you're getting name-brand bottles that people trust. Don't expect surprises or rotating pours — this program is built for consistency, not experimentation.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $35 (estimated entry bottle)
Jordan punches above its price point consistently — elegant structure, approachable tannins, and name recognition that makes it an easy sell at the table without the Silver Oak premium.
Duckhorn Merlot
In a room full of people ordering Cab, the Duckhorn Merlot gets overlooked — which is a shame. It's a plush, serious wine that holds up beautifully against the richer cuts on the menu and usually comes in at a softer price point than the Cab heavyweights.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is everywhere — on every steakhouse list, in every grocery store, at every airport wine bar. The markup at a restaurant like this makes it one of the least efficient bottles on the list. You're paying for the label recognition, not the value.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Pacific Halibut
Counterintuitive, yes — but a lighter-styled Napa Cab like Stag's Leap, with its silky tannins and red fruit profile, can complement a rich, butter-finished halibut without steamrolling it. For the table that wants red wine with fish and isn't wrong about it.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Chop House Mendenhall is exactly what it promises: a reliable California-focused wine program built to accompany a serious steak dinner in High Point. No fireworks, no deep cuts, but no complaints either — send a friend here if they want a good Cab with their beef and don't want to think too hard about it.
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