Fogo de Chão

The wine list at Fogo de Chão Washington DC does exactly what you'd expect from a Brazilian churrascaria chain: it stays firmly in its lane. All 62 labels are South American, which is either a confident editorial choice or a missed opportunity, depending on how you look at it. Either way, the pricing is refreshingly honest for a restaurant of this scale.

The list is organized around Argentina and Chile almost exclusively, with a heavy emphasis on Malbec, Chardonnay, Torrontés, and red blends — the greatest hits of the Southern Cone. There's a respectable Chardonnay ladder that runs from the Natura by Emiliana at $21.50 all the way up to the Bodega Catena Zapata Catena Alta at $50, which shows some range and ambition at the top end. The VIK wines from Chile's Cachapoal Valley are the most interesting producers on the list — boutique, terroir-driven, and the kind of thing you don't usually see at a chain. What's missing is any Old World presence, interesting Cabernet Franc, or anything that strays outside the comfort zone of steak-adjacent varietals.

By-the-glass options aren't documented in our research, so we can't tell you what's pouring or at what price. Given the chain context and the bottle pricing floor sitting around $20-$28 for most whites and rosés, we'd expect a few pours available — but we'd recommend asking your server directly before assuming.