Sioux Falls' Steakhouse Standard, Wine Included
Downtown · Sioux Falls · Upscale American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 20, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Minervas Restaurant’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 Minervas reads exactly like you'd expect from a polished downtown steakhouse in the middle of the country — safe, familiar, and built for consensus. Nothing here is going to surprise you, and honestly, that's probably the point. It's a list designed to get out of the way of a ribeye.
The selection leans heavily on California workhorses — Sean Minor, J. Lohr, Sterling — with a few international ringers like Sileni from New Zealand and Portillo Malbec from Argentina filling out the globe-trotting middle section. There's a Gustav Schmitt Riesling lurking in there, which is a small but welcome nod to Old World white wine drinkers. What's missing is any real depth: no aged bottles, no interesting appellations, no small producers doing anything worth talking about. It's a greatest-hits album you've heard a hundred times before.
The by-the-glass program is anchored by house pours — a Chardonnay, Cab, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and White Zin that tell you everything you need to know about the target audience. Step up slightly and you're looking at the Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio or the Sean Minor '4 Bears' Chardonnay, which at least have a label to their name. Don't expect much rotation — this list has the energy of something printed once and laminated.
J. Lohr 'Seven Oaks' Cabernet Sauvignon — null
J. Lohr's Seven Oaks is a reliably solid Central Coast Cab that retails around $15-18 — it's the best bang-for-your-buck pick on this list and a natural match for their hand-cut steaks. Price wasn't confirmed in our data, but it's the one to ask about.
Gustav Schmitt Riesling
Nobody at a steakhouse is ordering Riesling, and that's a shame. A German Riesling's bright acidity and slight sweetness is actually a killer move against rich, buttery seafood dishes — and it'll stand out in a sea of Cab orders.
19 Crimes Red Blend
19 Crimes is a marketing machine dressed up as a wine brand. It's ubiquitous, it's aggressively average, and at steakhouse markup it's genuinely not worth it. There are better reds on this list for the same or less.
Portillo Malbec + In-house aged steak
Portillo is a bright, fruit-forward Argentine Malbec that punches above its price point. Set it against one of Minervas' dry-aged cuts and the wine's plum and dark cherry notes play well against the char and fat. It's the most interesting red on the list and it earns its keep here.
The Bottom Line
Minervas is a dependable night out — great steaks, classic room, wine list that won't embarrass anyone but won't impress them either. If you're in Sioux Falls and want beef and a bottle without much drama, this works. Just don't come expecting discovery.
Southwest Sioux Falls (Lake Lorraine area) · Sioux Falls · Casual American bar bites and light fare
This is a lobby bar wine list at a business hotel — it was never trying to be more than that, and it isn't. Grab a beer or a cocktail, save the wine for dinner somewhere in town.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Sioux Falls · Sioux Falls · Hotel Restaurant / American
This is a wine list for people who aren't thinking about wine, and that's fine — the Holiday Inn City Centre isn't trying to be a wine destination. Order the Ste. Michelle Riesling, skip everything else, and save the real drinking for somewhere else in Sioux Falls.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Southwest Sioux Falls (Empire Mall/85th & Western corridor) · Sioux Falls · Upscale American Steakhouse
Morrie's is a reliable steakhouse wine list in a city where that already puts it near the top of the pack — the Coravin program shows genuine ambition, but the core list plays it too safe to earn anything beyond a confident recommendation for a special-occasion dinner. Come for the Tomahawk, drink the Zinfandel, skip the house Chardonnay.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
South Sioux Falls · Sioux Falls · Italian · Steakhouse
Spezia is a reliable dinner option in Sioux Falls if you want a recognizable bottle with a nice steak and no surprises. Just don't expect the wine list to challenge you — it's here to comfort, not to excite.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown – Empire Mall area · Sioux Falls · American and Sushi
CRAVE is the rare hotel restaurant wine list that clears the bar rather than crawling under it — the by-the-glass selection is better than the room deserves, even if the markups could use some recalibration. Send a friend here for wine? Sure, as long as they're not expecting to geek out.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Sioux Falls · Mexican, Enchilada-Focused
Mama's Ladas is a great little spot for enchiladas — the wine list just isn't why you're here, and it doesn't try to be. Order the sangria, enjoy your meal, and save the serious wine for somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Highway 29 corridor · St. Helena · Upscale American Steakhouse
PRESS is the rare place where a 2,700-bottle list actually delivers — deep, well-stored, and staffed by people who know what they're talking about. The pricing is steep by any honest measure, but if Napa Cabernet is your religion, this is the cathedral.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Mauna Lani Resort · Kailua-Kona · Upscale American Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Mauna Lani does exactly what it promises: a deep, California-forward wine list served in proper glassware at steep resort prices inside a flawless steakhouse setting. You won't discover anything new here, but if you're after a great bottle of Napa Cab with your Prime filet and an ocean breeze somewhere nearby, this list will not let you down.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Appleton · Upscale American Steakhouse
Vince Lombardi's wine list won't win any awards for creativity, but it's competent, well-suited to the menu, and it won't embarrass the kitchen. If you're here for a prime steak and a reliable bottle of Jordan, you'll leave happy — just don't come looking for discovery.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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