A solid steakhouse list that won't embarrass you
Downtown Durham · Durham · American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 8, 2026
RagingWine reviewed NanaSteak’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 NanaSteak feels exactly like the room it lives in — polished, confident, and built to impress on a date night without taking many risks. You're getting a list that checks the expected steakhouse boxes: some Champagne, a few Italians, a California contingent. It's not going to surprise you, but it won't embarrass you either.
The list leans on familiar geography — France, California, Italy, with a small but interesting Austrian detour via the Steininger Gruner Veltliner. The Tenuta Casabianca Chianti Colli Senesi hints that someone in the building has a passing interest in Italian terroir beyond the obvious names, which is encouraging. Truchard Vineyard's California presence is a solid call — they're a legit Carneros producer who tend to get overshadowed by bigger Napa labels. What's missing is any real depth in aged bottles or off-the-beaten-path regions; this is a 50-80 bottle list that plays to the crowd rather than the curious.
At least four pours by the glass at $14 a pop — that's functional but not exciting. We'd love to see more range here, especially something adventurous beyond the usual suspects. The glass program feels like an afterthought next to the bottle list, which is a missed opportunity in a room this energetic.
Tenuta Casabianca Chianti Colli Senesi '21 — $36-$45 (estimated)
Chianti Colli Senesi doesn't get the respect it deserves — this Sangiovese-driven wine has the acidity and savory backbone to cut through a ribeye without charging you Classico Riserva prices. If it's on the lower end of the bottle range, it's the smartest order on the list.
Steininger Gruner Veltliner '24
A Gruner Veltliner on a steakhouse list is a curveball worth catching. Austria's signature white — peppery, lean, high acid — is genuinely underrated with beef fat and rich sauces. Most tables will walk right past it for a Chardonnay. Don't be most tables.
Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Brut NV
It's a perfectly fine Champagne, but Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée is a high-volume, widely distributed label that restaurants love to mark up because the name sounds impressive. You're almost certainly paying $90+ for a bottle that retails around $40. The bubbles are fine; the math is not.
Tenuta Casabianca Chianti Colli Senesi '21 + Charcoal Grilled Center Cut Filet Mignon
Sangiovese and charcoal-grilled beef is one of the oldest duos in the book for a reason. The wine's cherry fruit and grippy tannins play off the char without steamrolling the filet's natural tenderness. It's the right weight — not so big it overwhelms, not so light it disappears.
The Bottom Line
NanaSteak is a reliable wine stop in a great room — you'll drink well enough without any nasty surprises on the bill, as long as you steer clear of the Champagne markups. Send your friends here for a steak night; just coach them on what to order.
Fearrington Village / Pittsboro · Durham · Contemporary American / Modern Tasting Menu
Fearrington House is the rare Wine Spectator Award list that actually earns it — a deep, expertly managed cellar in a setting that has no business being this good. Yes, pricing at the top end is steep, but for a full tasting menu experience, this is as serious as it gets in the Carolinas.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Downtown · Durham · Japanese sushi restaurant with omakase and nigiri focus
M Sushi is a Wild Card in the best possible sense — a sushi counter in downtown Durham with an Old World wine list that actually respects the food it's serving. If you're willing to let go of the familiar and trust the list, this is one of the more satisfying wine experiences you'll find in the Triangle.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Rockwood / Chapel Hill Road · Durham · Cafe & Market
Foster's Market is a genuinely lovely café, and the wine program seems to know it's playing second fiddle — six house-label bottles at flat $15 pricing isn't a wine program so much as a courtesy. Order the coffee, eat the baked goods, and save your wine night for somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Southpoint / Fayetteville Road · Durham · Seasonal Farm-to-Fork American
Harvest 18 is a reliable neighborhood spot where the kitchen clearly outpaces the wine list. Come for the food, come on a Wednesday for the half-price bottles, and calibrate your expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Durham · Seasonal American, Southern-influenced hotel restaurant
For a hotel restaurant, The Restaurant at The Durham is punching well above its weight class — Jura producers and Matthiasson on a downtown Durham wine list is genuinely surprising. The markups keep it from being a destination for wine alone, but if you're eating here anyway, you're in better hands than most hotel guests ever get.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Duke West Campus · Durham · Fine Dining
Fairview is a reliable, well-run hotel wine program that does its job — it won't embarrass you on a date night or a client dinner, but it's not the reason to make the drive. Come for the occasion, drink the Jordan, and leave the exploration for another night.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Fort Worth · American Steakhouse
Del Frisco's Grille Fort Worth has a wine list the same way an airport newsstand has a wine section — technically true, practically limiting. Order the Tokaji for dessert, drink cocktails with dinner, and don't expect anyone to help you navigate the difference.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Carson · Carson City · American Steakhouse
Glen Eagles is a comfortable, classic Carson City steakhouse with a wine list that's essentially coasting — one strong Port section surrounded by a whole lot of nothing. Come for the prime rib, order a Port after, and don't expect much more from the wine side of the menu.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
San Marcos · San Marcos · American Steakhouse
Outback San Marcos won't embarrass you if you order a glass with dinner, but you're not here for the wine list and nobody pretends otherwise. Stick to the Riesling or the Malbec and spend your energy on the steak.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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