Napa-leaning steak country, dressed to impress
· Columbus · Upscale American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed October 23, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Eddie Merlot's’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walk into Eddie Merlot's Columbus and the room does most of the talking — fireplaces, plush seating, the kind of lighting that makes a ribeye look like a Renaissance painting. The wine program reads exactly like the room: polished, confident, and not particularly interested in surprising you. This is steakhouse wine territory, and it plays that role without apology.
The list leans hard into California, with Napa Valley as the clear north star — expect the big, structured reds that have anchored American steakhouse lists for decades. There's a sommelier on staff, which suggests the cellar is maintained with care and someone on the floor actually knows what they're selling. That said, the range appears to stay firmly in crowd-pleaser terrain: the bold, recognizable, and safe. If you're hunting for Jura or a funky Rhône, this probably isn't your stop.
Without a confirmed by-the-glass list in hand, we can't call out specific pours or prices. What we can say is that a room at this price point — entrees running $40 to $100-plus — should be offering glass pours that hold up to a Wagyu ribeye, and the sommelier presence gives us cautious optimism that they do.
The Bottom Line
Eddie Merlot's Columbus is a reliable steakhouse wine experience — well-managed, California-forward, and backed by actual staff expertise. Just know that you're paying steakhouse markups in a steakhouse setting, and the list isn't going to take you anywhere unexpected. If you want a great bottle with a great steak and don't need the wine to steal the show, this works.
German Village · Columbus · Italian
Cento is the rare Columbus restaurant where the wine list is a genuine reason to go, not just a footnote to the pasta. Matthew Selva's Italian-focused program earned its Wine Spectator nod honestly — send your wine-curious friends here without hesitation.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Columbus · Columbus · Spanish, Catalan
Barcelona has been earning its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2005, and the list holds up — serious Spanish producers, fair prices, and enough glass pours to drink well across a full tapas spread. For Columbus, this is genuinely the best Spanish wine program in the room.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Easton Town Center · Columbus · Steak House
Mastro's Columbus is a trophy-wine steakhouse doing what trophy-wine steakhouses do — and doing it well enough to earn a Wine Spectator credential in its first year. If you're celebrating something, drinking California cab with a great steak, and not particularly interested in venturing off the map, this list will absolutely deliver.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Columbus · Columbus · American, Steakhouse
Jeff Ruby's is doing the steakhouse wine list right — deep cellar, Wine Spectator credentials, and enough California firepower to keep any red wine drinker busy all night. Bring your appetite for both the ribeye and the markup, because this room doesn't apologize for either.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Columbus · Columbus · American, Asian
Agni is the best wine list in Columbus most people haven't had a reason to talk about yet — until now. With two sommeliers, a 300–500 bottle program, and a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence already in its first year, send your friends here and tell them to skip the Caymus.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Downtown · Columbus · Italian
Due Amici isn't a destination wine list, but it's honest, fairly priced, and hides a surprisingly thoughtful dessert wine program that most tables never discover. Send a friend here for dinner — just make sure they order something from the back of the list.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fort Point · Boston · Upscale American Steakhouse
Set your wine budget before opening the list. Greenwing Cabernet at $18 a glass or $72 a bottle is a straightforward red option. This is an unrated menu guide; it does not assess service, storage or glassware.
Highway 29 corridor · St. Helena · Upscale American Steakhouse
PRESS is the rare place where a 2,700-bottle list actually delivers — deep, well-stored, and staffed by people who know what they're talking about. The pricing is steep by any honest measure, but if Napa Cabernet is your religion, this is the cathedral.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Mauna Lani Resort · Kailua-Kona · Upscale American Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Mauna Lani does exactly what it promises: a deep, California-forward wine list served in proper glassware at steep resort prices inside a flawless steakhouse setting. You won't discover anything new here, but if you're after a great bottle of Napa Cab with your Prime filet and an ocean breeze somewhere nearby, this list will not let you down.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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