Steak First, Wine Second, But Fine
Central Mesa · Mesa · Steakhouse
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 22, 2026
RagingWine reviewed LongHorn Steakhouse - Mesa’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at LongHorn Mesa is exactly what you'd expect from a chain steakhouse in a strip mall — recognizable labels, approachable prices, and zero pretension. It's not trying to be a wine destination, and honestly, that honesty is refreshing. You're here for the ribeye, and the wine list knows its supporting role.
Forty-to-sixty selections sounds like a lot until you realize the heavy lifting is done by California and Washington warhorses: Josh Cellars, Kendall-Jackson, Woodbridge, and the like. There's a nod to Washington State with Chateau Ste. Michelle's Riesling, which is genuinely the most interesting bottle on the list. Australia makes a cameo via 19 Crimes, because of course it does. If you're hunting for a grower Champagne or a Sicilian Nero d'Avola, keep hunting — this list was built to comfort, not to challenge.
Ten to fifteen by-the-glass options covers the bases without any real excitement — expect the usual suspects rotating through Chardonnay, Cab, and a red blend slot. At $8–$14 a glass, the pricing is honest for the category. There's no rotation program to speak of; what's on the menu today was probably on it six months ago.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $28
Columbia Valley Riesling at a steakhouse price point is a genuine find. It's crisp, slightly off-dry, and cuts through the richness of a butter-finished steak better than another Cab ever could. Most people walk right past it, which is their loss.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling
Nobody orders Riesling at a steakhouse, which is exactly why you should. It's the most food-versatile wine on this list and the one pick that shows someone, somewhere, put a little thought into the selection.
Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi
This is a $10 grocery store bottle. Whatever they're charging for it here, you're paying a premium for the convenience of not walking next door to Total Wine. Save your money.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Outlaw Ribeye
It's not a cerebral pairing, but it's a correct one. The Cab's dark fruit and soft tannins match the char on a big ribeye without fighting it. Sometimes the obvious answer is the right answer.
The Bottom Line
LongHorn Mesa isn't a wine destination — it's a steakhouse that happens to have a serviceable, fairly priced wine list. Send your friend here if they want a cold Cab and a good steak, not if they want to talk terroir.
· Mesa · Wine Bar / Small Plates
Cork & Craft is exactly what it looks like: a comfortable, unthreatening wine bar for people who want good-enough wine without homework. Not the spot for discovery, but a solid neighborhood pour in a town that doesn't have many.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Mesa · French Steakhouse / Bistro
A French bistro in the East Valley that runs an all-sparkling wine list anchored by Grower Champagne and topped with Egly-Ouriet and Selosse is not something you expect to exist, and yet here we are. If you're a Champagne nerd, this list is worth the trip; if you wanted a Cab with your steak, you're going to have a rough night.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Mesa · American Grill / Wine Bar
Il Vinaio is a reliable neighborhood wine bar punching slightly above its weight with a few smart, unexpected picks tucked into an otherwise crowd-pleasing list. If you're in Mesa and want a real glass of wine with dinner, this is where we'd send you.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Dana Park · Mesa · Seafood
King's Fish House Mesa is a reliable seafood dinner, and the wine list won't embarrass anyone — but it also won't impress anyone who's paying attention. Send your friends here for the crab and the clam chowder; tell them to stick to the lower half of the by-the-glass menu and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fiesta District / US-60 Corridor · Mesa · Seafood
Red Lobster's wine list is a corporate afterthought dressed up in a laminated menu — fair prices on mediocre juice don't make it worth seeking out. Order the Riesling, enjoy the biscuits, and don't overthink it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Superstition Springs Trade Area · Mesa · American / French-Inspired
Mimi's Mesa is a Reliable — it won't embarrass you and it won't blow your mind. If you're here for the French Onion Soup and a glass of something inoffensive, you'll leave happy; if you're hoping the wine list matches the French bistro signage, keep looking.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Steakhouse
Il Premio is a steakhouse that took its wine list seriously enough to skip the obvious plays, and the result is one of the more interesting Italian-focused lists in Atlanta right now. It's compact, priced fairly across the board, and built for exploration — whether you're going glass by glass through the Italian regions or just need a solid bottle of Chianti Classico at $72 to make a steak dinner feel right. We'd send a friend here specifically for the wine.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Healdsburg · Steakhouse
Stark's is the rare steakhouse that treats wine as something other than an afterthought or a cash grab. The list is compact but genuinely considered, markups are fair across the board, and the full bottle-to-glass availability is a policy every restaurant should copy. If you're eating in Healdsburg and want to drink well without overpaying, this is a legitimate stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Albany · Albany · Steakhouse
Order by the glass and explore: the posted menu gives you Riesling, Chablis, Cahors and Rioja without a bottle commitment. Pentimento at $16 is our price-conscious red starting point. Check the current list before ordering; the complete cellar, service and storage haven't been independently verified.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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