Surf, Turf, and a List That Earns It
Charleston · Seafood, Steakhouse
Updated June 2026
Reviewed April 23, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Marbled & Fin’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The list opens with a clear sense of purpose — California and Argentina anchor it, with France lending some backbone. For a restaurant straddling the line between upscale seafood spot and steakhouse on East Bay Street, the 120-plus bottle list feels intentional rather than assembled by committee. Wine Spectator handed them an Award of Excellence in 2025, and walking through the list, you can see why.
The three-region focus of California, Argentina, and France does most of the heavy lifting here, and honestly it works for the menu. You've got Far Niente and Cakebread Cellars covering the Chardonnay crowd, Jordan and Caymus for the ribeye table, and Louis Jadot offering a credible Burgundy foothold for anyone who wants to go old-world. The Argentine section punches above the restaurant's average with both Catena Zapata and Achaval Ferrer represented — that's a meaningful choice, not just a token Malbec slot. Gaps exist: Champagne feels thin, and if you're hunting Chablis or white Burgundy to match the oysters and scallops, you'll be working hard to find them.
Twelve to eighteen pours by the glass is a healthy range for a restaurant this size, and with sommelier Meg Mina steering the ship, there's reason to trust the rotation isn't purely on autopilot. Prices run $12–$22 per glass, which is fair for Charleston's current dining scene. We'd love to see more white wine representation given how seafood-forward the kitchen is.
Achaval Ferrer Malbec — $45–$65 (bottle estimate)
Achaval Ferrer is one of Mendoza's most serious producers and consistently punches above its price point. On a list anchored by California bottles that often skew pricier, this is the value move — especially alongside the dry-aged ribeye.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling
Most tables at a steakhouse-seafood hybrid skip right past the Riesling. That's a mistake. Washington Riesling at this price tier is criminally underordered, and with local oysters or seared scallops on the menu, it's honestly the most food-friendly bottle on the list.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
Meiomi is a fine grocery store Pinot, but at restaurant markup it becomes hard to justify when Achaval Ferrer or Jordan are sitting on the same list for comparable or better value. Save your money.
Far Niente Chardonnay + Seared Scallops
Far Niente's Napa Chardonnay has the weight and richness to stand up to a butter-finished scallop without steamrolling it. The oak is measured, the fruit is clean, and it turns a great dish into a genuinely memorable plate.
The Bottom Line
Marbled & Fin is doing the work — a real sommelier, a focused list, and bottles you actually want to drink with serious food. The markups are steep enough to sting, but if you know where to look (start with Argentina), you'll drink well on East Bay Street.
· Charleston · Restaurant
Costa is doing something genuinely unusual — a dessert-only wine program with real depth and no obvious throwaways. We'd send a friend here for an after-dinner glass, especially if they've never been talked into a Brachetto or a Barolo Chinato before.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Charleston · Charleston · Southern American
Magnolias is a reliable night out if you love California wine and classic Southern cooking — the list is well-maintained, the producers are legit, and the setting earns its reputation. Just don't come here expecting adventure; this list is more comfort food than discovery.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Charleston · Charleston · Italian
Legami is doing the right things with wine on King Street — a serious Italian-led list, a knowledgeable sommelier in Hutch Lee, and enough depth to reward the curious. The markups keep it from being a steal, but if you're here for the Brunello and the house-made pasta, you're exactly where you should be.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Charleston · Charleston · American
Zero Restaurant + Bar holds a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence for good reason — this is one of the most serious wine programs in South Carolina, full stop. Yes, the big bottles are expensive, but there's real depth here beyond the trophy names, and with three sommeliers on the floor, you're in good hands.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Charleston · Charleston · Steak house
Halls Chophouse is unabashedly a California Cab steakhouse, and it plays that game at the highest level in Charleston — Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence didn't land here by accident. If you're coming in expecting adventure or value, recalibrate; but if you're here to eat a serious steak and drink a serious Napa red, Tom Weber's list will not let you down.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Charleston · Steakhouse
Oak Steakhouse Charleston isn't trying to be a wine bar, but the list is honest, fairly priced, and anchored by a fortified wine program that most steakhouses twice the price can't match. Send a friend here and tell them to start with a Madeira.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Georgetown · Washington · Seafood, Steakhouse
An unpriced list that is easier to read for what it offers than for what it costs. If you want Bordeaux, ask for the 2020 Margaux de Brane Cantenac, or look at the Brunello di Montalcino in Sommelier's Selections, and get the price before you commit. This unrated guide covers the posted Beverage Menu, not service, storage or markups.
Back Bay · Boston · Seafood, Steakhouse
A beverage book that covers a lot more than California: 19 glass pours up front, then Napa, Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Rhône and Piedmont behind them. If you are spending, look at the Kistler Les Noisetiers Chardonnay at $175; if you are not, the Zlatan Otok Plavac Mali is the lowest-priced full bottle at $39. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks list, not service, storage or markups.
Bend · Bend · Seafood, Steakhouse
Brickhouse posts a steakhouse list with a long Washington Cabernet section and 6 oz glass pours from $12. Start with the $12 Green Wing Cabernet by the glass, or step up to the Eyrie Estate Pinot Noir at 85 for a bottle; if you are spending, the Quilceda Creek Cabernets in the Washington section run 425 to 475. Confirm today's availability and prices; this unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
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