Old-World Glamour With a Killer Italian Spine
West Loop · Chicago · Steak House · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 13, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Fioretta feels like someone built a steakhouse inside a fever dream about 1960s Milan — all opulence, live entertainment, and an unmistakable sense that they take the wine program as seriously as the tablecloths. The list lands with confidence: Italy-first, California-supported, and clearly curated by someone who knows the difference between Barolo producers. This is not a steakhouse that just threw Caymus and Stag's Leap on a laminated card and called it a day.
The Italian backbone here is legitimately impressive — Giacomo Conterno and Bruno Giacosa representing Barolo, Biondi-Santi and Banfi anchoring Brunello di Montalcino, and Super Tuscans like Sassicaia and Ornellaia for the table that wants to make a statement. Amarone gets proper treatment too, with Masi and Allegrini covering both the accessible and the serious ends of that category. California shows up in the supporting cast — Jordan, Stag's Leap, Caymus — solid picks for the Cab crowd but less adventurous than the Italian side of the ledger. The gaps feel intentional: this list knows what it is, and it doesn't pretend to be a global tour.
With 18-28 options running $15-$25 a glass, the BTG program is more generous than most steakhouses bother with. The range tracks the bottle list — expect Italian reds and California Cabs to dominate the rotation, which makes sense when Bistecca Fiorentina is on the menu. No evidence of an active rotating program, which is the one missed opportunity here.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $60-range
Jordan consistently overdelivers at its price point — structured enough for a dry-aged ribeye, polished enough to not feel like a concession. In a list that skews heavily toward $100+ Italian prestige bottles, this is the smart play for a full bottle at the table without the sticker shock.
Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella
Everyone at the table is reaching for Barolo or Brunello, and Allegrini's Amarone just sits there being quietly brilliant. It's rich, dark, and savagely good with osso buco — but most guests walk right past it chasing the bigger Italian names.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is fine wine — but it's also the most marked-up, most ubiquitous bottle on every steakhouse list in America. You're paying a premium for familiarity here, and with Stag's Leap and Jordan on the same list, there's no reason to default to the crowd-pleaser.
Bruno Giacosa Barolo + Bistecca Fiorentina
Giacosa's Barolo brings that classic tar-and-roses structure that was practically designed to sit next to a massive, char-edged Florentine steak. The tannins cut through the fat, the acidity keeps things lively, and the whole experience feels like it was planned by someone who actually eats dinner.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Fioretta earns its Wine Spectator credential — sommelier Katia Savinkova has built an Italian-driven list that genuinely belongs in a room this theatrical. The markups lean steep, but when the Conterno Barolo is on the table and the lights are low, you're probably not doing the math anyway.
West Loop · Chicago · Californian
The Oakville Grill earns its Wine Spectator credential and the sommelier duo makes this list accessible, not intimidating. Wednesday half-price wine night alone is reason enough to get a reservation — just let go of the idea that anything other than California is on the agenda.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Lincoln Park · Chicago · American
John's is a neighborhood spot that punches well above its casual format — two sommeliers, a thoughtful France-and-California list, fair prices, and half-price bottles every Monday. Send your friends here, especially on a Monday.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
River North · Chicago · American, Seafood
Terrace 16 earns its Wine Spectator badge and delivers a respectable, California-and-France-focused list in one of Chicago's most dramatic dining rooms. Just don't expect to be surprised — the wine is as reliable as the skyline view, and nearly as expensive.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
River North · Chicago · French, Indian
Indienne is the Wild Card in the truest sense — a fusion kitchen with a genuinely considered wine program that earns its Wine Spectator nod. Yes, send a friend here for wine, but make sure they skip the Napa Cab and lead with Riesling.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
West Loop · Chicago · Steak house
BLVD Steakhouse doesn't reinvent the steakhouse wine list, but it executes the formula competently — solid producers, proper storage, and enough range to keep a table of Cab loyalists happy all night. Just go in with your eyes open on the markups and skip the trophy-bottle trap.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Magnificent Mile · Chicago · American
Adorn is a reliable, well-staffed wine program in a high-overhead setting — you're paying for the view and the address, but the list itself is legitimate. Send a friend here who wants solid French and California bottles without doing homework first.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Hartland · Hartland · Steak House
Palmer's is a reliable steakhouse wine list that delivers exactly what its suburban clientele wants — well-known California names, solid execution, and nothing too weird. If you're a wine adventurer, you'll want to temper expectations; if you're celebrating with a ribeye and a Jordan Cab, you'll leave satisfied.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Town Square · Jackson · Steak House
The Million Dollar Cowboy Steakhouse has a sommelier, a Wine Spectator credential, and a list that knows its audience — which is Jackson tourists who want great steak and great Napa Cab, full stop. Send a friend here if they want a proper California red with a serious piece of beef; just warn them to skip Opus One and let Jordan do the work.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Milwaukee · Milwaukee · Steak House
Ward's House of Prime is exactly what it says it is: a classic Milwaukee steakhouse with a wine list built to match big cuts of beef. The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence is well-earned, but don't come looking for adventure — come looking for a great California Cab and a slab of prime rib.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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