California classics done right in the desert
Downtown Santa Fe · Santa Fe · American, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 18, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Market Steer Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Market Steer reads like a Greatest Hits of California Cabernet — Caymus, Silver Oak, Jordan, Opus One all accounted for. It's the kind of list that makes a certain type of steak eater very happy and a natural wine nerd slightly less so. Confident, focused, and unapologetically classic.
This is a California-forward list with a clear thesis: big reds for big steaks. The 150-250 bottle range gives sommelier Max Schon enough room to work with, and the anchor producers — Ridge Monte Bello, Stag's Leap, Far Niente, Duckhorn — are legit. What's missing is any real adventurousness outside the California corridor; if you're hoping for aged Burgundy or something from the Rhône, temper your expectations. The list earned its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2025, and it's easy to see why — the execution within its lane is clean and deliberate.
With 12-20 glass pours at $12-$18, there's a solid range to work through before you commit to a bottle. The pricing is fair for the glass program relative to the bottle list. Expect the usual Cab and Chardonnay anchors — this isn't a by-the-glass program built for exploration, but it gets the job done for a night out.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $40-range
Jordan consistently punches above its price class — polished Alexander Valley fruit without the Napa ego markup. In a steakhouse lineup that trends toward triple-digit bottles, it's the smart order.
Royal Tokaji 5 Puttonyos
Nobody orders dessert wine at a steakhouse, which is exactly why you should. At $22 a pour, this Hungarian beauty is a genuine surprise on a list otherwise devoted to big California reds — and it makes the Prime Steak Tartare course stretch all the way to the end of the meal.
Opus One
A Napa icon, sure, but at a steakhouse in Santa Fe you're paying full trophy-wine pricing for something you could find anywhere. The markup on prestige bottles like this rarely makes sense when Jordan and Ridge are sitting right next to it on the list.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Prime Steak Tartare
Stag's Leap brings enough structure and dark cherry depth to hold up against raw beef without steamrolling it — the tannins are firm but not aggressive, which is exactly what tartare needs in a wine partner.
The Bottom Line
Market Steer is a reliable, well-curated steakhouse wine program that knows exactly what it is — a California Cabernet showcase with a knowledgeable sommelier and proper care behind it. Send your Cab-loving friends here without hesitation; just don't expect the list to surprise you.
Downtown/Plaza · Santa Fe · Winery Tasting Room with Light Bites
A single-producer tasting room shouldn't make this strong a case for itself, but Gruet earns it — absurdly fair pricing, genuinely interesting bubbles, and a concept that reminds you New Mexico is quietly doing something special. If you're in Santa Fe and skip this, that's on you.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown/Plaza · Santa Fe · Winery Tasting Room
Noisy Water's Santa Fe tasting room is the Wild Card badge made flesh — a downtown spot doing something genuinely regional and proudly weird that you won't find replicated anywhere else. Send a curious friend, not a Bordeaux purist.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown/Plaza · Santa Fe · Wine bar with French-inspired New American small plates
Hervé is exactly what it is — a polished, single-producer showcase that happens to be one of the more honest wine programs in Santa Fe. If you're open to letting New Mexico terroir surprise you, this is worth the stop; if you came looking for Burgundy, you're at the wrong address.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
South Capitol · Santa Fe · Contemporary American with regional New Mexican influences
Joseph's is the kind of place that earns a double-take — a cozy pub on Agua Fria with a sommelier, a real wine list, and enough range to reward curiosity. We'd absolutely send a friend here for wine, especially if duck confit is on the menu that night.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Downtown · Santa Fe · Spanish tapas and wine bar
Taberna La Boca is doing something genuinely rare in Santa Fe: building a wine program with a real point of view. It's not perfect — the curation could go deeper and the staff knowledge is hit or miss — but the commitment to Spanish and Mediterranean wines in a tapas context is exactly right, and the Wild Card badge is earned.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North of Santa Fe / Tesuque · Santa Fe · Southwestern / New American
Terra is what a luxury resort wine list looks like when the hotel actually tried — proper storage, a real sommelier, and some legitimately good producers on the page. The markup is what it is, and there's no getting around it, but if you're already spending a night at the Four Seasons, this is not the place to order a cocktail and ignore the wine list.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
National Park Corridor / Parkway · Gatlinburg · American, Steakhouse
The Park Grill is a reliable dinner stop if you're winding down after a day in the Smokies and want a solid glass of California wine with your steak — just don't expect the list to reward curiosity or spare your wallet. Send your friends here for the food and the vibe; tell them to drink the Sonoma-Cutrer and not overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Stowe Village · Stowe · American, Steakhouse
Harrison's is the kind of reliable neighborhood anchor that Stowe regulars and ski-weekend visitors can count on — the wine list won't blow your mind, but it won't let you down either. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink fine; just don't send them expecting a deep dive.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Denver · Denver · American, Steakhouse
Range is a confident, well-kept steakhouse list that won't surprise you but absolutely won't let you down — especially if California Cabs are your language. Just come in with your eyes open on pricing, and let Dan steer you toward the Jordan.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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