Napa's Greatest Hits, Indiana Steakhouse Style
Bloomington · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 14, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Janko's Little Zagreb Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're in a packed, lively steakhouse in Bloomington, Indiana — not exactly Napa Valley — and yet the wine list reads like someone raided a California wine shop and called it a day. It's familiar, it's confident, and it's unapologetically built around big reds and rich whites that know their audience.
The list is a California greatest hits album: Caymus, Jordan, Stag's Leap, Shafer, Duckhorn, Cakebread, Rombauer — all the names your uncle who 'knows wine' drops at Thanksgiving. There's real quality here, no question, and the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence they've held since 2009 confirms the list isn't accidental. What's missing is any meaningful departure from the California playbook — no Rhône, no Burgundy, no domestic surprises from Oregon or Virginia. If you came hoping to discover something new, you're in the wrong room.
With 10 to 16 pours available, the by-the-glass program gives you enough to work with across a full dinner. Expect the same California-centric lineup in smaller format — Chardonnay and Cabernet dominate, which honestly tracks perfectly with what's coming out of the kitchen. Rotation feels static rather than seasonal, but the quality of the producers means you're unlikely to be let down.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $60
Jordan is the rare California Cab that leans elegant over extracted — it's structured enough to hold up to the steaks without bulldozing the table. If the markup lands anywhere near reasonable in its tier, it's your most satisfying call on the list.
Duckhorn Merlot
Everyone at this table is ordering Cabernet, and that's exactly why you should pivot. Duckhorn's Merlot is plush and serious — it carries the weight the kitchen demands and tends to be underordered, which sometimes means better pricing and fresher pours.
Rombauer Chardonnay
Rombauer is everywhere, and it's everywhere for a reason — but that reason is marketing as much as merit. At steakhouse markup, you're overpaying for a wine that's become a brand reflex rather than a choice. Grab the Cakebread if you want California Chardonnay with a little more restraint.
Shafer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon + Daily Cut Steak
Shafer's Cabernet is dense, dark-fruited, and built for exactly this moment — a thick, properly seared steak in a loud room with people who are having a good time. It's not subtle, and it doesn't need to be.
The Bottom Line
Janko's Little Zagreb isn't trying to reinvent the wine list — it's trying to make sure you drink well while eating a great steak in Bloomington, Indiana, and on that mission it largely succeeds. Send your California Cab-loving friends here without hesitation; just don't expect to be surprised.
Downtown Bloomington · Bloomington · Eclectic Cafe / Breakfast & Brunch
Come to the Runcible Spoon for the atmosphere, the eggs, and the coffee — the wine list is an afterthought and the restaurant knows it. If you need something in a glass, the Graffigna Malbec won't embarrass you, but don't build your evening around the wine program.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Side · Bloomington · American / Comfort Food
Cheddar's Bloomington is a perfectly fine place to eat a big plate of comfort food, but the wine program is an afterthought at best and a quiet ripoff at worst. Order a cocktail, order a beer, or bring your own if they allow it — just don't come here expecting wine to be part of the night.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Bloomington · Modern Mexican
La Una Cantina is a genuinely fun night out — order the mezcal, order the tacos, and don't overthink the wine list because the restaurant clearly didn't. If wine is your thing, this is a cocktail night.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Bloomington · Turkish / Mediterranean
Anatolia is a Wild Card not because the list is adventurous top to bottom — it's mostly not — but because a Turkish restaurant in a college town with 27 glass pours, a Gigondas, a Jadot Pouilly Fuissé, and an actual Turkish wine from Kavaklidere is doing something more interesting than the Caymus-heavy lineup suggests. Come for the food, skip the safe American blockbusters, and let the Kavaklidere or Gigondas do the heavy lifting.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Bloomington · Indian (Northern and Southern), Halal-friendly
Taste of India is clearly beloved for its food, and it should be — but the wine list is an afterthought that no one has revisited in a while. Order a mango lassi, a Kingfisher if they have it, or save the wine for a restaurant that's actually trying.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Side · Bloomington · Japanese (sushi, hibachi, and classic Japanese dishes)
Mori is swinging bigger on wine than any casual Japanese spot in Bloomington has a right to, and we respect the effort. The markups and the California-red tunnel vision hold it back from being a destination wine stop, but if you're already there for sushi, there's a genuinely interesting bottle or two worth finding.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Cumming, GA · American
The real headline here is Friday: half-price bottles under $250, which is a legitimately good deal in any zip code. Add a sommelier in a neighborhood grill context and Tin Cup earns a look that most Cumming restaurants don't. We'd go in on a Friday, ask for a recommendation, and let the staff do their job — that's what they're there for.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Acceptable
· Wichita · American
Dave & Buster's Wichita is not a wine destination — and the list makes no attempt to pretend otherwise. Fourteen labels of grocery-store standbys, no pricing transparency, and a venue where the primary business is flashing screens and redemption tickets means the wine program is essentially decorative. Order the cocktail, feed the machine, save the bottle for literally anywhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Augusta Road · Greenville · American
A 51-wine list: 20 white and sparkling, 31 red, with 14 wines posted as two-price pairs like 10/40 and the rest at a single price up to 140. Start with the 10/40 Alta Vista Malbec, or the Musset-Roullier Chenin Blanc at 55 if you want the list's only Chenin Blanc, and ask what the pairs mean before you order. 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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