California classics done right in Wisconsin
Eau Claire · Eau Claire · Italian, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed May 1, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Johnny's reads like a California greatest hits album — and honestly, for a steakhouse in Eau Claire tucked inside a Holiday Inn, that's not a bad thing. It's a focused, unpretentious collection that knows its audience and delivers. Wine Spectator has been handing them an Award of Excellence since 2018, and you can see why they keep earning it.
This is a California-forward list built for steak — Caymus, Jordan, Stag's Leap, Silver Oak, Duckhorn, and Opus One cover the cabernet and merlot side with confidence. On the white front, Rombauer and Far Niente anchor the Chardonnay section, which is exactly what most guests here are ordering anyway. Don't come looking for Burgundy or Barolo — this list isn't trying to be adventurous, it's trying to be reliable. At 100-150 bottles with a $30-$150 price ceiling, it threads the needle between accessible and respectable without overreaching.
Twenty to thirty by-the-glass options is genuinely strong for this market — most steakhouses in mid-sized Midwest cities barely crack ten. The $8-$14 glass price range is reasonable and won't make you do the uncomfortable bottle math mid-dinner. There's no evidence of a rotating program, but the lineup appears consistent enough that you won't be stuck choosing between two bad options.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $30–$60 range (bottle)
Jordan is one of the most consistently reliable Napa-adjacent Cabs on the market and routinely gets marked up into oblivion elsewhere. At Johnny's pricing ceiling, it's a genuine value play that outperforms its price point — especially next to a Steak DeBurgo.
Duckhorn Merlot
Everyone on this list reaches for the Cabs, but Duckhorn's Merlot is quietly one of the best-made wines in the Napa Valley and gets overlooked every time Silver Oak or Caymus is on the same menu. It's richer and more interesting than most people expect, and it's criminally underordered.
Opus One
Opus One at a hotel steakhouse is going to come with a significant markup, and it's not the right context to appreciate what you're paying for. Save that bottle for somewhere with the cellar program and service team to match the price tag.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Steak DeBurgo
The herbed butter and garlic in the DeBurgo sauce needs a Cab with enough structure to hold its ground but enough elegance not to bulldoze the dish. Stag's Leap hits that mark — it's refined without being timid, and it's the most classically correct pairing on this list.
✔️ The Bottom Line
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.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.