Big Reds, Bold Pours, Downtown Done Right
Downtown · Indianapolis · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 21, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Prime 47’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Two hundred-plus labels at a downtown Indianapolis steakhouse is a genuine statement — this isn't a list assembled by accident. The focus lands squarely on Napa and Bordeaux, which makes total sense given the USDA Prime beef on every other table. It reads like a confident Greatest Hits of American Cabernet, and for a lot of people, that's exactly what they came for.
The backbone of this list is California Cabernet Sauvignon, and the usual suspects are all present — Caymus, Silver Oak Alexander Valley, Jordan, Opus One. It's a roll call that any steakhouse regular will recognize instantly, which is either comforting or predictable depending on your outlook. There's a nod to Burgundy and Bordeaux for those who want to go old-world with their ribeye, and Duckhorn's Merlot represents a softer option for the table that can't agree. What's missing is any serious depth in Rhône, Italian, or anything left-field — if you're hunting for a Barolo or a northern Rhône Syrah to cut through that dry-aged fat, you may come up short.
Twenty by-the-glass options is a strong number for a steakhouse, and the price spread of $18 to $45 a pour means there's real range here rather than four wines and a token white. The half-price wine night sweetens the deal considerably — unfinished bottles get sealed and sent home with you, which is a genuinely good policy that more restaurants should copy. We'd love to know how often the BTG list rotates, but even static, twenty options gives you something to work with.
The Hilt Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills — $76
Retails around $65, so the markup is a relatively modest 17% — practically a steal by steakhouse standards. The Hilt is a serious Pinot from a cool-climate Santa Barbara appellation, and at this price in a room full of $150+ Cabs, it's the move for anyone who wants elegance over extraction.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley
Jordan gets dismissed as entry-level by wine nerds, but that reputation is unfair. It's consistently well-made, genuinely food-friendly, and priced below the flashier names on this list. In a sea of power Cabs, Jordan's restraint actually makes it one of the better choices with food.
Klinker Brick Red Zinfandel Lodi
A $20 retail bottle priced at $54 is a 170% markup, and Klinker Brick — solid as it is — doesn't justify that kind of premium. There are far better value plays on this list. Leave this one alone.
Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley + USDA Prime Dry-Aged Steak
Silver Oak Alexander Valley is built for exactly this moment — enough structure to stand up to rich, intensely flavored dry-aged beef, but with that signature approachable fruit that doesn't demand you wait another decade to enjoy it. Classic combination for a reason.
Unspecified — Half Price Wine Night available; unfinished bottles are sealed and may be taken home.
The Bottom Line
Prime 47 delivers the steakhouse wine experience you'd expect — deep on California Cabs, priced with a heavy hand on most bottles, but redeemed by a generous BTG program and one of the fairest half-price wine night policies we've seen. Take the Hilt Pinot, enjoy your steak, and time your visit for that half-price night if you can.
Downtown Indianapolis · Indianapolis · American Steakhouse
Prime 47 is a dependable, California-forward steakhouse list that earns its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence — not because it takes risks, but because it executes the classics reliably and keeps the Cabs flowing. Send a friend here if they want a good bottle with a great steak; just don't send them expecting to discover anything new.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Indianapolis · Indianapolis · French, Japanese
Vida is the kind of wine program that makes you wish more mid-sized American cities had a Jared May running their lists — deep Burgundy, serious California, and a dining concept that actually justifies both. Yes, you'll pay for it, but this is a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence winner for real reasons.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Indianapolis · Indianapolis · American Steakhouse
St. Elmo is the rare steakhouse that earns its Best of Award of Excellence without feeling like it's trying to impress anyone — the list is deep, the wines are real, and Monday half-price night is genuinely one of the best deals in Indianapolis. The markups can sting, but the bones of this program are excellent.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Herron-Morton Place · Indianapolis · Fine-Casual American
Tinker Street is the wine list that Indianapolis shouldn't have yet somehow does — globally curious, genuinely deep in spots, and anchored by a few pours that would feel at home at a serious wine bar in any major city. The markups on entry-level bottles keep it from being a full Rager, but the ambition earns a trip.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Mass Ave · Indianapolis · Southern, American, Brew Pub
The Eagle is a genuinely great place to eat fried chicken — the wine list, however, is an afterthought dressed up in a menu. Drink the beer, order the bubbles if you must, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that reciprocates.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Indianapolis · New American
Cerulean is exactly what a serious restaurant in a mid-sized American city should be doing with wine — real producers, fair pours, a sommelier who actually knows the list. Send your friends here, especially if they're doing the tasting menu.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Franklin · Steakhouse
Char is a genuinely enjoyable steakhouse with a wine list that does the job without doing much more. The room earns its keep; the wine program is still a passenger rather than a co-pilot. If you're coming here for the Prime beef and the atmosphere, you'll eat well — just don't expect the list to take you anywhere the food isn't already going. Worth a visit, but bring your own expectations in check at the wine menu.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Steakhouse
The Grove Steakhouse is a solid pick if you're in a celebratory mood and want serious Champagne options with your cut of beef — the sparkling program alone is worth a look. The rest of the list doesn't take many risks, and the markups on recognizable labels are exactly what you'd expect from a steakhouse at a casino property. Go in with eyes open, steer toward the value picks, and you'll have a good night.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Fresno · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Fresno is a reliable landing pad if someone else is picking the restaurant and wine takes a back seat to a great center-cut filet. The wine program isn't adventurous and markups at this tier tend to sting, but the service is polished and the experience is consistent. If wine is the reason you're going out, look elsewhere — but if it's the steak and wine is just along for the ride, you'll be fine.
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.
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