South Dakota's Classic Steak and Cab Play
Downtown · Sioux Falls · Steakhouse
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 24, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Minerva's’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Minerva's reads exactly like you'd expect from a Sioux Falls institution that's been feeding expense accounts and anniversary dinners for decades. Big Napa names, a few safe French nods, and nothing that's going to surprise you — but nothing that's going to embarrass you either. It's a list built for confidence, not curiosity.
The bones here are California-heavy: Stag's Leap, Jordan, Duckhorn, Rombauer — the hits that steak-and-tie-crowd regulars reach for without thinking twice. Washington State gets a seat at the table, and there's a Burgundy presence that suggests someone on staff has at least heard of the Old World. At 80–150 bottles, the list has real size, but it skews predictable — you're not finding a grower Champagne or a Willamette Pinot hiding in the back pages. If you love Napa Cab with your prime rib, you're going to feel right at home.
The by-the-glass program runs 12–20 options, which is respectable for a mid-sized steakhouse in this market. Expect the usual suspects: Rombauer Chardonnay is almost certainly poured by the glass and almost certainly moving at volume. Rotation appears limited — this isn't a list that changes with the seasons.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — null
Jordan is one of the most reliably over-delivered Cab buys in California — elegant, food-friendly, and almost always priced more reasonably than the bigger Napa cult bottles on a list like this. Against a filet mignon, it earns its keep.
Duckhorn Merlot
Merlot gets skipped constantly at steakhouses because everyone's reaching for Cab, but Duckhorn's Napa Merlot is serious wine — structured, plush, and genuinely interesting. Order it with the prime rib and feel smug about it.
Whispering Angel Rosé
Whispering Angel is fine wine sold almost entirely on brand recognition and a pretty bottle — and steakhouse markup turns 'fine' into 'expensive fine.' Save this one for a summer patio, not a Sioux Falls winter dinner.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Filet Mignon
Stag's Leap built its reputation on being the kind of Napa Cab that doesn't bludgeon you — it's refined, with enough structure to stand up to red meat without steamrolling the tenderness of a filet. This is the call.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Minerva's wine list is exactly what a long-running steakhouse institution should be: dependable, Cab-forward, and good enough for the occasion. Just don't expect discovery — come here to drink well, not to explore.
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
Mesquite · St. George · Steakhouse
Katherine's is a reliable casino steakhouse wine list — it won't let you down if you stick to the California anchors, but it won't excite you either. Send a friend here for the prime rib and the Rodney Strong; just don't go expecting discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Side · Green Bay · Steakhouse
Prime Quarter's wine list is a workhorse, not a showpiece — but for a grill-your-own steakhouse in Green Bay, that's perfectly fine. Come on a Wednesday, order the Malbec or Franciscan Cab, and focus on not overcooking your ribeye.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown · Atlanta · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Downtown Atlanta is here for the steak, full stop — the wine list is a six-bottle shrug that treats wine as a revenue line, not an experience. Order the Trimbach, enjoy your butter-drenched ribeye, and don't expect the list to surprise you.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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