New Hampshire's Best Steakhouse Brings Napa Firepower
Downtown · Manchester · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 17, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Hanover Street Chophouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Hanover Street Chophouse reads exactly how you'd expect a serious Manchester steakhouse to read — heavy on California, anchored by recognizable names, and priced for people expensing dinner. It's not trying to surprise you, and it doesn't.
The list runs 150 to 300 bottles deep with a clear lean toward Napa Cabernet and Bordeaux, which makes sense when your menu tops out at a $78 steak. You'll find the usual suspects — Caymus, Silver Oak, Jordan, Stag's Leap — all present and accounted for. Burgundy makes an appearance but feels like an afterthought, and if you're hoping for anything outside France or California, you're mostly out of luck. The list is coherent and well-matched to the food, but it's not building any adventurous instincts.
The by-the-glass program runs 12 to 20 options, which is respectable for a steakhouse of this size. Expect the standard Cab-Chard-Pinot triumvirate to dominate pours, with little rotation or creative additions. It does the job, but don't expect to be surprised.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $50
Jordan is a legit Alexander Valley Cab that consistently drinks above its price point — if it's anywhere near the lower end of the list's range, it's the smart move before you start climbing toward the Caymus premium.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Artemis
Artemis gets overlooked because it doesn't have the Caymus name recognition, but this is serious Napa Cab from one of the valley's most storied producers. Most tables walk right past it, which is a mistake.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is everywhere and marked up everywhere — restaurants know it sells on name alone, and they price accordingly. You're paying for the label recognition here, not for anything you can't get better elsewhere on this same list.
Duckhorn Merlot + Filet Mignon
Duckhorn's Merlot has the structure to hold up to a filet without overwhelming it the way a big Cab might — you get the fruit and the grip without losing the subtle character of the cut.
The Bottom Line
Hanover Street Chophouse is doing exactly what it's supposed to do — giving you a dependable, California-heavy wine list in a proper steakhouse setting. It's not cheap and it's not adventurous, but if you want a solid Napa Cab with your steak in Manchester, this is your spot.
Manchester · Manchester · Wine Bar / Small Plates
Vine Thirty Two is doing the most credible wine program in Manchester, and by a comfortable margin. Send a friend here — just tell them to skip the Whispering Angel and ask questions.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Manchester · Manchester · Mexican
Margaritas Manchester is a fun night out, and the bar program clearly gets the attention. The wine list is not the reason to come here — order the cocktails, enjoy the room, and don't overthink the glass pours.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Millyard · Manchester · Casual American
Come here for the burgers and maybe a beer — the wine list is an obligation, not an attraction. If wine matters to your night out, this isn't your spot.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Manchester · Manchester · Modern American Grill
110 Grill Manchester is the wine equivalent of a reliable friend — not the most exciting person in the room, but they always show up and they never let you down. Send your friends here if they want a decent glass with dinner and zero stress; just don't send the Burgundy nerds.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Willow · Manchester · Mexican
Shorty's is a margarita bar that happens to have wine on the menu — and the wine knows it. Come for the frozen drinks and the fajitas; leave the wine list to collect dust.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Willow · Manchester · Tex-Mex
Cactus Jack's is a fun place to eat Tex-Mex and throw back a margarita, and that's exactly the order of operations we'd recommend. The wine list is an afterthought dressed up as a menu section — don't send a friend here for wine unless the friend truly doesn't care about wine.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Greensboro · Steakhouse
Fleming's Greensboro is doing more than most chain steakhouses bother to do with wine — 42 by-the-glass options and actual Alsatian whites on a Greensboro wine list deserves acknowledgment. The markups are real and the list isn't going to surprise anyone who's been to a Fleming's before, but if you're eating a bone-in ribeye and want a proper glass without guesswork, this delivers.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Irvine · Steakhouse
Bourbon Steak Irvine is running one of the most ambitious wine programs in Orange County — 225 labels, 31 by the glass, and a list with genuine personality beyond the expected steakhouse anchors. Markups get steep at the top end, but the by-the-glass range at the $15–$32 tier offers real drinking at fair prices. If you care about what's in your glass, this list rewards the attention.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Irvine · Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Costa Mesa is exactly what it is: a well-run corporate steakhouse with a Champagne list that punches above the room's ambition and a Chardonnay section that covers the safe California bases reliably. Markups are steep throughout and the list doesn't take any risks, but if you know what you want — a glass of Hartford Court or a bottle of Schramsberg before your steak — you'll be fine. Just don't come looking for discovery.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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