Great Steaks, Punishing Wine Prices
Pittsford · Rochester · Steakhouse
Updated October 2026
Reviewed April 8, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Dano's Heinen's Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Dano's Heinen's reads like a greatest hits compilation from a 2012 Napa wine auction — Caymus, Silver Oak, Jordan, Duckhorn — all the names your uncle name-drops at Thanksgiving. It's a list that was built to impress at a glance, not to actually deliver value. The moment you start running the numbers, the mood shifts fast.
The list skews heavily California red, with Napa Cab doing most of the heavy lifting and a token nod to Bordeaux and Burgundy for the classicists in the room. There's nothing wrong with the producers here — Jordan and Stag's Leap Artemis are legitimately solid bottles — but the selection is so predictable it practically selects itself. You won't find a grower Champagne, a Willamette Pinot, or anything that suggests someone on staff is actually curious about wine. Bordeaux and Burgundy get a seat at the table, but they feel like afterthoughts rather than a serious international program.
Ten to eighteen pours by the glass is a decent spread for a steakhouse, though without a confirmed rotation, it's hard to know if this program has any pulse or just runs on autopilot. Expect the usual suspects — a Chardonnay, a Cab, maybe a Merlot — delivered reliably but without inspiration. If Monday's half-price bottle deal is on the table, skip the glass pours entirely and go straight to a bottle.
Stag's Leap Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 — $135
Still a 170% markup over retail, but at $135 it's the least painful option on a painful list. Artemis is a genuinely good Napa Cab — structured, age-worthy, and it holds its own next to a dry-aged ribeye. On a Monday, at half price, this is actually a legitimately good deal at around $67.
Opus One 2020
At $595 it sounds absurd, but Opus One retails around $385 — making it the lowest percentage markup on the entire list at roughly 55%. By Dano's own math, this is ironically the most fairly priced bottle they're pouring. If you're splitting a splurge with the table and want something extraordinary with the dry-aged ribeye, this is the one time the math almost works in your favor.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Two hundred percent over retail at $285 for a wine you can grab at Total Wine for $95. Caymus is fine — it's crowd-pleasing, oaky, and reliable — but it's also wildly overexposed and not worth triple the price in any zip code. This bottle exists on the list to anchor the menu with a recognizable name and pad the check. Don't let it.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 + Dry-Aged Ribeye
Jordan's Alexander Valley Cab is built for exactly this moment — it's got enough structure to stand up to a heavily marbled dry-aged ribeye without the jammy overripeness that makes some Napa Cabs clash with beef fat. It's a classicist's pairing at a gouging price, but if you're ordering the ribeye anyway, this is the bottle that earns its place on the table.
Monday — 50% off select wine bottles — the one genuine reason to plan your visit around a weeknight.
The Bottom Line
Dano's Heinen's is a perfectly competent steakhouse with a wine list that treats its guests like a revenue stream rather than people who actually like wine. Come on a Monday, grab the Stag's Leap at half price, and enjoy the ribeye — just don't let the list convince you that paying three times retail is the price of admission.
Downtown · Rochester · Spanish & Mediterranean
A list of 14 wines posted with paired, unlabeled numbers and 14 bottles from $40 to $100, two of them from the Finger Lakes. Start with the Columna Albariño alongside the patatas bravas, or order the $40 Mille Reves Vouvray if you want a bottle for the table, and ask what the paired numbers in the Wine section stand for. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Park Ave · Rochester · Gastro-pub
A short, familiar 11-wine list for a gastro pub, with every price between $10 and $13 and no unit posted. Pair the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling or The Show Malbec with the Jumbo Chicken Wings, and ask whether those prices are per glass. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks selection, not service, storage or markups.
South Wedge · Rochester · Italian
A one-page, Italy-first list of 31 wines where the two-price house pours run $10 to $12 and $36 to $42, and the top price is $90 for The Prisoner Cabernet. Start with the $40 Brancher Valdobbiadene Prosecco, and ask which price on the slash entries is the pour. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups, and the list is undated.
Woodcliff Hotel & Spa · Rochester · New American
A broad online list with a real Finger Lakes section and a few friendly glass pours. Order the $10 Hahn Pinot Noir or the $15 Apollo's Praise Scheurebe by the glass, or pick a New York bottle like the $35 Thirsty Owl Dry Riesling, and confirm current prices because the list is a live online menu. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Pittsford / Monroe Ave Corridor · Rochester · Upscale Steakhouse and Seafood
A steakhouse list built on familiar names, with a few surprises like a Finger Lakes Riesling, and no prices posted online. Order the 14 oz ribeye with the Jordan Cabernet from the Coravin list, or open with the Riesling, and ask for prices before you order. This unrated guide covers the posted wine program, not service, storage or retail markups.
Pittsford Plaza · Rochester · Sushi and Japanese-inspired contemporary dining
Start with the $15 glass of Bandol rosé or Green Rows Pinot Noir, and keep the $55 Green Rows bottle in mind if the table wants red. Confirm current availability and prices, since the menu is stamped 8-14-26. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks selection, not service, storage or markups.
· Hoschton · Steakhouse
Jacks is a genuinely fun neighborhood hang with solid food, but the wine program doesn't match the ambition of the kitchen. If wine is your thing, call ahead or bring your own if corkage is an option — otherwise, lean into the cocktails and enjoy the patio. We'd love to revisit this rating if they ever put some real thought into the list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Point · Atlanta · Steakhouse
Malone's earns its loyal following on the strength of its pork chops and tenderloin, not its wine list. If wine matters to your meal, you may want to call ahead and ask what's available — or just lean into a cocktail and let the steak do the heavy lifting. This one's a food-first destination.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Acworth · Steakhouse
AG Steakhouse earns its reputation as a go-to for celebrations and big nights out on Lake Acworth — but the wine program appears to be in service of the experience rather than a destination in itself. If you're splurging on the filet or the Oscar-style halibut, budget accordingly for the bottle too, and don't expect the list to surprise you. A solid place to drink wine; not a reason to come specifically for wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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