California and France, done right in Chicago
River North · Chicago · Mediterranean, Steakhouse
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 7, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Kinzie Chophouse’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list lands with real weight — 400 to 600 bottles deep, organized with the confidence of a room that takes wine seriously. This isn't a steakhouse that bolted on a wine list as an afterthought; California and France get the full treatment here. Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence since 2022 is warranted, and you feel it when the book hits the table.
The California section reads like a greatest-hits album: Caymus, Silver Oak, Jordan, Opus One, Dominus Estate, Stag's Leap, Far Niente, Chateau Montelena — all the names your table will recognize and argue over. France holds its own with Chateau Margaux and Louis Jadot Burgundy anchoring the old-world side. The list skews heavily toward these two regions, which makes sense given the steakhouse format, but don't come looking for Rioja or Barolo — the map is drawn with a very specific pen. Depth is real within those lanes; breadth across the wider wine world is not the point here.
Twenty to thirty-five options by the glass is a generous pour program for a steakhouse, and the range tracks the bottle list closely — expect recognizable California names and French standards rather than anything off the beaten path. No noted rotation or active glass program, so what you see is likely what you get on repeat visits. It covers the bases and then some, even if it won't surprise you.
Jordan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon — $60–$80 estimated
Jordan is the quiet workhorse of the California Cab world — consistently well-made, approachable, and priced below the Caymus and Silver Oak neighbors on this list. At a steakhouse with markups trending steep, Jordan usually represents the most drinkable dollar on the table.
Chateau Montelena Chardonnay
Everyone at a chophouse reaches for red, which means Chateau Montelena's Chardonnay sits quietly underordered. This is the winery that rewrote California white wine history in 1976 Paris — ordering it here feels like a flex most tables are sleeping on, especially next to fresh seafood.
Opus One
Opus One is a great wine. It is also one of the most marked-up bottles on any restaurant list in America. At a River North steakhouse, you're almost certainly paying a significant premium over retail for the privilege of the name. The wine won't disappoint — the check might.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + USDA Prime Ribeye
Stag's Leap built its reputation on structured, elegant Cab that doesn't club you over the head — it has the tannin backbone to stand up to a prime ribeye without overwhelming the meat. This is the pairing that makes the classic steakhouse wine list format make complete sense.
The Bottom Line
Kinzie Chophouse is doing exactly what a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence steakhouse should do — deep California and French list, serious glassware, and a by-the-glass program that doesn't embarrass the room. Markups run steep as expected in this zip code, but the bones of this wine program are genuinely strong; send your Cab-loving friends here without hesitation.
Logan Square · Chicago · Italian
Come to Osteria Langhe for a focused trip through Piedmontese wine. Thursday’s advertised half-price selection is worth asking about, and Wednesday offers a wine pairing alongside the four-course menu. The linked wine list is dated December 2025, so confirm today’s bottles and prices before choosing.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Lincoln Park · Chicago · American Casual
Summer House is not a wine destination, but it's a reliable place to drink well enough without getting gouged on the low end — just steer clear of the big-name bottles where the markup climbs. Send your friend here if they want something easy and good; don't send them here if they're chasing something serious.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chicago · Italian
il Carciofo is doing something genuinely rare: building a wine list that treats Italian regional variety as the main event, not the footnote. If you're tired of the same Pinot Grigio and Chianti Classico circuit, this is exactly where you should be eating dinner.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Chicago · Chicago · Steakhouse
STK Chicago is here to sell you a night out, and the wine list is just part of the set dressing. If you care about what's in your glass, eat here for the steak and order water.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chicago · French Brasserie
La Grande Boucherie Chicago is a reliable wine destination for anyone who wants a French-focused list executed with genuine effort and the occasional smart value. The markups aren't shy, but the BTG program and specials take some of the sting out — go in with a plan and you'll drink well.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
· Chicago · Steakhouse
This is not the wine list you expect to find at The Palm, and that's exactly why it earns attention. Six bottles, zero filler, genuinely fair pricing — if someone's tending this list, they deserve a raise.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Clarksville · Austin · Mediterranean, Steakhouse
Aris is the rare Austin steakhouse where the wine list is as considered as the beef program — an anchored, deep cellar with real Italian and French range, a sommelier who can guide you through it, and a room that makes drinking well feel like the whole point. The markups aren't shy, but if you pick smart, you'll leave impressed.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Ringwood · Ringwood · Mediterranean, Steakhouse
Artemio's is the kind of wine program that makes you reconsider your assumptions about Northern Jersey — serious depth, a credentialed list, and enough ambition to justify the drive. The markups lean steep and the staff leans knowledgeable-adjacent rather than expert, but a Best of Award of Excellence doesn't lie: this place cares about what's in your glass.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Summerlin · Las Vegas · Mediterranean, Steakhouse
Vintner Grill is the best wine list in a neighborhood restaurant that Las Vegas mostly ignores in favor of the Strip — it's earned over a decade of Wine Spectator recognition and that's not an accident. If you live in Summerlin and you're not eating here regularly, you're leaving good wine on the table.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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