California classics done right in Central Illinois
Peoria · American · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 13, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Connected’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Connected, the wine list reads like a greatest-hits compilation of California's most recognizable names — Caymus, Silver Oak, Rombauer. It's a crowd-pleaser approach, executed with enough care to earn a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence that's been running since 2020. For Peoria, this is genuinely as good as it gets.
The list sits around 100-150 bottles and leans hard into California, which is exactly what Wine Spectator called out as their strength. You'll find the usual Napa heavyweights — Stag's Leap, Jordan, Duckhorn, Cakebread — all present and accounted for. What's missing is any real adventure: no Willamette Valley Pinot, no interesting imports, no natural wine detour. Sommelier Troy Ummel keeps things tight and well-sourced, but the list isn't built to surprise you.
With 12-20 pours by the glass, there's a decent spread to work with across the $10-$18 range. The program skews toward the same California names that dominate the bottle list, which is consistent if not exactly exciting. Rombauer Chardonnay by the glass is a crowd-pleasing move that'll keep most of the table happy.
Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $35-$50
Jordan consistently punches above its price point in Napa-adjacent quality, and it's one of the more fairly priced bottles on a list that skews steep. It's the kind of wine that makes a steakhouse dinner feel like the right decision.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot
Everyone at this table is ordering Cab, which means the Duckhorn Merlot gets overlooked. That's a mistake. Duckhorn is one of the best Merlot producers in Napa and this bottle will hold its own next to any Cabernet on the list — often at a friendlier price.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is fine. It's also everywhere, and restaurant markups on this bottle are rarely kind. At a place like Connected, you can almost certainly do better with Jordan or Stag's Leap for the same spend or less.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Steak
Stag's Leap built its reputation on structured, elegant Cabernet that doesn't bludgeon you with fruit — exactly what you want next to a properly cooked steak. The tannins do the work, the beef does the rest.
The Bottom Line
Connected is the best wine list in Peoria, and it earns that quietly with a well-maintained California program and a knowledgeable sommelier who actually shows up. Just don't come looking for anything outside the lines — this list knows what it is and plays it straight.
Peoria Heights · Peoria · New American
Fusion 45 is doing something genuinely ambitious for Peoria — a creative kitchen with Old World wine ambitions is not nothing — but until we can get eyes on the actual list with prices, we're cautiously optimistic rather than fully sold. Worth a visit, worth asking your server what's good to drink.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Peoria · Steakhouse
Bourbon & Bones has put real effort into building a Champagne list that would hold its own in a major city, but outside the bubbles section the list plays it safe and the markups are steep enough to sting. Come here for the occasion, not the exploration.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Peoria · Italian Steakhouse
Johnny's wine list is exactly what it is: a well-curated collection of American crowd-pleasers with markups to match the steakhouse zip code. You won't be wowed, but you won't be stuck either — and 28 glasses by the pour means you have options.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Peoria · Hotel Steakhouse
Oak & Prime is a reliable pour for a classic steakhouse night — safe, familiar, and priced accordingly steep. Don't come hunting for discovery, but know that the bones are solid if you stick to the right bottles.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Peoria · Peoria · Seafood
Red Lobster's wine list does exactly what corporate intended: give guests something recognizable to order without scaring anyone off. If you calibrate expectations accordingly — and let the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling do the heavy lifting — you won't be miserable. But you won't be talking about the wine on the drive home either.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Peoria · Peoria · Steakhouse
LongHorn Peoria is a fine place to eat a steak; it is not a fine place to drink wine. Order a cocktail or a beer, enjoy your ribeye, and save the wine night for somewhere that actually cares.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Baltimore · American
Give the international and local sections a look before defaulting to Burgundy. Sula at $70 and Old Westminster at $90 offer different budget options. These are posted bottle prices, not guaranteed stock; confirm availability. This menu guide doesn't rate service or cellar conditions.
· Key West · American
Caroline's Café is not a wine destination, and it's not trying to be — the identical pricing across all five house labels makes that abundantly clear. If you're in Key West looking for something interesting in your glass, keep walking; if you just need a cold pour of Chardonnay with your lunch and aren't asking questions, $8 gets you there without drama.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Kerns · Portland · American
Noble Rot is the rare restaurant wine program that would hold up as a standalone wine bar — deep list, sharp staff, fair prices, and a view that makes the whole experience feel earned. Send your friends here. Send yourself here.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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