Big Reputation, Tiny Wine Ambition
Atlanta · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 6, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Morton's The Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Morton's is a national institution, so you'd expect the wine list to carry some weight. What you actually get is 11 bottles — yes, eleven — leaning hard on California heavyweights that belong on every airport lounge list from LAX to JFK. It's not offensive, it's just lazy.
The list reads like a greatest-hits playlist someone curated in 2014 and never revisited: Duckhorn Cab, Kosta Browne Pinot, Cakebread Chard, Belle Glos. All fine wines, no argument there. But there's zero regional diversity, no Old World presence, nothing that suggests anyone with a wine brain touched this list recently. The State & Rush private label bottles round out the bottom of the list, which is basically the restaurant putting its own name on bulk wine and calling it a program. Eleven labels at a flagship steakhouse in a major city is not a wine program — it's a wine afterthought.
By-the-glass options aren't documented anywhere we could find, which at these bottle prices is either an oversight or a deliberate nudge toward committing to a full bottle. If you're flying solo or just want a pour with your ribeye, you may be negotiating with your server rather than choosing from a thoughtful list.
Rodney Strong Symmetry Red Blend, Sonoma County — $99
At the low end of this list's price range, Symmetry is a genuinely well-made Bordeaux-style blend from one of Sonoma's most consistent producers. It's the most honest bottle on the menu — and the one most likely to actually complement a big piece of beef without requiring a second mortgage.
Justin Isosceles Red Blend, Paso Robles
Paso Robles still gets slept on by steakhouse crowds who default to Napa Cab every time. Isosceles is a structured, dark-fruited Bordeaux blend with enough grip to stand up to a porterhouse, and it tends to fly under the radar next to the Duckhorns and Kosta Brownes of the world.
Quilt The Grace Of The Land Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Quilt is a glossy, marketing-forward label designed to look premium without necessarily earning it. At steakhouse markup prices, you're paying for the bottle story more than what's in it — grab the Groth or the Duckhorn if you're going Napa Cab and skip the hype.
Kosta Browne Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills + Center-Cut Filet Mignon
KB's Sta. Rita Hills Pinot brings enough structure and dark cherry depth to complement a filet without overwhelming it — it's the move for anyone who wants something a little more interesting than the default Cab play on a leaner cut.
The Bottom Line
Morton's Atlanta has the steaks to back up its reputation — the wine list does not. With only 11 labels, zero Old World representation, and pricing that reflects the zip code more than the quality, the wine here is a formality, not a feature. Order the cocktail.
· Atlanta · New American / Tasting Menu
Choose your courses, then choose your glasses. Bacchanalia's posted pairings give you concrete options: Carl Loewen Riesling at $24 with crab, or Ca' La Bionda Ripasso at $27 with duck. Ask which suggestions match tonight's menu before committing to the wine bill.
Midtown · Atlanta · Southern European
Start with the $14 Vostinic-Klasnic Ikons if you want to explore beyond familiar grapes, or the $16 chilled La Galoche Gamay if that's your lane. Lyla Lila's posted glass list makes trying something different a one-glass decision, not a whole-bottle commitment.
· Atlanta · New American
Siren has a wine list that punches above its weight in a few key areas — particularly the by-the-glass whites and the Champagne bottle program — but the markup structure means you're spending real money to access it. If you're the kind of diner who wants to order Furmint on a Tuesday night in Atlanta, this is one of the few places that makes that possible, and that alone earns it a spot on the shortlist.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Regional Italian
Make Monday your bottle night at Indaco: half off bottles priced up to $100, then $50 off above that. Ask for the current bottle list before choosing; the discount has a ceiling, even if your wine budget doesn't.
Atlanta · Atlanta · Vietnamese
NAM Kitchen is doing something genuinely unexpected: running a thoughtful, fairly priced 68-label wine list inside a Vietnamese restaurant, anchored by a strong sparkling section and some legitimately food-smart white wine choices. If you're the kind of person who wants a real glass of wine with your bún bò Huế, this is worth knowing about.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Steakhouse
Il Premio is a steakhouse that took its wine list seriously enough to skip the obvious plays, and the result is one of the more interesting Italian-focused lists in Atlanta right now. It's compact, priced fairly across the board, and built for exploration — whether you're going glass by glass through the Italian regions or just need a solid bottle of Chianti Classico at $72 to make a steak dinner feel right. We'd send a friend here specifically for the wine.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Healdsburg · Steakhouse
Stark's is the rare steakhouse that treats wine as something other than an afterthought or a cash grab. The list is compact but genuinely considered, markups are fair across the board, and the full bottle-to-glass availability is a policy every restaurant should copy. If you're eating in Healdsburg and want to drink well without overpaying, this is a legitimate stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Albany · Albany · Steakhouse
Order by the glass and explore: the posted menu gives you Riesling, Chablis, Cahors and Rioja without a bottle commitment. Pentimento at $16 is our price-conscious red starting point. Check the current list before ordering; the complete cellar, service and storage haven't been independently verified.
· Geneva · Steakhouse
The Hunt Club is an intriguing case — a special-occasion steakhouse in the Wisconsin lake country with a members-only wine program that hints at more depth than the public-facing list reveals. If you're a Geneva National member, the 50% off bottles and boutique wine access make this a genuine wine destination; if you're not, it's a solid steakhouse wine list with a scenic backdrop and fair pricing that won't embarrass anyone. Go for the ribeye and Parker rolls either way — and ask your server what's behind the member curtain before you order.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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