Old-School SF Power Move, Cabernet Edition
Van Ness / Polk · San Francisco · American, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 7, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Harris'’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Harris' arrives like a leather-bound declaration of intent — this is a California Cabernet cathedral, and you are a guest in its house. White tablecloths, low lighting, and a room full of people who ordered the bone-in New York before they even looked at the food menu. The list backs up the atmosphere completely.
With 400 to 600 selections, Harris' leans hard into the classics that built California's reputation — Caymus Special Selection, Stag's Leap CASK 23, Silver Oak, Ridge Monte Bello, Opus One, and Chateau Montelena all show up like they belong here, because they do. Burgundy gets serious treatment too, with Louis Jadot anchoring the French side and a DRC presence that signals this list is not playing dress-up. Italy is represented with real weight — think Giacomo Conterno and Gaja in the Barolo section, not supermarket Chianti dressed up in a nice font. The gaps are real — if you're hunting natural wine, orange wine, or anything from the Southern Hemisphere, you've wandered into the wrong steakhouse.
The by-the-glass program runs 12 to 20 options, which for a room this focused on bottles is actually respectable. Expect California Cabernet and Chardonnay to anchor the pour list — this is not a by-the-glass destination for the adventurous, but what's there is well-chosen and properly served. Rotation appears limited; Harris' knows what its crowd wants and isn't trying to surprise anyone.
Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $60
Jordan is the most consistent Cabernet in California at its price point, and at a steakhouse of this caliber it often lands closer to retail than you'd expect. It's the move for a table that wants serious wine without the $300 conversation.
Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello
Everyone at Harris' is chasing the Napa marquee names, but Monte Bello — a Santa Cruz Mountains Cab that has been embarrassing Bordeaux châteaux since 1976 — sits on this list quietly. It's age-worthy, complex, and almost always overshadowed by flashier neighbors. Order it.
Opus One
Opus One is a great wine, but it's also the most marked-up Bordeaux-style blend in America. You're paying for the name recognition at this point, and at a steakhouse that charges premium prices on top of an already premium bottle, the math doesn't work in your favor. Spend that money on Monte Bello or a Barolo instead.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars CASK 23 + Dry-Aged Porterhouse
CASK 23 is arguably the most historically significant Napa Cab on this list — the lineage goes back to the 1976 Paris Tasting. A dry-aged Porterhouse with that kind of fat and char needs a wine with structure and authority, not fruit-forward softness. CASK 23 delivers both.
The Bottom Line
Harris' has held a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence since 2004, and the list earns it — deep, seriously curated, and staffed by people who actually know what's in the cellar. The markup stings, but this is one of those rooms where the wine and the occasion justify each other.
Embarcadero · San Francisco · Peruvian Seafood
La Mar is a great dinner — the ceviche alone is worth the trip — but the wine list is along for the ride rather than driving it. Order something crisp and cold, enjoy the view, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Union Square · San Francisco · American
The Rotunda is a lunch experience first and a wine destination a distant second — the list is safe, the markup is real, and you're largely paying for the address and the atmosphere. Come for the crab salad and the occasion, order something bubbly, and don't go in expecting a serious wine program.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
San Francisco · San Francisco · Wine bar & bottle shop
Bodega SF is what happens when someone actually gives a damn about the list instead of just checking a box. Twenty-six bottles, almost all pourable by the glass, priced fairly, and built around grapes most wine bars wouldn't dare touch — send your adventurous friends here and tell them to skip the safe picks.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
San Francisco · San Francisco · Wine bar
Fig & Thistle is for people who trust a short menu built by someone with a point of view — thirteen bottles, all pouring, all worth talking about. If you need a fallback Cab or a recognizable label to feel safe, this isn't your spot. If you don't, this absolutely is.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
San Francisco · San Francisco · Steakhouse
STK San Francisco has the bones of a wine program and the ambition of a hotel minibar. With only three by-the-glass pours, a list built entirely around safe brand names, and steep markups baked into the concept, this is a place to order a cocktail or splurge on a specific bottle you already know you want.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Francisco · Wine Tavern
Big Finish is doing something genuinely different — an all-glass list built around obscure varietals, serious fortified wine, and pricing that doesn't punish curiosity. Send anyone here who wants to drink something they've never tried before and walk away feeling like they learned something.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
National Park Corridor / Parkway · Gatlinburg · American, Steakhouse
The Park Grill is a reliable dinner stop if you're winding down after a day in the Smokies and want a solid glass of California wine with your steak — just don't expect the list to reward curiosity or spare your wallet. Send your friends here for the food and the vibe; tell them to drink the Sonoma-Cutrer and not overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Stowe Village · Stowe · American, Steakhouse
Harrison's is the kind of reliable neighborhood anchor that Stowe regulars and ski-weekend visitors can count on — the wine list won't blow your mind, but it won't let you down either. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink fine; just don't send them expecting a deep dive.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Denver · Denver · American, Steakhouse
Range is a confident, well-kept steakhouse list that won't surprise you but absolutely won't let you down — especially if California Cabs are your language. Just come in with your eyes open on pricing, and let Dan steer you toward the Jordan.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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