The Wine List Your Steak Deserves to Forget
Champaign · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 11, 2026
RagingWine reviewed LongHorn Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
The wine list here is basically a laminated insert that hasn't changed since the last time someone updated the playlist. It's functional in the way a vending machine is functional — it dispenses what you need, without any sense that anyone thought too hard about it. California Cab, KJ Chardonnay, Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio — we've seen this lineup at every chain from here to Tampa.
Twenty to thirty-five labels deep, and the list reads like a greatest hits of grocery store shelf-talkers. California and Washington dominate, with a token Australian and the occasional Italian interloper like the Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio to keep things 'international.' There's no real depth here — no vintage variation worth noting, no small producers, no regions that might surprise you. LongHorn has clearly picked wines their servers can pronounce confidently, which is a low bar and the only one being cleared.
Eight to fourteen pours by the glass, which sounds generous until you realize it's basically the entire list. Standouts include J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cab and Louis M. Martini Sonoma Cab — recognizable, approachable, and perfectly calibrated for a crowd that wants red wine with their ribeye without any fuss. Rotation is essentially nonexistent; what's on tonight was on six months ago.
J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2020 — $11.79/glass
At under $18 retail, J. Lohr Seven Oaks is a legitimate, well-made Paso Cab — dark fruit, some structure, actually meant to sit next to a grilled steak. The markup is steep like everything else here, but at least you're drinking a real wine, not a house label dressed up in cowboy boots.
Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 2020
Most people at LongHorn default to the house Cab or go straight for the KJ Chard out of habit. The Louis Martini Sonoma Cab is the move most tables miss — it's a proper Sonoma Cab from one of California's oldest family producers, with more polish and regional character than anything else on this list.
Mirassou Pinot Noir California
A 240% markup on a $10 retail bottle is genuinely embarrassing. Mirassou Pinot Noir is a mass-produced California non-vintage that tastes like fruit punch wearing a name tag. There's no reason to spend $9.79 a glass on this when the J. Lohr is right there.
J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2020 + Outlaw Ribeye
Paso Robles Cab and a fire-grilled ribeye is the kind of pairing that doesn't need explaining. The Seven Oaks has enough dark fruit and tannin structure to hold up against the char and fat on the Outlaw, and it's the closest thing to a purposeful wine choice this list offers.
The Bottom Line
LongHorn Champaign has a wine list that exists so you can say you had wine with dinner — not much more than that. If you're here for the steak, grab the J. Lohr and move on; if you came for the wine list, recalibrate your evening immediately.
South Champaign · Champaign · Farm-to-Table / American
Harvest Market Farmhouse is a perfectly fine neighborhood wine program that punches above its weight exactly once a week — on Mondays, when half-price bottles turn a predictable list into a genuinely good deal. The rest of the week, it's a reliable pour with fair markups, just don't come here looking for discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
South Champaign · Champaign · Italian
Napoli's isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — the list is honest, the prices are fair, and the Italian bottles genuinely complement the food. Send a friend here for dinner without hesitation; just don't send them expecting to discover anything new.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Champaign · Champaign · Diner / Cafe
Lazy Daisy has no business having a wine list this thoughtful, and that's exactly why it earns a Wild Card. Four bottles, zero pretension, and at least two genuinely interesting pours — we'd absolutely tell a friend.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Champaign · Champaign · Mexican
Fiesta Café is a genuinely fun spot for margaritas and big burritos, but the wine list is purely ceremonial — it exists so they can say they have one. Come for the drinks menu, not the wine list.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Unknown · Champaign · Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse is a perfectly good place to eat a steak and destroy a basket of rolls — just do yourself a favor and drink a beer or a bourbon instead. The wine list is grocery-store inventory at chain-restaurant markups, and no amount of country music can dress that up.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Prospect · Champaign · Steakhouse
Outback's wine program is a corporate afterthought dressed up in Australian branding, and Champaign is no exception. Order the Mollydooker if you must drink wine, but honestly, the cocktail menu will treat you better.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Steakhouse
STK San Diego is a vibe-first, wine-second operation — the list exists to support the scene, not the other way around. If wine is actually important to your evening, you can do better in San Diego without breaking a sweat.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jackson · Steakhouse
Jackson's Steakhouse has a wine list that takes Champagne seriously — rare for Mississippi and worth noting. The markups are steeper than we'd like, but the range and quality of producers means you can still find a smart bottle if you know where to look.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Downtown is a place where people order Champagne to celebrate, not to drink — and the wine program is built accordingly. If you're here for the vibe and someone else is paying, pop the Dom and enjoy it; if you actually care about what's in your glass, you're in the wrong room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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