Roanoke's California-forward steakhouse does the job
Roanoke · American, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated October 2026
Reviewed April 30, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Frankie Rowland's Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Frankie Rowland's reads like a greatest hits album of California Cabernet — Caymus, Silver Oak, Jordan, Stag's Leap all showing up in the first few pages. It's a comfortable, familiar lineup that won't surprise anyone, but it absolutely fits the room. You're here to eat steak, and these wines were born for exactly that.
The list runs 150-250 bottles deep with a hard lean into California, particularly Napa Cabernet and Chardonnay. Caymus and Silver Oak anchor the reds, while Far Niente and Cakebread hold down the white side with credibility. What's missing is any meaningful detour into Burgundy, Barolo, or even Willamette Valley Pinot — if you want anything outside the California comfort zone, you're largely out of luck. That said, the producers they've chosen are genuinely good, and the list earned its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2025 for a reason.
Twelve to twenty options by the glass with prices landing between $10 and $18, which is reasonable for an upscale steakhouse in this market. The range skews predictably toward California, but having Duckhorn Merlot and Cakebread Chardonnay accessible by the glass is a genuine win for people who don't want to commit to a full bottle. Rotation appears minimal — this is a steady-state program, not one that's chasing seasonal pours.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $35 glass range / bottle TBD
Jordan is the quiet professional on this list — less flashy than Caymus, more nuanced, and consistently one of the best expressions of Alexander Valley Cab at its price point. If it's available by the glass, order it without overthinking.
Duckhorn Merlot
Everyone's ordering Cab here, and Duckhorn's Merlot gets ignored as a result. That's a mistake. It's a more food-flexible wine — softer tannins, plummy depth — and it actually sings alongside the truffle mac and cheese in a way a big Napa Cab never will.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is fine — it's always fine — but it's also the most marked-up wine on every steakhouse list in America. You're paying for the name recognition, full stop. The Jordan or Stag's Leap gets you more interesting juice for less ego tax.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Prime dry-aged ribeye
Stag's Leap built its reputation on structure and elegance — the kind of Cab that cuts through fat without beating you over the head with tannin. Against a dry-aged ribeye with all that savory, concentrated beefy richness, it finds its footing perfectly.
The Bottom Line
Frankie Rowland's isn't trying to be a wine destination — it's a serious steakhouse with a serious enough wine program to back up the beef. The California focus is narrow but well-executed, and having a knowledgeable staffer in Aniket Rajguru on the floor makes a real difference. Send your Cab-loving friends here without hesitation.
· Roanoke · Wine Bar / Small Plates
Stave & Cork earns a Wild Card for being a genuinely unpretentious wine bar in a part of Virginia that doesn't have many of them, with a smart regional lean toward Virginia producers and a room that makes you want to stay for one more glass. We'd love to come back with a full menu and list in hand — until then, go in open-minded, ask the staff what's pouring, and start with the charcuterie board.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Roanoke · Wine Shop / Wine Bar
The Jolly Grape has a brand that promises more than five bottles, three of which are the same grape from the same region. Until the list grows up to match the name, order the Peyrassol and call it a night.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Roanoke · Seasonal Small Plates / Wine Bar
Bloom is a genuinely wine-forward neighborhood spot in a city that doesn't have many of them — that alone earns it some goodwill. We'd want more list transparency before calling it a destination, but it's an easy yes for a date night in Roanoke.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Roanoke · American / Deli & Grill
Montano's wine list is inoffensive, modestly priced, and almost entirely forgettable — a functional afterthought at a spot where food and atmosphere are clearly the point. If you need wine, the Albariño is your move; otherwise, this is a beer-and-cocktails kind of place.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Roanoke · Fine Dining / New American
Table 50 does more with 68 labels than most fine dining rooms do with twice as many — the fortified wine section alone earns it a second look. If you're eating in Roanoke and care about what's in your glass, this is where you go.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Roanoke · Roanoke · Cocktail Bar with Neapolitan-style Pizza
Stellina is a cocktail bar that happens to have a thoughtful four-bottle wine list, which is more than most cocktail bars can say. If you're there for the vibe and the pizza, the wine program will take care of you just fine — don't show up expecting a deep cellar.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Westwood · Los Angeles · American, Steakhouse
A Cabernet-first list with 30 glasses and a long bottle book, but no wine prices posted online. If you want a known price, the $9 happy hour Bonanza Cabernet by Caymus is the one posted figure, and if you want to step away from Cabernet, try the Il Bruciato Super Tuscan by the glass. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Scottsdale · Scottsdale · American, Steakhouse
A very large list with a long glass section, from a $14 Muscadet to a $90 pour of Krug. Start with the $14/glass Mélon de Bourgogne, then look at the Arizona Selections page if you want an Arizona bottle, and confirm prices because the PDF says they are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Van Ness / Polk · San Francisco · American, Steakhouse
A serious steakhouse list with a glass program you can actually use: 32 pours by the stem from 14 to 99 and California Cabernet across eight pages. Start with the Keenan Cabernet at 22 by the stem, or step up to the Jordan Alexander Valley at 129 with the Porterhouse, and ask which vintages are current since the list is subject to vintage change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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