Steak-forward list that gets the job done
Downtown · Chattanooga · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 2, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Malone's reads exactly how you'd expect a mid-to-upscale steakhouse in a Hamilton Place mall corridor to read — big familiar names, safe California bets, and one bottle of Dom to signal that yes, this is a celebration spot. It's not trying to be anything it isn't, and the room is genuinely nicer than the list.
California dominates, with Caymus and Meiomi doing heavy lifting on the red side — reliable crowd-pleasers but not exactly the kind of list that makes a wine nerd sit up straight. There's some international breadth with German Riesling, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, and Italian Pinot Grigio in the mix, but don't come looking for grower Champagne or anything from Burgundy that doesn't start with a grocery store brand. The $34-$545 price window is wide, but most of the interesting decisions happen in the middle — the top of the list is essentially Caymus and Dom, which tells you everything about who this list is curated for.
Eighteen by-the-glass options is a solid count for a steakhouse, and the $8–$25 range means you can get in at a reasonable entry point or stretch toward something worth drinking with a ribeye. The selections skew recognizable — Meiomi, Oyster Bay, Canyon Road — which is fine if you know what you like, less exciting if you're hoping for something new.
The Seeker Riesling (Germany) — $17.50 on half-price night
At its regular price this is an unremarkable pour, but at $17.50 on half-price night it becomes the smartest move on the table — a touch of sweetness and acid that actually cuts through a buttery sauce better than most of the Cabs on offer.
Anterra Pinot Grigio
Underordered at a steakhouse, but at $15.50 on the half-price deal it's a clean, no-drama pour that works well for anyone at the table who isn't going steak — and it won't fight with a seafood appetizer the way a big Cab will.
Dom Pérignon Brut 2013
At $545 on a list this thin, you're paying almost entirely for the bottle's status in this context. If you're splurging on Champagne, this is the right house but the wrong list to do it on — you're not getting the curation to match the price tag.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon (CA) + Ribeye
Look, it's a cliché for a reason. Caymus is built for exactly this moment — a big, jammy, low-tannin Cab next to a well-marbled ribeye is what this list is designed around, and at least here it's honest about it.
Not specified — Half-priced wine night featuring select bottles including The Seeker Riesling ($35 → $17.50), Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling ($39 → $19.50), Anterra Pinot Grigio ($31 → $15.50), and Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc. Day of week not confirmed — check with the restaurant.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Malone's wine list is the dining room equivalent of a reliable wingman — not the most interesting person at the party, but they'll show up, won't embarrass you, and get the job done. If you hit it on half-price wine night, the value equation gets a lot more interesting.
Northshore · Chattanooga · American / Southern
The Rosecomb isn't a wine destination, but it's a genuinely good wine surprise — especially on a Tuesday when the whole bottle list goes half-price. Come for the burger, stay for the País.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Ringgold (Greater Chattanooga Area) · Chattanooga · Southern Coastal (Seafood, Steaks, Southern Sides)
1885 Grill Ringgold won't change how you think about wine, but it won't embarrass you in front of your dinner date either. It's the reliable neighborhood option in a part of Greater Chattanooga where that actually counts for something.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ooltewah · Chattanooga · Southern Coastal (Seafood, Steaks, Southern Sides)
1885 Grill is a solid neighborhood spot where the wine list does its job without doing much more. The selection is approachable, the BTG count is surprisingly high, but watch the markups on the low end — some of those glass pours are doing a lot of work for the house.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
St. Elmo · Chattanooga · Southern and Coastal
1885 Grill St. Elmo isn't a wine destination, but it doesn't need to be — it's a reliable neighborhood spot with fair prices, a comfortable patio, and a list that won't embarrass anyone. Send a friend here for dinner and tell them to order the Trapiche; don't send them here to geek out on wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Northshore · Chattanooga · Portuguese and Mediterranean
Bela Lisboa is the most interesting wine list you'll find attached to a cozy neighborhood bistro in Chattanooga — the Portuguese focus is real and it works with the food. The markups are too aggressive on several bottles, but the soul of the program is there, and that's not nothing.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lookout Valley · Chattanooga · Winery
DeBarge is the Wild Card Chattanooga deserves — a real working winery in the city's backyard, making honest wine at honest prices, staffed by people who actually care what's in the glass. If you want a Napa blockbuster, go somewhere else; if you want to drink something made twenty minutes from where you're sitting, this is your stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Abilene · Steakhouse
Cattleman's Exchange isn't a wine destination, but it's not a disaster either — it's a hotel steakhouse doing hotel steakhouse things. If you're in Abilene and need a Cab with your beef, you'll find something that works; just don't expect the list to surprise you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Unknown · Springfield · Steakhouse
LongHorn Springfield isn't a wine destination — but with markups this low and pours this affordable, it's one of the better casual chain options in Illinois for a simple red with a big steak. Send a friend here for dinner; just don't tell them to geek out over the list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Frontera · Round Rock · Steakhouse
Saltgrass Round Rock is exactly what it looks like: a chain steakhouse wine list on autopilot, built around brand names, sweet crowd-pleasers, and markups that assume you're not paying attention. Order a beer or a cocktail and save the wine for somewhere that actually cares.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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