California Classics Done Right in Iowa
Burlington · Steak House · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 14, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Martini's Grille’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Martini's Grille, the wine list reads like a greatest-hits compilation of California Cabernet — familiar, reassuring, and built for steak. It's not trying to reinvent the wheel, and that's actually fine. Wine Spectator has handed them an Award of Excellence every year since 2018, and you can see why: this is a list that does exactly what it promises.
The 80-120 bottle list leans hard into California, and the anchor producers — Caymus, Jordan, Silver Oak, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars — are the kind of names that make a table of Midwestern beef-lovers very happy. Duckhorn Merlot rounds out the red side nicely, and Rombauer Chardonnay covers the whites for anyone who wants something buttery and generous. Don't come here hunting for a left-field Jura ou natural Sicilian — this list plays its lane, and that lane is Napa Valley. The gaps in Old World depth and regional exploration are real, but for a Burlington, Iowa steakhouse, the California focus is a deliberate and sensible choice.
With 10-16 by-the-glass options priced between $8 and $14, the pours are accessible and honestly priced for the market. The selection mirrors the bottle list — California-forward, steak-friendly — so don't expect a rotating program or anything that surprises. What you do get is a reliable glass of something that'll hold up to a ribeye without breaking the bank.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $30-$120 range
Jordan is a consistent over-deliverer — polished Sonoma Cab with real elegance that typically retails well above what a mid-market steakhouse charges. If the markup stays fair here, it's the move.
Duckhorn Merlot
Everyone's reaching for the Cabernets, and Duckhorn's Merlot sits quietly on the list getting passed over. It's a genuinely serious wine — plush, structured, and made by one of Napa's most consistent producers. Order it while everyone else fights over the Silver Oak.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is everywhere, and restaurants lean on the name recognition to charge a premium. It's a perfectly pleasant wine that's become more about the label than what's in the glass. At a fair steakhouse markup it's not a disaster, but you can do better on this list.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Chicken Lips
Stag's Leap brings a more restrained, elegant Napa profile compared to the bigger guns on this list — which makes it interesting against something like Chicken Lips, where the savory depth of the Cab works without overwhelming whatever's going on with the dish.
The Bottom Line
Martini's Grille isn't trying to be a wine destination — it's a solid Iowa steakhouse with a California list that earns its Wine Spectator badge year after year. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink well without getting weird about it.
Waterfront · Burlington · Craft Brewery with Bar Snacks
Foam is a brewery first, but the wine program punches way above its weight class — it's small, local, and priced like they actually want you to drink it. If you're on Burlington's waterfront and want something interesting in your glass that isn't a hazy IPA, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Burlington · New American with Vegan Options
The Daily Planet isn't a wine destination, but it has the instincts of one — a thoughtful natural wine pick, Monday half-price bottles, and fair pricing in a casual room that doesn't take itself too seriously. Send a friend here on a Monday and tell them to ask about the orange wine.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Burlington · New American Bistro
The Gryphon is a reliable neighborhood bistro with a wine list that matches its ambitions exactly: familiar, functional, and forgettable. Come for the burgers and brick walls, but don't expect the wine to be the highlight of your night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Burlington · Neapolitan wood-fired pizza and Italian cuisine
Pizzeria Verità isn't trying to be a wine destination and it doesn't need to be — it's a smart, Italy-focused list with honest markups and a few genuinely interesting bottles tucked in among the crowd-pleasers. Go for the pizza, order the Nebbiolo or the Cirò, and leave happy.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Church Street Marketplace · Burlington · Upscale American Steakhouse
EB Strong's has a wine list that does the job well and occasionally surprises you — especially if you look past the Caymus and dig into the European picks. Wednesday's half-price bottle program makes it one of the better wine-value nights in Burlington, full stop.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront · Burlington · Seasonal New American, farm-to-table
Hen of the Wood Burlington is the rare restaurant where the wine list is as considered as the food, and that's saying something when the kitchen is this good. If you're driving through Vermont and care about what's in your glass, this is worth a reservation.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Washington · Washington · Steak House
A 20-wine by-the-glass list with every pour between $14 and $30, split across four sparkling, six white, two rosé and eight red. With a steak, start with the $26 Clos Duval Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon or the $22 Monte Antico Supremus; for the cheapest glass, take the $14 Dr. Loosen Riesling. Pour sizes aren't posted and the page is undated, so confirm today's wines. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Chicago Loop · Chicago · Steak House
A Napa-leaning Cabernet list with a Library & Reserve section that reaches 3,098 and glass pours from $13.99 to $49.99. Start with the $15.99 Broadbent Cabernet by the glass, or the $41.99 Stag's Leap Artemis if the ribeye is on the table, and confirm current availability since the list does not guarantee vintages. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Union Square · San Francisco · Steak House
A glass list that does the steakhouse job: 36 pours, a tidy Napa Cabernet set and prices from $13. Order the $15 Beringer Cabernet with your steak, or the $14 Guado Al Tasso Vermentino if you are starting with seafood, and confirm availability since the page is undated and Morton's says pricing may vary. This unrated guide covers the posted glass list, not service, storage or markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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