California classics meet Jacksonville's oyster scene
Jacksonville · Jacksonville · Seafood, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 12, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The list opens with a confident California-forward lineup and a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence to back it up. It reads like a greatest hits album — familiar names, polished presentation, exactly what you'd expect from a upscale riverside steakhouse and raw bar in Jacksonville. No surprises, but no disappointments either.
California and France anchor the list, and the producers are recognizable for good reason — Caymus, Silver Oak, Jordan, Far Niente, Duckhorn, Stag's Leap. These are crowd-tested bottles that sell well in a steakhouse setting, and the list runs 150-250 bottles deep, which gives you real options without being overwhelming. France gets a nod through Louis Jadot Burgundy, and there's a Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling thrown in for the seafood crowd. What's missing is any real adventurousness — no grower Champagne, no Rhône, no natural-leaning producers — but that's not really what City Grille is going for.
Twelve to twenty pours by the glass is a solid program for this type of restaurant, and you can reasonably expect Rombauer Chardonnay and Meiomi Pinot Noir to anchor the list — which tells you exactly who the target drinker is. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority here; this reads more like a set-it-and-forget-it program than something that gets refreshed with the seasons.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $35
At the lower end of the bottle price range, this is a smart play with an oyster tower or lighter seafood dishes. Ste. Michelle Riesling punches above its price point and actually fits the menu better than half the Cabs on the list.
Louis Jadot Burgundy
Everyone at the table is going for Caymus or Rombauer, which means the Jadot gets overlooked. That's a mistake. A Burgundy in a sea of California Cabs and Chards is worth seeking out, especially if you're ordering the venison.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Look, Caymus is a perfectly fine wine. But it's also one of the most marked-up bottles in America, and you can find it at a steakhouse in every city in the country. At steakhouse prices you're paying a premium for the brand recognition alone — there are better Cabs on this list for the money.
Duckhorn Merlot + Venison Steak
Venison wants something with dark fruit and structure but not the full tannic wallop of a big Cab. Duckhorn Merlot hits that middle ground perfectly — enough weight to stand up to the game meat without steamrolling it.
✔️ The Bottom Line
City Grille earns its Wine Spectator credential as a dependable, well-stocked list that plays the hits without taking risks. Send a friend here knowing the wine won't let them down — just tell them to steer clear of the Caymus markup and order the Jadot instead.
Avondale · Jacksonville · French-American Bistro
Orsay is the kind of neighborhood restaurant Jacksonville doesn't have enough of — a French-leaning wine program with fair prices, real selections, and a room that earns a second visit. Send your wine-curious friends here without hesitation.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Southside / St. Johns Town Center · Jacksonville · Contemporary American, wood-fired grill
J. Alexander's Jacksonville is a place that takes its steaks seriously and its wine list as an afterthought. If you're here for a business dinner or a reliable wood-fired meal, you'll drink fine — just don't expect to be surprised, and try not to look too hard at the markup on the Kendall-Jackson.
Crowd Pleasers
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Jacksonville Beach · Jacksonville · Modern Japanese / Sushi
O-Ku Jacksonville Beach is a genuinely nice spot to drink well with sushi, especially if you lean into the sake program where the real effort has been made. The wine list is respectable but unremarkable — and markups across the board mean you'll want to choose your battles.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Jacksonville Beach / Ponte Vedra · Jacksonville · Upscale New American with French and Mediterranean Influences
Restaurant Medure is the best wine list you're likely to encounter between Savannah and Orlando — serious producers, proper storage, a sommelier who knows the cellar, and glassware that respects what's in it. The markups are steep and the list plays it safe stylistically, but if you're celebrating something and want Bordeaux with your filet, this is the room.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Intracoastal West / Beach Blvd · Jacksonville · Contemporary American Seafood
Marker 32 is a beautiful room with a wine list that plays it completely safe — you won't drink badly, but you won't discover anything either. Send a friend here for the scallops and the Intracoastal view, and tell them to order the Chardonnay.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Riverside / Five Points · Jacksonville · Modern American / Southern-influenced
Black Sheep is exactly what a neighborhood restaurant wine list should be — fair prices, enough variety to reward curiosity, and no obvious embarrassments. We'd send a friend here for wine without hesitation, especially if they're sitting on that rooftop.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Shoreline Village · Long Beach · Seafood, Steakhouse
Queensview earns its Wine Spectator badge by doing the California steakhouse formula well — the setting is legitimately stunning, the list is reliable, and the Daou is a genuine steal in this context. Just don't come expecting anything that'll surprise you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Lake Tahoe · South Lake Tahoe · Seafood, Steakhouse
Kalani's wine program is exactly what it should be: polished, California-centric, and dependable for a mountain resort fine dining crowd. No fireworks, but you'll eat and drink well — just go in with eyes open on pricing.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pendleton · Pendleton · Seafood, Steakhouse
Plateau is the kind of place that surprises you — a polished wine program with two named sommeliers, genuine Pacific Northwest depth, and cult producers you don't expect to find east of the Cascades. If you're passing through Pendleton, this is absolutely worth a stop for the wine alone.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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