Big Steakhouse Energy, Monday Gets Interesting
Ballston · Arlington · Upscale American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 27, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar – Arlington’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Fleming's arrives with confidence — a thick, polished wine list that leans hard into California and screams 'expense account.' The '100 Wines' program is the headline act, and it delivers exactly what you'd expect from a national steakhouse chain that takes wine seriously enough to put 'Wine Bar' in its name. It's not groundbreaking, but it's not embarrassing either.
The list is essentially a greatest hits of American wine: Napa Cabs, Sonoma Chards, and a predictable supporting cast from Champagne, Bordeaux, and a handful of Italian reds. You'll find Caymus, Jordan, Rombauer, Stag's Leap — the names every steakhouse in America stocks because they reliably close deals and impress clients who equate brand recognition with quality. What you won't find is much adventure: no Willamette Valley Pinot to speak of, no Spanish Tempranillo, no skin-contact curiosities. This is a list built for people who already know what they want, not for people who want to be surprised. France shows up respectably with Champagne and some Bordeaux, but it's clearly a supporting act to the California main event.
With 20+ options by the glass, Fleming's does better here than most steakhouses. Prices run $13–$25 a glass, which is in line with the room's energy and entree prices. The glass list mirrors the bottle list — California-dominant, recognizable producers — so don't expect anything off the beaten path, but you won't get stuck nursing a bad pour either.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (Alexander Valley) — $185
Still steep at $185, but Jordan is the most honest bottle on the list — consistent, food-friendly, and genuinely enjoyable with a ribeye. Compared to the Caymus at $230 or the Stag's Leap Artemis at $210, you're getting a better drinking experience for less money. Retail is $75, so the markup still stings, but this is the best relative value in the Cab lineup.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 (Napa Valley)
Everyone reaches for the Caymus because the label is familiar, but the Artemis is a more structured, serious wine with better aging potential and more complexity in the glass. At $210 it's still a markup gut-punch, but if you're spending steakhouse money anyway, the Artemis is the smarter Napa Cab on this list.
The Prisoner Red Blend 2021 (Napa Valley)
At $120 a bottle, you're paying a 167% markup on a wine that retails for $45 and is available at every Total Wine in America. The Prisoner is a perfectly decent grocery-store-tier red blend that punches well below its restaurant price tag here. Save your money.
Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay 2022 (Napa Valley) + Lobster Mac & Cheese
Cakebread's Chard is rich, buttery, and oak-forward — exactly what you want cutting through the cream and richness of lobster mac. It's a classic California Chardonnay doing exactly what it was built for. The $120 price tag is hard to love, but at least you're spending it on a combination that actually makes sense.
Monday — Fleming's 'Monday Wine' program offers 50% off select bottles every Monday in the dining room and bar. The discount applies to a curated list of higher-end bottles — details vary slightly by location. This is genuinely the best reason to visit on a weeknight; it makes the otherwise steep pricing much easier to stomach.
The Bottom Line
Fleming's Arlington is a reliable execution of the upscale steakhouse wine formula — well-stored, properly glassed, and deep enough to keep a table happy, but the markups are aggressive and the list won't challenge anyone. Come on a Monday, cut your bottle cost in half, and order the Jordan with your ribeye.
Crystal City · Arlington · Wine Shop / Tasting Bar
Crystal City Wine Shop is the kind of low-key, staff-driven wine spot that most neighborhoods desperately want and rarely get — especially one with the nerve to stock Ukrainian bottles in the shadow of the Pentagon. We'd send a curious friend here without hesitation; just don't come in expecting a full restaurant experience.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Clarendon · Arlington · New American
CIRCA Clarendon isn't trying to be a wine destination and doesn't pretend otherwise — but the all-BTG format, fair prices, and a few genuinely interesting whites make it a solid call when you want wine that works without overthinking it. Send a friend here, just steer them away from the Unshackled.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Arlington · Wine Bar / Bottle Shop
Flight Wine Shop is doing something genuinely rare in the DC suburbs: a tightly curated, fairly priced bottle shop that treats obscure regions and natural producers as the main event, not a novelty section. If you're tired of the same ten wines and want a shop that will actually teach you something, this is your spot.
Deep & Eclectic
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Arlington · Wine Bar / Café
Oby Lee is not a destination for serious wine drinkers, but it is a genuinely fun, low-pressure spot where the prices are fair and the vibe is unapologetically playful. Send your friends who think they don't like wine — they'll order a mango slushy and have a great time.
Plays It Safe
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ballston · Arlington · Neapolitan Pizza
Pupatella isn't trying to be a destination wine program, and it doesn't need to be — it's a pizza place with a focused, fairly priced, Italian-centric list that actually makes sense with the food. Send a friend here for the pizza and tell them to order the Lambrusco.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Arlington · Arlington · Wine Bar
Screwtop is doing something genuinely unusual in the DC suburbs: a deep, eclectic by-the-glass list priced fairly and organized with actual personality. If you want to drink something you've never tried before in a low-pressure setting, this is exactly the place to send a friend.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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
Downtown · Appleton · Upscale American Steakhouse
Vince Lombardi's wine list won't win any awards for creativity, but it's competent, well-suited to the menu, and it won't embarrass the kitchen. If you're here for a prime steak and a reliable bottle of Jordan, you'll leave happy — just don't come looking for discovery.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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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