Fogo de Chão

Walking into a Brazilian steakhouse, you half-expect a wine list that starts and ends with a generic Malbec. Fogo de Chão El Segundo blows past that expectation — there's a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence on the wall and a list with genuine producers worth your attention. It's a meat-forward room, but the wine program is pulling its weight.

The list leans hard into the holy trinity of California, Argentina, and Chile, which makes sense given the churrascaria format and the kind of bold reds that play well against picanha and lamb chops. Argentina gets the deepest treatment — Catena Zapata, Achaval Ferrer, Clos de los Siete, Zuccardi Valle de Uco, and Susana Balbo all show up, which is a genuinely solid lineup for any restaurant. California holds its own with Jordan, Stag's Leap, Duckhorn, and Far Niente — familiar names, but quality ones. Chile rounds things out with Concha y Toro Don Melchor and Montes Alpha, adding some structure to the South American story. There are no deep European cuts or esoteric finds here, but what they do, they do with intention.

Twelve to twenty pours by the glass is a real number for a steakhouse, and the range tracks with the bottle list — expect Malbec-forward options alongside a California Cab or two and likely a Chardonnay anchor. Wednesday's half-price wine night applies here, which turns a decent glass program into an actual reason to plan your week around dinner.