Big Napa Energy, Predictable But Polished
Summit Area · Birmingham · Steakhouse, Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed March 16, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The list arrives and it feels exactly like the room — expensive, confident, and unapologetically Napa-forward. Two hundred-plus selections with a price ceiling of $2,100 (Harlan Estate, if you're curious) signals that Perry's takes wine seriously, even if they take your wallet more seriously. This is a steakhouse list built to impress clients on expense accounts, not to challenge anyone's assumptions.
Napa Cabernet dominates, as expected, with names like Opus One ($550), Faust ($120), Stags' Leap ($128), and the house Perry's Reserve Cabernet ($80) anchoring the heavy end. There's genuine depth here — Sea Smoke 'Southing' from Santa Rita Hills ($160) is a real nod to serious Pinot drinkers, and the Massolino Nebbiolo from Piedmont ($92) is a welcome detour off the California highway. Burgundy and Italy get representation without being the point, and Provence rosé checks the summer patio box. Gaps show up in anything left-field — no natural wine, no skin-contact bottles, nothing that would surprise a seasoned drinker.
Sixteen options by the glass, ranging from $10 to $44, gives you real range at a steakhouse. The program leans predictably on house Perry's Reserve labels and crowd-pleasing California bottlings. Rotation appears minimal — this reads like a set-it list rather than something the team is actively curating week to week.
Massolino Nebbiolo, Piedmont, Italy — $92
At roughly 130% over retail, it's no steal — but in a room full of $120+ Napa Cabs marked up just as aggressively, the Massolino is the most interesting bottle at a comparable price. It's structured, food-friendly, and the kind of wine most tables at Perry's will overlook entirely, which is exactly why you should order it.
Sea Smoke 'Southing', Santa Rita Hills
Sea Smoke is a cult Santa Barbara producer making some of California's most serious Pinot Noir, and it's easy to miss on a list this heavy with Cab. At $160, you're paying for a genuinely exceptional wine that earns its price in a way most bottles on this list don't.
Perry's Reserve Chardonnay, Sonoma County
A house-label Chardonnay at $60 — retail around $25 — is a 140% markup on a wine you can't research or compare. You're paying for the Perry's name on the label, not the wine in the glass. There are better choices at this price point on the same list.
Flowers Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast + Caramelized Prime Rib
The slow-roasted richness of the prime rib wants something with bright acidity and enough body to match it without burying the meat — Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot does exactly that. It's a lighter pivot from the Cab-with-red-meat default that actually makes both the wine and the dish taste better.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Perry's is a well-run steakhouse list — proper storage, knowledgeable staff, real depth in California reds — but the markups are consistently aggressive and the curation rarely surprises. Send a friend here for a good bottle with a great steak, just tell them to skip the house labels and head straight for Sea Smoke or the Massolino.
Birmingham · Birmingham · American, Steakhouse
Armour House is the reliable wine anchor Birmingham's upscale dining scene needed — Caleb Reeves keeps the program honest, and the Wine Spectator nod is deserved. Just order the Barolo instead of the Opus One and you'll leave happy.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Birmingham · Birmingham · American
Seasons 52 Birmingham is a dependable, well-maintained wine program that serves its California-loving audience exactly what they came for — nothing revelatory, but nothing to complain about either. If you're eating here and want a solid glass without fuss, you're in fine hands.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Birmingham · Birmingham · Italian, Steakhouse
Bellini's is the kind of reliable Italian-American wine list that delivers exactly what it promises — serious California and Italian bottles in a room that knows how to use them. The markups sting and there's no adventurous edge here, but if you want a proper bottle with your filet or osso buco in Birmingham, this is your spot.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Highland Ave · Birmingham · American
Galley & Garden is the best wine list in Birmingham proper, full stop — not because it's wildly adventurous, but because it's deep, well-kept, and taken seriously in a market where that's not guaranteed. Send your friends here when they want a real bottle with a real dinner.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Birmingham · Birmingham · New American
The Essential is doing something genuinely rare for Birmingham — building a wine list with actual conviction around natural wines and unexpected picks like sherry. It's not perfect, but it's the kind of place we'd send a friend who's tired of the same tired list.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown · Birmingham · Seafood
Bayonet is doing something genuinely rare for Birmingham: building a wine program that actually fits the food and doesn't gouge you for it. If you care about drinking well with your seafood, this place deserves a seat at the table.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
St. Johns Town Center · Jacksonville · Steakhouse, Seafood
The Capital Grille Jacksonville is a dependable, well-run wine program that plays it safe at every turn — if you came here for discovery, you're at the wrong restaurant. But if you came for a proper steak, a knowledgeable server, and a California red that won't embarrass you in front of a client, this place delivers.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Heart of Amarillo · Amarillo · Steakhouse, Seafood
Cellar 55 is doing something genuinely interesting with its Spanish-leaning wine program in a city that didn't ask for it — and that takes guts. The markups keep it from true glory, but if you're eating steak in Amarillo and want something more thoughtful than the usual suspects, this is your place.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fort Myers · Fort Myers · Steakhouse, Seafood
Connors is a reliable steakhouse wine list that handles the basics with confidence but never asks you to think too hard. Send your parents here — just steer them toward the Roederer and away from the Dom.
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.