California Classics Meet Latin Smoke
Downtown Austin · Austin · Latin Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 29, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Ciclo’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Ciclo reads like a California greatest hits album — Caymus, Silver Oak, Opus One, Rombauer. If you've eaten at a nice steakhouse in the last decade, you've seen this list before. That's not an insult, exactly, but it is an observation.
With 150-250 bottles, there's real depth here, but the lens is squarely fixed on California. Napa Cabernet dominates — Stag's Leap, Jordan, Duckhorn, Silver Oak — and the Chardonnay column leans hard on Rombauer and Cakebread. To Ciclo's credit, sommelier Joe Pena holds a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence (since 2020), and the program is clearly curated with intention. What you won't find is much adventure beyond California borders — if you're hunting Old World or any Southern Hemisphere depth, you're going to need to look harder.
Twelve to twenty by-the-glass options is a solid range for a restaurant of this caliber, and it lines up with the bottle list's California focus. Don't expect rotating esoterica — this is a program built for confidence, not surprises. If you're ordering before your food arrives, the Cabs and Chardonnays are the safe and sensible play.
Jordan Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $40s by the bottle (estimated entry range)
Jordan is a legitimately good Alexander Valley Cab that consistently punches above its retail price point. It's the one on this list that doesn't feel like you're paying purely for a brand name.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot
Everyone in the room is ordering the Cabs, which means the Duckhorn Merlot gets overlooked. It shouldn't — this is one of the more food-friendly wines on the list, and it actually plays well with Ciclo's smoke-forward meats and ceviche prep.
Opus One
At steakhouse markups, Opus One lands at a price where you're mostly paying for the label. The wine is good — it's always good — but at Ciclo's pricing tier, that money goes further elsewhere on the list.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Grilled Meats
Stag's Leap has always been a leaner, more elegant style of Napa Cab — enough structure to stand up to the char and smoke without overwhelming the actual flavor of the meat. It's the right call when the kitchen is firing on the grill.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Ciclo is a reliable, well-run California-centric wine program that does exactly what it says on the menu — it just charges you for the privilege. If you're here for the steakhouse experience and want a Cab that won't embarrass you, Joe Pena's list delivers. Just don't expect to be surprised.
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ALC Steaks plays it safe and plays it competently — this is a wine list that serves the room without challenging it. If you know what you're looking for, there are smart picks buried in here; if you don't, you'll still drink fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Austin · Austin · American, Italian
Sammie's is a genuinely fun room with a wine list that's earned its Wine Spectator hardware — the Italian depth is real, the sommelier knows her stuff, and Monday half-price bottles might be the best deal in Austin. Just go in knowing the markups lean steep, and let Jenny point you toward the plays that aren't on the tourist track.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Lake Austin · Austin · Italian
68 Degrees is doing something genuinely rare in Austin: an Italian wine list with real depth, honest pricing, and a Wednesday deal that should be on your calendar. We'd send anyone here who wants to drink well without a fight.
Solid Range
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
East Austin · Austin · American, Italian
Birdie's has no business being this good at wine for a neighborhood spot on East 12th — and that's the highest compliment we can give it. Send your friends here, tell them to order Burgundy, and let them figure out on their own that this place is a wild card worth knowing.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Austin · Austin · Italian
Siena's wine list is a genuine Italian-focused program with some serious names and a half-price Monday that should be on every Austin wine drinker's calendar. Markups run steep at the high end, but the bones are good enough that we'd send a friend — especially on a Monday.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Proper
South Lamar · Austin · Italian, Seafood
A neighborhood Italian spot with a better wine list than it has any obligation to have — and Wednesday half-price wine night is one of the better deals in Austin. Come for the pasta, stay for the Barolo.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
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