Sky-High Steaks Meet Napa's Finest
Downtown · Dallas · Italian Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 6, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Monarch’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're 49 floors up looking at a leather-bound tome with 300+ bottles, and the server actually knows what's in it. This is the kind of list that makes you consider ordering wine before you look at food—if you've got the credit limit for it.
The list leans hard into Napa Valley with serious depth—we're talking verticals from top producers and library selections that most restaurants wouldn't touch. Schramsberg anchors the sparkling section with their Blanc de Blancs, while Cain Vineyards gets hand-selected representation that you won't find at your corner wine shop. The Italian section backs up the cuisine credibly, though Napa clearly gets top billing. At 300+ bottles, there's enough range to keep collectors and casual drinkers both engaged, even if the price tags skew toward expense-account territory.
25-30 pours by the glass is generous for a restaurant at this level, and they're rotating things with wine dinners featuring producers like Cain Vineyards. The selection runs the spectrum from approachable bubbles to serious Napa Cabs, so you're not stuck with house pours if you're not committing to a full bottle. Expect proper stemware and knowledgeable pours—they're taking the glass program seriously.
Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs — $65
Producer-direct sparkling that drinks way above its price point and pairs with everything from caviar service to those dry-aged steaks
Cain Vineyards hand-selected bottlings
Most people default to the obvious Napa names, but Cain's Bordeaux-blend approach offers complexity you won't find in fruit-bomb Cabs at similar price points
J. Davies Cabernet Sauvignon
Solid producer but the markup at this altitude gets steep—you're paying for the view as much as the vineyard
Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs + Caviar Service
Classic pairing that works because the bubbles cut through the richness while the wine's elegance matches the luxury
The Bottom Line
If you've got the budget and you're serious about Napa Valley, Monarch delivers the depth and service to justify the splurge. Just know you're paying a premium for that 49th-floor cellar.
Dallas · Dallas · Steakhouse
STK Dallas is a place to be seen, not a place to drink well — the wine list is a predictable lineup of brand names with almost no by-the-glass program to speak of. Order a cocktail, or commit to a bottle and go straight for the Twomey.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Dallas · Steakhouse
Y.O. Ranch's wine list does the job without doing much else — it's a safe, brand-heavy selection that keeps the room happy but won't make any wine drinker's night. Come for the beef, order the Malbec or the Il Poggione, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Dallas · Steakhouse
Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse takes its wine as seriously as its beef, which is rarer than it should be. The Cabernet runs deep, the global bench is real, the Coravin program lets you drink up, the markups are fair for the tier, and the Texas section gives the whole thing a personality. Skip the trophy-label tax, lean on the Rioja, the Pinot, and the homegrown Texas pours, and you'll eat and drink like the buyer clearly intends.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Dallas · Dallas · American
Ellie's is a respectable hotel wine list that earns its Wine Spectator nod without ever threatening to surprise you — California crowd-pleasers at steep markups in a beautiful room. If you're celebrating or just want a reliable bottle with a great burger, it does the job; just don't expect the list to take you anywhere you haven't already been.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Dallas · Dallas · French
Mercat Bistro is the kind of French wine list Dallas doesn't have enough of — focused, French-forward, and priced without arrogance. If you're eating the classics, you should be drinking them too, and this list makes that easy.
Old-world-focus
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Knox-Henderson · Dallas · French
Knox Bistro earns its Wine Spectator nod with a focused, France-forward list that matches its bistro soul — fair prices, real producers, and a room that actually makes you want to linger over a second glass. Send your friends here; just steer them away from the Opus One.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Peoria · Italian Steakhouse
Johnny's wine list is exactly what it is: a well-curated collection of American crowd-pleasers with markups to match the steakhouse zip code. You won't be wowed, but you won't be stuck either — and 28 glasses by the pour means you have options.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· College Station · Italian Steakhouse
The wine list here is an afterthought dressed up with four surprisingly good dessert wines. Come for the steak, order water or a cocktail through dinner, then let the back half of this list redeem itself.
Grocery Store
Acceptable
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Reston · Reston · Italian Steakhouse
Davio's Reston is a reliable wine destination if your expectations match the room — it's a steakhouse wine list, not a wine bar list. The by-the-glass breadth saves it, and a few smart picks like the Pieropan Soave keep it from being totally forgettable.
Crowd Pleasers
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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