California hits, Tampa prices, no surprises
SoHo · Tampa · American, Seasonal
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 12, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Élevage SoHo Kitchen & Bar’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Élevage reads like a greatest-hits compilation of California wine — the names everyone recognizes, presented in a warm, candlelit room that wants badly to be your favorite upscale neighborhood spot. It's confident and comfortable, which is both its strength and its ceiling. Wine Spectator handed them an Award of Excellence in 2023, and honestly, you can see why — the list is curated, not lazy.
The backbone here is California, full stop. Caymus, Silver Oak, Jordan, Stag's Leap, Duckhorn, Cakebread — these are the reliable workhorses of the American steakhouse canon, and Élevage leans into them without apology. The 150-250 bottle count suggests some depth, but the producer lineup skews toward the recognizable rather than the revelatory. Don't come here hunting for a Paso Robles field blend or a skin-contact Chenin — this list is built for the diner who already knows what they like and wants to find it in a nicer glass. What's missing is any meaningful old-world presence or adventurous domestic outliers to keep wine-curious guests on their toes.
With 20-35 by-the-glass options, there's genuine range here — more than most restaurants in Tampa bother to offer. The program pulls from the bottle list's California focus, so expect Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay and Duckhorn Merlot to anchor the whites and reds respectively. Whether the pours rotate with any meaningful frequency is unclear, but the sheer count means you can work your way through a few different bottles without committing to one.
Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay — $12
If this is landing anywhere near the bottom of the by-the-glass price range, it's the smart order — a well-made Russian River Ranches Chard that consistently overdelivers on name recognition without the Silver Oak price tag.
Jordan Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon
Jordan gets overshadowed by flashier Napa names, but it's one of the most food-friendly Cabs in California — lower alcohol, elegant structure, and it doesn't demand a dry-aged ribeye to show well. Most tables walk right past it.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is everywhere, and everywhere it's marked up. At a restaurant operating at these price points, you're paying a premium for a bottle you could find at Total Wine for considerably less. The name does the heavy lifting; the wine stopped earning it years ago.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot + Dry-aged steak
Duckhorn Merlot has the structure to hold up to a well-marbled dry-aged cut without the tannin assault of a full-throttle Cab — it's the move when you want the steak to stay the star.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Élevage is the kind of place that does California wine correctly without doing anything unexpected with it — the list is dependable, the setting earns it, and the Wine Spectator nod is deserved. Send a friend here if they love Napa Cab and a good steak; redirect the wine geeks to somewhere with more range.
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Steep
Basic Stemmed
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Plays It Safe
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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Acceptable
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Solid Range
Steep
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Plays It Safe
Fair
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Solid Range
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Solid Range
Fair
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