A Hundred Glasses Deep, Mostly Safe
North Hills · Raleigh · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 21, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Fleming's Steakhouse - Raleigh’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Fleming's leads with its party trick — 100 wines by the glass — and it's genuinely impressive on paper. The list skews heavily Napa and Sonoma, which makes sense for a prime steakhouse crowd but leaves little room for adventure. If you came here hoping to find something off the beaten path, you're going to be doing a lot of nodding at familiar labels.
The list is built around the greatest hits of California wine: Caymus, Silver Oak, Jordan, Duckhorn, Rombauer — all solid producers, all extremely well-known, all exactly what you'd expect. There's a nod to Bordeaux for the old-world contingent, but don't come looking for Burgundy depth, Rhône variety, or anything that might require an explanation. This is a list designed to make steakhouse regulars feel comfortable, not challenged. It does that job well, just don't mistake familiarity for sophistication.
One hundred by-the-glass options is the headline, and Fleming's has built their whole wine identity around it. In practice, the BTG program leans on approachable pours — the Hayes Ranch Sauvignon Blanc at $9 is practically a loss leader — but bottle markups tell a more complicated story. Rotation appears minimal; this is a set program, not a chef's-whim kind of situation.
Hayes Ranch Sauvignon Blanc — $9
At $9 a glass and a retail price hovering around $10, this is about as close to fair markup as you're going to find on this list. It's not a complex wine, but it's crisp, clean, and honest — good patio pours don't need to be more than that.
Loosen Bros. Riesling
Yes, the bottle markup is aggressive. But in a room full of Cabernet and Chardonnay, a Dr. Loosen Riesling is the most interesting thing on the list and most tables will skip right past it. If you're eating anything rich — lobster tail, Fleming's potatoes — this is the smartest call you can make.
Caposaldo Prosecco
A $15 retail bottle priced at $48 is a 220% markup on a grocery-store Prosecco. That's not celebration pricing, that's exploitation of the bubbly impulse buy. Order a cocktail if you want to start with something fizzy.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon + Prime dry-aged ribeye
Jordan's Alexander Valley Cab has the structure to stand up to dry-aged beef without the jammy overkill of some of its Napa neighbors. It's polished enough for the room, and the wine's earthy, cedar-forward notes actually complement the char on a properly cooked ribeye.
The Bottom Line
Fleming's Raleigh does exactly what a national steakhouse wine program should do — reliable list, competent staff, proper glassware — but the markups on bottles can sting and the list won't surprise anyone who's eaten at a steakhouse before. Send a friend here for a good night out, just tell them to watch the bottle prices.
Glenwood South · Raleigh · Mediterranean
Vidrio isn't trying to reinvent wine lists, and it doesn't need to — solid French selections, fair pricing, and a by-the-glass program that actually gives you options make this a dependable wine destination in Raleigh. Send a friend here and they won't come back disappointed.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Raleigh · Raleigh · American, Seafood
The Players Retreat is the Wild Card because nobody walks in expecting a legitimate wine program at a beloved Raleigh neighborhood bar — and yet, here we are. Matt Fern keeps things credible, the California and French anchors are well-chosen, and as long as you steer past the grocery-store staples, you're drinking better than the room suggests.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Raleigh · Raleigh · Italian
Cucciolo Terrazza is a genuine surprise in Raleigh's dining scene — a neighborhood Italian with a wine list that earns its Wine Spectator badge and actually makes you want to explore beyond the first familiar name you recognize. Send your friends here and tell them to skip the Napa Cab.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Brier Creek · Raleigh · Indian
Azitra is doing something genuinely unusual — running a Wine Spectator-caliber list at an upscale Indian restaurant in Raleigh — and largely pulling it off. The Wednesday half-price program alone makes it worth putting in your rotation; the Bollinger and the Drouhin make it worth telling your friends about.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Unknown · Raleigh · Pizza
Ruckus Pizza is a solid spot for a casual pizza night — just don't come for the wine. Order a beer or a cocktail, or grab a bottle from the shop next door if they'll let you bring it in.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Apex · Raleigh · Winery (BYOF or charcuterie)
Cloer is a Wild Card in the best sense: it's a real working vineyard producing honest North Carolina wine at fair prices, and the vibe alone is worth the trip out of Raleigh. Bring food, bring friends, and give the Muscadine a real shot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Franklin · Steakhouse
Char is a genuinely enjoyable steakhouse with a wine list that does the job without doing much more. The room earns its keep; the wine program is still a passenger rather than a co-pilot. If you're coming here for the Prime beef and the atmosphere, you'll eat well — just don't expect the list to take you anywhere the food isn't already going. Worth a visit, but bring your own expectations in check at the wine menu.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Steakhouse
The Grove Steakhouse is a solid pick if you're in a celebratory mood and want serious Champagne options with your cut of beef — the sparkling program alone is worth a look. The rest of the list doesn't take many risks, and the markups on recognizable labels are exactly what you'd expect from a steakhouse at a casino property. Go in with eyes open, steer toward the value picks, and you'll have a good night.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Fresno · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Fresno is a reliable landing pad if someone else is picking the restaurant and wine takes a back seat to a great center-cut filet. The wine program isn't adventurous and markups at this tier tend to sting, but the service is polished and the experience is consistent. If wine is the reason you're going out, look elsewhere — but if it's the steak and wine is just along for the ride, you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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