California dreaming in the Wisconsin heartland
Madison · Italian, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated October 2026
Reviewed May 1, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Draper Brothers Chophouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Draper Brothers Chophouse is exactly what you'd expect from a steakhouse operating out of a gorgeous 1867 landmark building on Capitol Square — heavy on California, proud of its Napa headliners, and built to make a ribeye feel like an occasion. It's not trying to surprise you, and mostly it doesn't. What it does do is give you reliable, crowd-pleasing options that will hold their own against a serious cut of beef.
The 150-250 bottle list reads like a California greatest hits compilation: Caymus, Silver Oak, Stag's Leap, Duckhorn, Jordan, Rombauer, Far Niente, Opus One — the names every steak lover recognizes and most restaurants use as a crutch. The focus is squarely on Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, with little apparent interest in exploring Burgundy, Rhône, or even domestic alternatives that might punch above their price point. There's nothing wrong with what's here, but the list doesn't venture far enough to earn genuine excitement. If you're hoping for an Italian red to match the menu's Italian-American identity, you'll be doing some squinting.
The by-the-glass program runs 12-20 options, which is a reasonable spread for a chophouse setting. Expect the usual Rombauer Chardonnay and a Cabernet or two from recognizable names — solid pours that match the room's energy without breaking any new ground. Rotation appears minimal, so don't count on seasonal surprises keeping the program fresh.
Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $40-range
Jordan consistently overdelivers for its price tier — it's a structured, food-friendly Cab that doesn't need a $150 price tag to taste like it belongs at a serious steakhouse dinner.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot
Everyone at a chophouse reaches for Cabernet, but Duckhorn's Merlot is a genuinely serious wine that most tables overlook. Plush, well-structured, and honestly a better match for the bone-in filet than half the Cabs on this list.
Korbel Brut Champagne
At $36 a bottle, Korbel is a tough sell — it's a California sparkling wine that retails for single digits at most grocery stores. There's nothing celebratory about this markup. If you want bubbles, push the staff to find something better.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + The Draper Cut 12-oz. Bone-In Filet
Stag's Leap brings the kind of elegant, focused Napa Cab that doesn't bulldoze a filet — its dark fruit and firm but polished structure match the richness of the bone-in cut without drowning the meat's natural flavor.
The Bottom Line
Draper Brothers Chophouse is a dependable, California-forward wine list in a genuinely beautiful room — it won't blow any minds, but it will reliably get out of the way of a good steak. Send your friends here for the beef and the atmosphere; just temper expectations if they're hoping for a wine list that matches the ambition of the building.
South West Side / Arbor Gate · Madison · Contemporary American
Bonfyre is a reliable neighborhood grill that happens to have Wine Down Wednesday, and that promotion does more for this wine program than anything on the list itself. Come on a Wednesday, order the Riesling or the Malbec with your steak, and you'll leave happy — just don't expect the list to dazzle you on a Tuesday.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown / Capitol Square · Madison · Sushi / Japanese
Red Sushi isn't a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — but the fortified and dessert options give it more credibility than most comparable spots downtown. Come for the sushi, stay for the Madeira.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Far West Side / Greenway Station · Madison · Casual Italian
Biaggi's is a chain, the markups are steep, and nobody on staff is going to geek out over Nebbiolo with you — but the Wine Wednesday promotion (50% off bottles $75 and under) genuinely changes the math. Come on a Wednesday, order a bottle of Santa Margherita or a Chianti Classico at half price, and you'll have a perfectly solid dinner without any regrets.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Madison · Seafood and Steak
Tempest is a reliable downtown option for wine with your oysters — the list has genuine highlights and the glass count is respectable, but the markups are steep and the program isn't pushing itself. Go for the Sancerre, go for the Riesling, and don't overthink it.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Side / Junction Road · Madison · Wine Bar & Bistro
Eno Vino West is the dependable neighborhood wine bar Madison's west side needs — not flashy, not adventurous, but genuinely well-stocked and fairly priced. Show up on a Monday or Tuesday, grab a half-price bottle, and stop overthinking it.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Near West Side / Monroe Street · Madison · Californian-style, veggie-forward American
Everly's list is more thoughtful than most neighborhood spots its size, with a few genuinely exciting bottles mixed in with the safe pours. We'd send a friend here for wine, but we'd tell them to go in with eyes open on the markup — you're paying a premium for the atmosphere as much as what's in the glass.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
North End · Boston · Italian, Steakhouse
A broad list with 29 glass pours, Italian and American bottle sections, and a From the Vault section that goes well into four figures. Start with the 2021 Mauro Molino Barolo at $26 a glass or the Batasiolo Gavi di Gavi at $15, and confirm vintages, since the list says they are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Fort Myers · Fort Myers · Italian, Steakhouse
Terra Nostra's posted list is built around Napa Cabernet, Brunello, Barolo and Super Tuscans, as its own header says, and its 20 glass pours start at $8. Start with the $12 J. Lohr Cabernet or the $13 Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva by the glass, or step up to the $110 Paulo Scavino Barolo if you want a bottle. Confirm today's availability and prices, since the list says both are subject to change; this unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or retail markups.
Hubertus · Hubertus · Italian, Steakhouse
Johnny Manhattan's earned its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and has held it since 2018 for a reason — this is a legitimately well-curated list for a small-town Italian steakhouse that gets California and Italy right. If you're within driving distance, it's worth making the reservation and going deeper than the Caymus.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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