California Cab Country, Right in Minneapolis
Downtown Minneapolis · Minneapolis · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Manny's arrives like the restaurant itself — heavy, confident, and not here to apologize for anything. This is a California Cabernet shrine wrapped in dark wood and white tablecloths, and it makes no pretense of being anything else. If you walked in hoping for a Beaujolais or a crisp Grüner, adjust your expectations immediately.
With 400 to 600 bottles and a clear thesis — California red wine is king — Manny's delivers exactly what a power-lunch steakhouse should. The heavy hitters are all present: Opus One, Shafer Hillside Select, Ridge Monte Bello, Far Niente, Silver Oak, and Caymus anchor a Napa-forward list that reads like a greatest-hits compilation from the Wine Spectator Top 100 circa 2005 to present. Beyond California, the list thins out considerably — this isn't the place to hunt for Barolo or Willamette Pinot. What it lacks in geographic breadth, it makes up for in depth within its chosen lane, and that lane is paved with old-vine Cab.
Twenty to thirty-five by-the-glass options is genuinely generous for a steakhouse of this style, and the pours skew toward the approachable end of the California spectrum — think Jordan and Duckhorn rather than Hillside Select by the stem. Rotation appears minimal; this is a set-and-forget program that prioritizes reliability over discovery. Still, landing a solid Jordan Cabernet by the glass with a bone-in ribeye is not a bad night.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $80
Jordan is a workhorse California Cab with real pedigree — structured, food-friendly, and consistently well-made. In a list where triple-digit bottles dominate, Jordan consistently lands as the sweet spot between quality and wallet damage.
Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello
Every table is ordering Caymus or Silver Oak, which means Monte Bello — one of California's most intellectual and age-worthy Cabernet blends — gets overlooked. It's a completely different expression of California: earthy, restrained, built for the long haul. Order it and feel smug about it.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is a perfectly fine wine that every restaurant in America marks up to the moon because people recognize the label. You're almost certainly paying a 3x to 4x retail premium here for something you could grab at Total Wine on your way home. The name does the work; the wine doesn't earn the restaurant price tag.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Dry-aged prime ribeye
Stag's Leap brings that classic Napa structure — firm tannins, dark fruit, a backbone built for red meat — without the bombast of some of its neighbors on the list. Against a dry-aged ribeye with serious fat content and mineral depth, it holds its ground and elevates both.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Manny's is exactly what it is — a California Cab cathedral with a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence to prove it's serious. If you're coming for adventurous wine discovery, look elsewhere; if you're coming to eat a great steak and drink great Napa Cabernet in a room that feels like 1998 never ended, this is your place.
North Loop / Warehouse District · Minneapolis · Modern Argentinian Steakhouse
Porzana punches above its class for a Minneapolis steakhouse — the Italian and Argentine selections show genuine curation, and the Fenocchio Barolo alone justifies a serious wine order. Just go in with eyes open on markups and skip the entry-level bottles unless you're pouring by the glass.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lowry Hill · Minneapolis · Steakhouse and Wood-Fired Pizza
Burch has the bones of a genuinely great wine program — knowledgeable staff, proper storage, and a list that respects the classics — but the pricing strategy on the mid-tier and entry-level bottles will test your patience. Go big or go home: the value-to-quality ratio only really clicks once you're spending $200+.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown / North Loop · Minneapolis · New American / Contemporary American
112 Eatery's wine list is punching well above its weight for a Minneapolis neighborhood bistro, with a genuinely distinctive Old World focus and producers that belong on serious lists anywhere in the country. The markups sting on a few bottles, but the curation earns enough goodwill to keep us coming back.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Uptown · Minneapolis · French Bistro
Barbette is a wine list built by someone who actually drinks wine and wants you to as well — it's small, French, and surprisingly legit for a neighborhood bistro in Uptown. If you're a natural wine fan or just someone who wants good Beaujolais with steak frites, send your friends here.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Loring Park · Minneapolis · New American
Cafe Lurcat is a reliable, well-staffed wine program in one of Minneapolis's prettiest dining rooms — just know you're paying a premium for the address and the ambiance. Ask the sommelier for help navigating the list and you'll drink well; go on autopilot and order the obvious Napa Cab and you'll leave having spent more than you should have.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Southwest Minneapolis (Fulton) · Minneapolis · Italian, fresh housemade pasta
Broders' Pasta Bar isn't a wine destination, but it's exactly the kind of neighborhood spot that gets the wine list right by staying in its lane. Fair prices, Italian focus, solid glass pours — bring a friend who orders by the bottle and you're in good shape.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Southwest / Time Corners · Fort Wayne · American
Catablu is exactly what it needs to be for its neighborhood — a reliable, thoughtfully maintained list that won't embarrass you on a date night or bore you entirely. It's not a destination wine list, but it's a solid supporting act for a kitchen that clearly takes food seriously.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Otay Ranch Town Center · Chula Vista · American
BJ's is a fine place to drink a craft beer and eat a Pizookie. It is not a place to drink wine. Order a Brewhouse Blonde, skip the wine list entirely, and save your wine night for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SanTan Village · Gilbert · American
The Cheesecake Factory is a perfectly fine place to eat — the wine list just isn't a reason to go. Order a cocktail, split a bottle of Santa Margherita if you must, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that earned it.
Crowd Pleasers
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.