Texas Pride, Global Depth, Zero Apologies
Plano · Plano · Steak House · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 9, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Haywire’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Haywire lands like a confident handshake — big, deliberate, and clearly put together by someone who gives a damn. With 350-500 bottles and a named sommelier (Heidi Ziepprecht) steering the ship, this is not a steakhouse that bolted on a wine list as an afterthought. The Texas-forward identity is loud and proud, but it earns it.
The list pulls off a genuinely rare trick: celebrating Texas wine without getting parochial about it. Becker Vineyards, Pedernales Cellars, and William Chris Vineyards anchor the Lone Star contingent with real credibility, while California heavyweights like Caymus, Silver Oak, Chateau Montelena, and Jordan hold down the familiar end for guests who want what they know. The French section — Louis Jadot for Burgundy, Chateau Lynch-Bages for Bordeaux — is lean but well-chosen, hitting the classics that belong on a serious steakhouse list. The gaps are real (limited old-world depth outside France, sparse Southern Hemisphere), but what's here is curated with intention, not just padded for length.
Twenty to thirty-five by-the-glass options is a genuinely strong number, especially for a steakhouse, and the $12–$25 range suggests some real bottles are getting poured rather than just house-pour filler. We'd expect to see Texas producers and California staples rotating through the glass program — this is the right place to try a William Chris or Pedernales pour before committing to a bottle.
Pedernales Cellars Texas Tempranillo — $50s
Texas Tempranillo is one of the state's most compelling grape success stories, and Pedernales does it better than almost anyone. At steakhouse bottle prices it likely sits in the lower tier of the list, which makes it a relative steal next to the California cult wines parked nearby.
William Chris Vineyards Enchantè
Most tables at a Texas steakhouse default to Cabernet, which means the William Chris bottles sit largely ignored. That's a mistake. William Chris is one of the most serious and consistent producers in the state, and their wines drink well against red meat — give this one a shot before you autopilot to Silver Oak.
Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is on every steakhouse list in America and it's marked up accordingly. You're paying for the name recognition more than what's in the glass at this point — there are better bottles on this list, including several Texas reds, for the same money or less.
Chateau Lynch-Bages Pauillac + Bone-in Cowboy Ribeye
Lynch-Bages is one of Bordeaux's most meat-friendly bottles — structured, savory, with enough tannic grip to stand up to a bone-in cut with serious fat. It's the pairing that justifies ordering a $100+ bottle without any internal debate.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Haywire is the rare Texas steakhouse that treats its wine program as a genuine point of pride rather than a revenue line item — a Best of Award of Excellence since 2020 doesn't happen by accident. The markups sting a little, but the depth, the Texas selections, and a real sommelier on the floor make this one worth the trip.
Legacy Area · Plano · Upscale Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Plano is a safe, well-executed wine program with real depth on paper and a knowledgeable staff to help you navigate it — but you're paying steakhouse prices for the privilege, and the list rarely strays outside its California comfort zone. Send your clients here, bring your parents here, but don't expect to be challenged.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Legacy West · Plano · Wine Bar
CRÚ Plano punches well above its Legacy West strip-mall setting — 300 bottles and a genuinely active specials calendar make this worth a dedicated visit, not just a last-resort pour before the movie. Just don't come looking for Burgundy and you'll leave happy.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Parker Road & 75 corridor · Plano · American Brewhouse
BJ's Plano is a beer hall that tolerates wine — the list is safe, the prices are fair enough, and Half Off Wine Wednesday makes it genuinely cheap. If you're here for the Pizookie and a round, grab the Daou and call it a night; just don't expect anyone to geek out with you.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Plano Parkway area · Plano · Italian
Romano's Macaroni Grill Plano isn't a wine destination, but it doesn't pretend to be one either. Show up on a Wednesday, order the Chianti, and you've got a genuinely solid dinner at a price that makes sense.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Preston & 190 area · Plano · Italian Grill
Carrabba's Plano isn't a wine destination, but it's not a wine disaster either. If you're here for dinner with the family and want a solid glass without any drama, the Chianti Classico earns its keep.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Multiple Plano corridors · Plano · Italian-American
The Col d'Orcia Brunello and Bertani Amarone suggest someone, somewhere, tried — but the surrounding list is chain-restaurant autopilot and the markups don't reward your loyalty. Order the breadsticks, nurse the Amarone, and keep your expectations exactly where the laminated menu set them.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hartland · Hartland · Steak House
Palmer's is a reliable steakhouse wine list that delivers exactly what its suburban clientele wants — well-known California names, solid execution, and nothing too weird. If you're a wine adventurer, you'll want to temper expectations; if you're celebrating with a ribeye and a Jordan Cab, you'll leave satisfied.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Town Square · Jackson · Steak House
The Million Dollar Cowboy Steakhouse has a sommelier, a Wine Spectator credential, and a list that knows its audience — which is Jackson tourists who want great steak and great Napa Cab, full stop. Send a friend here if they want a proper California red with a serious piece of beef; just warn them to skip Opus One and let Jordan do the work.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Milwaukee · Milwaukee · Steak House
Ward's House of Prime is exactly what it says it is: a classic Milwaukee steakhouse with a wine list built to match big cuts of beef. The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence is well-earned, but don't come looking for adventure — come looking for a great California Cab and a slab of prime rib.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.