Meat-Forward House, Wine List Plays It Safe
· Washington · Brazilian Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed October 20, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Fogo de Chão’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
When you walk into Fogo de Chão, the wine list is clearly not the main event — and it knows it. You get 45 labels and a surprisingly long by-the-glass roster, but the selections skew heavily toward recognizable, mass-market names rather than anything that would make a wine lover sit up straight. The list exists to service the churrasco, not to stand on its own.
The regional focus leans into South American wines, which makes thematic sense for a Brazilian steakhouse — you'll find Malbecs from Catena, Alamos, and the Zuccardi-backed Jorjão, plus a Chilean red blend from Eulila by VIK. Beyond that, the white selections are mostly safe grocery-store fare: Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio, Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir, Meiomi, Lapostolle. There's a nod to sparkling with Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne and Le Grand Courtâge Brut Rosé, and even a Mionetto alcohol-removed option, which shows some awareness of modern drinking trends. But there's no real depth here — no old-vine expressions, no single-vineyard finds, nothing that requires any curiosity from the guest.
With 36 by-the-glass options, this is one of the longer BTG programs you'll encounter at a steakhouse chain, and that's genuinely useful if you want to graze across categories over a long meat-heavy meal. Prices run from $10 for the entry-level Natura pours up to $31 for the Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne. The range is wide, but the ceiling is modest — this is a list built for accessibility, not aspiration.
The Bottom Line
Fogo de Chão's wine list is exactly what a national Brazilian steakhouse chain's wine list looks like: functional, familiar, and priced for margin rather than your benefit. The by-the-glass count is impressive on paper, but most of the options are labels you've seen at your grocery store for a fraction of what they're charging here. If you're coming for the meat — and you should be — stick to the Catena Malbec and enjoy the show.
Washington · Washington · Steak House
A 20-wine by-the-glass list with every pour between $14 and $30, split across four sparkling, six white, two rosé and eight red. With a steak, start with the $26 Clos Duval Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon or the $22 Monte Antico Supremus; for the cheapest glass, take the $14 Dr. Loosen Riesling. Pour sizes aren't posted and the page is undated, so confirm today's wines. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown DC · Washington · Steakhouse
A steakhouse beverage menu with 30 wines by the glass and a bottle list that is mostly California, with some France, Italy and Portugal. Start with the $9/glass happy hour Bonanza Cabernet if you arrive in the window, or the Eroica Riesling, the only Riesling on the glass list, and ask for prices because regular wine prices aren't posted. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Georgetown · Washington · Seafood, Steakhouse
An unpriced list that is easier to read for what it offers than for what it costs. If you want Bordeaux, ask for the 2020 Margaux de Brane Cantenac, or look at the Brunello di Montalcino in Sommelier's Selections, and get the price before you commit. This unrated guide covers the posted Beverage Menu, not service, storage or markups.
Washington · Washington · Latin, Vegetarian
A wide-ranging list with 14 wines by the glass from $17 to $95 and a bottle book that runs from $60 to $1,275. Start with the $17 Eichinger Grüner Veltliner or the $20 Pêcheur Trousseau, and ask for the Natural Wines section if you want something low-intervention. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Georgetown · Washington · Italian, Seafood
A very large list that is easier to navigate than it looks, because the glass page is clearly labeled in ounces. Start with the Il Monticello Vermentino (18 for 6 oz) or the Etna Rosso (19 for 6 oz) instead of reaching for the Sancerre at 26, and skim the Sommelier Selections page before you open the 60 pages. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Washington · Washington · Spanish
A glass-focused, Spain-leaning wine menu with a full sherry section and no bottle list posted. Start with the $17 Valtravieso Crianza or the $25 La Vizcaína Mencía, and order the $12 Manzanilla Fina with the jamón if you want to see how the sherry list works. Confirm prices, since the menu is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks selection, not service, storage or markups.
· Wayne · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Wayne is here to sell you an experience built around roaming gauchos and all-you-can-eat picanha, and the wine list is not the reason you're going. If you want something drinkable with your churrasco, the Catena Malbec or the Alamos are safe bets — at least they belong on a beef-forward table. But don't come here expecting a wine program that puts in any real effort, because it doesn't.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Plano · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Plano isn't trying to be a wine destination and doesn't pretend otherwise — but that all-day $6 happy hour on South American wines, anchored by solid producers like Alamos and Calina, gives the list a practical generosity that earns it some respect. If you're here for the churrasco experience, the Catena Malbec at $12 is your move. Wine enthusiasts should calibrate expectations accordingly, but nobody's walking away feeling gouged.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Active Program
Acceptable
· Huntington Station · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Huntington Station isn't trying to win any wine awards, but the list is honest and the by-the-glass breadth means most people at the table can find something that works. Stick to the South American reds — particularly the Catena Malbec — and you'll eat well and drink well without getting gouged.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
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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