Solid steak house wine list, no surprises
Downtown Milwaukee · Milwaukee · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 28, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Mo's reads like a greatest hits album you've heard a hundred times — California Pinot Noir, some Cabernet, maybe an Australian Shiraz thrown in for texture. It's approachable, it's comfortable, and it's going to get the job done for most of the crowd at the bar. Just don't come in hunting for anything with a story.
The list sits somewhere in the 100-200 bottle range and leans heavily on California with a nod to Australia — think brand names that move fast and require zero explanation to a table of four splitting a porterhouse. Torbreck Woodcutter's Shiraz from Australia is probably the most interesting thing hiding in here, a producer with real credentials slotted in among the Meiomis and Mark Wests. The regional breadth is limited — Old World gets a cameo at best — and there's no deep dive into Napa Cab, Willamette Pinot, or anything that would make a list like this sing next to prime rib. It works for what Mo's is, which is a lively Milwaukee steakhouse, not a wine destination.
The by-the-glass program runs 12-20 options and stays squarely in the $10-$15 range, which keeps things accessible for a bar crowd that's more focused on the cut in front of them. Meiomi Pinot Noir at $15 a glass is actually priced below retail, which is a rare and welcome sight. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority here — this feels like a set list that doesn't change much with the seasons.
Meiomi Pinot Noir, California — $15
At $15 a glass, Mo's is selling this below retail — that almost never happens. It's not a complex wine, but it's a crowd-pleasing Pinot that works with the menu, and at this price you're not leaving money on the table.
Torbreck Woodcutter's Shiraz, Australia
Torbreck is a legit Barossa producer making serious wine, and the Woodcutter's is their entry point — structured, dark-fruited, and a natural match for red meat. Most people at Mo's will reach for a California Pinot on autopilot and miss this entirely.
La Crema Pinot Noir, Monterey
At $48 a bottle with a 92% markup over a $25 retail price, La Crema is doing a lot of heavy lifting on Mo's margins. It's a perfectly fine wine at the grocery store. Here, you're paying a significant premium for a label that's available everywhere.
Torbreck Woodcutter's Shiraz, Australia + Prime Rib
Barossa Shiraz and a thick cut of prime rib is a combination that doesn't need much explaining — the wine's dark fruit and pepper notes go head-to-head with the beef's richness and come out even. Skip the California Pinot for this one.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Mo's is a reliable steakhouse wine list doing exactly what it's built to do: keep a busy dining room happy with familiar names at accessible prices. If you know where to look — and now you do — you can drink well here without getting taken to the cleaners.
Downtown · Milwaukee · Brazilian Steakhouse
Rodizio Grill Milwaukee is a genuinely fun night out if you're there for the meat and the spectacle — but the wine list is coasting on the restaurant's momentum rather than adding anything to it. Order the Gaucho Club, enjoy the picanha, and save your serious wine budget for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Riverwalk · Milwaukee · Japanese sushi and Asian fusion
Screaming Tuna isn't a wine destination, but it's a sushi spot with a wine list that actually respects the food it's serving — and in Milwaukee, that's worth calling out. Take a chance on the Alsatian whites or the sake program and you'll leave happy.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lower East Side · Milwaukee · French and Italian Riviera-Inspired Fine Dining
Lupi & Iris is doing something genuinely rare in Milwaukee — a wine program with depth, a sommelier who runs real events, and markup that doesn't make you feel like a mark. Send your friends here, and tell them to book early for the DRC dinner.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Downtown · Milwaukee · Seafood-focused Contemporary American
Third Coast Provisions has a genuinely thoughtful wine list for a city that doesn't always demand one — the Burgundy focus is earned, the staff knows what they're doing, and the seafood menu gives those whites every opportunity to shine. The markup keeps it from being a destination for wine alone, but if you're already here for the food, you're in good hands.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Northwest Side · Milwaukee · Italian, Handmade Pasta, Wine Bar
Ca'Lucchenzo is the kind of place that makes you wonder why every Italian restaurant doesn't just commit to Italy this hard on the wine side. It's not a deep cellar, but it's a focused, honest list that actually fits the food — send your friends here and tell them to skip the cocktail.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Brookfield · Milwaukee · Upscale American Steakhouse
Mr. B's is exactly what it promises — a polished, reliable steakhouse wine list that hits all the expected marks without a single surprise. Send a friend here if they want a sure thing; send them somewhere else if they want to be excited.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Abilene · Steakhouse
Cattleman's Exchange isn't a wine destination, but it's not a disaster either — it's a hotel steakhouse doing hotel steakhouse things. If you're in Abilene and need a Cab with your beef, you'll find something that works; just don't expect the list to surprise you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Unknown · Springfield · Steakhouse
LongHorn Springfield isn't a wine destination — but with markups this low and pours this affordable, it's one of the better casual chain options in Illinois for a simple red with a big steak. Send a friend here for dinner; just don't tell them to geek out over the list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Frontera · Round Rock · Steakhouse
Saltgrass Round Rock is exactly what it looks like: a chain steakhouse wine list on autopilot, built around brand names, sweet crowd-pleasers, and markups that assume you're not paying attention. Order a beer or a cocktail and save the wine for somewhere that actually cares.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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