Big list, safe choices, solid execution
Downtown · Pittsburgh · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 22, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Eddie Merlot's’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Eddie Merlot's Pittsburgh lands with some weight — 165 selections, a dedicated reserve list, and a sommelier on staff signals this place takes wine seriously for a chain. The room backs it up: low lights, proper stemware already on the table, and a menu that doesn't flinch at $90 entrees. You're in a steakhouse that at least read the wine chapter.
The list is California through and through — Duckhorn, The Prisoner, Joel Gott, Josh Cellars, and the house Eddie Merlot label anchor a lineup built for red meat and crowd comfort. There's nothing wrong with any of it, but if you're hoping for a Jura oddity or a grower Champagne, keep scrolling (or don't bother). The reserve list adds some depth, but the overall DNA is recognizable labels at recognizable price points rather than anything that'll surprise you. Old World representation exists but it's clearly the supporting cast here.
Seventy-five wines by the glass is a genuinely impressive number — most steakhouses offer a fraction of that. The range spans the full list from house pours up through reserve selections, which means you can actually taste your way through a meal rather than committing to a bottle immediately. The catch: with that many options and no clear rotation signal, the list can feel like a catalog rather than a curated conversation.
Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon — $12
Joel Gott punches above its approachable price point — it's consistent, fruit-forward, and holds its own against the beef on your plate without asking you to refinance anything.
Eddie Merlot's Pinot Noir
House-label wines usually deserve skepticism, but this one earns a look — it's the restaurant's own skin in the game, priced to move, and Pinot at a steakhouse is a contrarian move that actually works if you're going salmon or lighter cuts.
The Prisoner Wine Company Red Blend
The Prisoner is everywhere, and steakhouses charge accordingly. You're paying a significant premium for a label you can grab at any grocery store wine aisle — the markup here doesn't add anything the wine doesn't already deliver at retail.
Duckhorn Merlot + Filet Mignon
Duckhorn built its reputation on exactly this pairing — the wine's plum-dark fruit and structured tannins don't overpower the filet the way a big Cab can, letting the cut's tenderness actually land.
The Bottom Line
Eddie Merlot's Pittsburgh is a reliable, well-staffed steakhouse wine program that plays it safe with California crowd-pleasers and charges you a bit for the privilege. Send a friend here who wants a great glass with their filet and zero surprises — just don't expect to discover anything new.
Robinson Township · Pittsburgh · American, Italian
Ditka's Pittsburgh is a dependable play for a California-centric steakhouse night out — just don't come looking for adventure. If your crew wants big Napa Cabs with a serious cut of beef, this list will keep everyone happy without anyone learning anything new.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Mt. Washington · Pittsburgh · American
Altius is a reliable wine destination if you want California classics in one of Pittsburgh's best dining rooms — just don't expect the list to surprise you the way the skyline will. Send a friend here for a special occasion, not a wine adventure.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Strip District · Pittsburgh · Market / Wine Library
The Pennsylvania Market Wine Library is the rare place where the pricing alone justifies the trip — near-retail bottles in a casual market setting is a concept more cities need. It's not polished, but it's genuinely on your side.
Solid Range
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lawrenceville · Pittsburgh · Spanish
Morcilla isn't trying to be a wine bar, but the list reads like it was built by someone who wishes it were — in the best possible way. If you're in Pittsburgh and want to drink serious Spanish wine with your food, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Pittsburgh · American, Steakhouse, Seafood
Eddie V's is the kind of wine list that earns its Rager badge on depth, staff, and execution — even if the pricing leans into the occasion-dining model hard. If someone else is expensing it, drink well. If you're paying yourself, pick strategically.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Pittsburgh · Continental-American Fine Dining
The Carlton has the bones of a Rager — deep cellar, knowledgeable staff, serious glassware — but the markups keep it from earning that badge. Go for the wine list experience, but go in knowing you're paying a downtown Pittsburgh premium for every bottle.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Plano · Steakhouse
Steve Fields clearly puts its energy into the kitchen, not the cellar — and at these price points, that imbalance is hard to ignore. Order the Evesham Wood if it's still there, and otherwise come for the steak, not the wine list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Steakhouse
Greystone is a reliable, if predictable, steakhouse wine list — the kind where you can always find something decent but you'll rarely be surprised. Skip the Opus splurge, order the Paradigm, and you'll walk out satisfied.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Steakhouse
Morton's San Diego is spending more energy on the wedge salad than the wine list, and it shows. Come for the steak, order carefully, and don't expect much beyond the obvious.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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