Meat-forward list that gets the job done
· Bellevue · Brazilian Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 26, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Novilhos Brazilian Steakhouse Bellevue’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 Novilhos reads exactly like you'd expect from a Brazilian churrascaria — approachable, unpretentious, and built to not get in the way of the meat parade. Twenty-five labels, all available by the glass, priced mostly in the $9–$13 range, which is a pricing philosophy we can respect. It's not trying to be a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend otherwise.
The list leans heavily on recognizable American and import labels — Benziger, Kim Crawford, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Marques de Caceres — the kind of names that read well to most diners without requiring explanation. There's a nod to the Pacific Northwest with Novelty Hill Sauvignon Blanc, Barnard Griffin Merlot, and Tamarack Cellars Firehouse Red, which is a smart move given the Bellevue location. Reds dominate in the way you'd want for a steakhouse, with multiple Merlots and Pinot Noirs covering the softer side of the spectrum. Notably, there's no Cabernet Sauvignon on the list, which feels like a gap when your entire menu is built around beef.
Every single wine on the list is available by the glass, which makes this one of the more flexible BTG programs you'll find at a steakhouse — no bottle minimums, no upselling pressure. Pours range from $9 for the entry-level whites to $13 for the Taylor Fladgate 20 Year Port, and the Port selection alone — four options including both Ruby and aged Tawny styles — is genuinely more interesting than the rest of the list. Rotation appears minimal; this feels like a list that hasn't changed in a while.
Marques de Caceres Rioja — $10/glass
Tempranillo-based Rioja at $10 a glass is hard to argue with alongside grilled beef. It has the structure and earthy backbone to stand up to the churrasco spread, and it's priced like an afterthought when it really should be the go-to move.
Taylor Fladgate 20 Year Tawny Port
Most people skip Port at a steakhouse, which means they're missing the best closer on the menu. A 20-year Tawny at $13 a glass is genuinely good value — nutty, dried-fruit complexity that does things to the end of a heavy meat meal that dessert can't touch.
Mountain View White Zinfandel
White Zin in 2024 is a tough sell anywhere, and at a Brazilian steakhouse it's genuinely puzzling. The $9 price point won't hurt you, but the real cost is the opportunity — that same $9 gets you the Marques de Caceres.
Tamarack Cellars Firehouse Red + Picanha (top sirloin cap)
Tamarack's Firehouse Red is a Washington State blend built for exactly this moment — dark fruit, enough tannin to cut through the fat, and the kind of weight that matches the richness of picanha without bullying it.
The Bottom Line
Novilhos isn't a wine destination, but it's a fair, functional list that respects your wallet and doesn't embarrass itself next to the meat. Order the Rioja, finish with Port, and let the churrasco do the heavy lifting.
· Bellevue · Steakhouse
STK Bellevue is a reliable place to drink wine you already know at prices you'd rather not think about. If you're entertaining clients or celebrating something and need a list that won't confuse anyone, it gets the job done — just don't come here looking for discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bellevue · Bellevue · Italian / Pizza
Mercato Stellina is a pizza spot that accidentally built a wine list worth talking about — the Italian backbone is legit, the Washington State picks are well-chosen, and the pricing is honest. If you're expecting a deep white or sparkling program you'll be disappointed, but for a Nebbiolo or a Syrah with your Neapolitan, this place delivers.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bellevue · Bellevue · Wine Bar / New American
Purple's Bellevue list is small enough to read in two minutes and interesting enough to think about for the rest of dinner. The pricing is shockingly fair, the picks are genuinely adventurous, and the Romanian grape alone earns it a visit.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Old Bellevue · Bellevue · Southern Italian
Carmine's is a dependable wine experience in a room that earns it — the Italian backbone is solid, the Marc Hébrart alone proves someone cared when building this list, and 13 by-the-glass options gives you real choices. Just mind the markups and steer away from the California name-drops.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Redmond Town Center · Bellevue · Steakhouse and Seafood
Matts' isn't a wine destination, but it's not pretending to be one either. The Pacific Northwest focus is smart, the by-the-glass picks punch above the room's casual energy, and $9 oyster bar pours during happy hour is a deal worth showing up for.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Bellefield Office Park Area · Bellevue · Upscale American Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Bellevue is a reliable machine for a certain kind of corporate dinner — but the wine list is a profit center dressed up as a wine program, and the markups make that clear. Order the Belle Glos, catch Ruth's Hour if you can, and save the serious wine drinking for somewhere that actually cares.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Tysons Corner · Brazilian Steakhouse
Chima is a great place to eat a lot of meat. It is not a great place to drink wine — five Napa Cabs at $89 flat is a placeholder, not a program. Order the caipirinha and save the wine for somewhere that cares.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
· Boston · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão is here to sell you a meat experience, and the wine list is an afterthought that exists to support that mission — not elevate it. Stick to the Zuccardi Malbec or the Garzón Albariño and spend your energy on the food.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Paramus · Brazilian Steakhouse
The food at Fogo de Chão does the heavy lifting here, because the wine list is not trying. Five bottles at $6 each is a convenience tray, not a wine program — come for the meat, order the Malbec, and don't expect anything more.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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