Suburban steakhouse swinging way above its weight
Duluth · Italian, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 7, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Frankie's The Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're in a strip-mall-adjacent suburb of Atlanta, and then the wine list lands on the table — 300 to 500 bottles deep, with Sassicaia and Opus One sharing space alongside Barolo heavyweights. It's a genuine surprise. This is not the wine list you expect off Sugarloaf Parkway.
California leads the charge, as it should at a steakhouse of this stripe — Caymus, Silver Oak, Jordan, Far Niente, Duckhorn, and Opus One cover the greatest hits with depth rather than tokenism. Italy holds its own with serious entries like Sassicaia and Barolo producers at the Gaja and Giacomo Conterno tier, which is a real commitment for a Georgia suburb. France shows up in the form of Chateau Margaux and Chateau Montelena, keeping the old-world credibility intact. The gaps are in lesser-explored regions — don't come looking for Jura or natural wines — but within its lane, this list is legitimately curated.
Twenty to thirty-five by-the-glass options is a strong number and gives the table real flexibility without defaulting to house plonk. The range appears to pull from the same California and Italian backbone as the bottle list, so quality by the glass shouldn't feel like a downgrade. We'd ask your server what's pouring fresh — rotation intel here matters.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $60–$80
Jordan is one of the most consistently drinkable Cabs in California and often gets overshadowed by its flashier neighbors on a list like this. At a steakhouse, it's exactly what you want — fruit-forward, structured, and it won't empty your wallet before the ribeye arrives.
Duckhorn Merlot
Everyone's reaching past it for the Cabernet, and that's exactly why you should order it. Duckhorn basically rehabilitated Merlot's reputation and their flagship is legitimately excellent — silky, layered, and killer with veal or a filet. Most tables here will sleep on it.
Opus One
Opus One is a trophy bottle and it's priced like one — expect a significant restaurant markup on top of an already expensive wine. The juice is fine, but at a steakhouse in Duluth you're paying heavily for the name recognition. The Silver Oak or Jordan will drink nearly as well for a fraction of the tab.
Sassicaia + Prime dry-aged ribeye
Sassicaia is a Super Tuscan built for exactly this moment — a big, age-worthy Cabernet-Sangiovese blend with enough structure to stand up to the char and fat of a prime dry-aged cut. It's a splurge, but if you're already ordering the ribeye, this is the move.
The Bottom Line
Frankie's earned that Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence, and the list backs it up — this is serious wine in a setting most people would write off before walking in. No sommelier on the floor is a real gap, but if you know what you're ordering, this list rewards you.
· Duluth · Brewpub
Lake Superior Brewing has no business having a wine list this interesting, and we mean that as a full compliment. If you're in Duluth and you want to drink wine somewhere that actually thought about it, this brewpub is the surprising answer.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Duluth · Cocktail Bar
This is a cocktail bar that slipped a legitimately interesting nine-bottle wine list into the corner without making a big deal about it — and we respect the quiet confidence. Don't come here for a deep cellar experience, but do come here knowing you have real options beyond the well liquor.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Duluth · Italian
Va Bene is presumably doing something right in the kitchen, but the wine list is a two-item afterthought that tells you this place doesn't take wine seriously. Order a glass, enjoy your pasta, and don't expect anything more.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Duluth · European / Hotel Restaurant
Midi is doing more with 38 labels than most hotel restaurants do with 80. The aromatic white selection alone makes it worth a serious look, and the pricing won't leave you feeling robbed on the way out.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Duluth · Italian-American and Pizza
Sammy's is a Duluth institution and the pizza earns its reputation — the wine list is just not the point, and the restaurant isn't pretending otherwise. Order a beer or grab the cheapest glass pour, eat the pizza, and be happy.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Canal Park · Duluth · American, Bar, Pizza
Old Chicago Duluth isn't a wine destination and doesn't pretend to be — it's a reliable fallback for the table member who wants a glass of something decent while everyone else works through the tap list. If you stick to the Ste. Michelle Riesling, you'll leave satisfied; just don't come here expecting anything that will make you put down your pizza.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Madison · Madison · Italian, Steakhouse
Draper Brothers Chophouse is a dependable, California-forward wine list in a genuinely beautiful room — it won't blow any minds, but it will reliably get out of the way of a good steak. Send your friends here for the beef and the atmosphere; just temper expectations if they're hoping for a wine list that matches the ambition of the building.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hubertus · Hubertus · Italian, Steakhouse
Johnny Manhattan's earned its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and has held it since 2018 for a reason — this is a legitimately well-curated list for a small-town Italian steakhouse that gets California and Italy right. If you're within driving distance, it's worth making the reservation and going deeper than the Caymus.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Eau Claire · Eau Claire · Italian, Steakhouse
Johnny's isn't trying to reinvent the wine list — it's trying to make sure you drink well with your steak, and it succeeds. Send a friend here if they want reliable California pours at fair prices without having to think too hard about it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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