California Reds Meet Texas Prime Cuts
Westside · El Paso · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 23, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Ranch 45’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Ranch 45 reads like a greatest hits of California steakhouse staples — Jordan, Caymus, Silver Oak, Duckhorn. If you've eaten at any upscale chophouse in the last decade, you've seen this list before. That's not necessarily a knock; it's a list built to match big beef, and it does exactly that.
The 60-100 bottle list leans hard into Napa and Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, which makes sense given the menu's DNA. Washington State gets some representation, adding a little range, but don't come here hunting for Burgundy, Barolo, or anything left of center. Producers like Jordan and Silver Oak Alexander Valley anchor the red selections with recognizable, crowd-friendly names. There's enough depth to satisfy a serious steak dinner, but adventurous wine drinkers will find the list plays it safe at every turn.
Ten to sixteen pours by the glass is a solid program for a steakhouse of this size. The glass options mirror the bottle list — California-forward, red-dominant, approachable. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority here; this looks like a set-and-forget program rather than something a passionate wine person is curating month to month.
Arona Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 2022 — $19
At essentially retail price, this is one of the few spots on the list where the restaurant isn't padding their margins. A crisp, high-acid white that cuts through butter-sauced dishes and doesn't cost you like a premium pour.
Chamisal Chardonnay 2022
Most guests at a steakhouse will ignore the Chardonnay entirely and order straight to the Cab. That's their loss. Chamisal makes a restrained, cool-climate Edna Valley Chard that's actually interesting — none of that flabby, over-oaked style. At $14 a glass, it's a smart opener while the steaks hit the table.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is everywhere for a reason — it's approachable, jammy, and requires zero thought. It's also marked up aggressively at nearly every restaurant in America, and Ranch 45 is unlikely to be the exception. You can do better on this list for less money, or order the Jordan if you want something in the same neighborhood with more actual structure.
Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon + Bone-in Kansas City Strip
Silver Oak Alexander Valley runs warmer and more approachable than its Napa counterpart — softer tannins, ripe dark fruit, a touch of vanilla from the American oak. Against a bone-in Kansas City strip with serious fat and char, it's a classic match that earns its reputation. This is the one time you're allowed to order the obvious thing.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Ranch 45 won't surprise you, but it won't let you down either — a reliable California-focused list priced fairly enough that you can order confidently alongside a serious steak. Send your friends here if they want a sure thing; send them somewhere else if they want to discover something new.
Downtown · El Paso · French / European
Pot Au Feu is the kind of place that takes its food seriously and gives the wine list a passing grade — not an A, but enough to hold up its end of the evening. If you're eating French in El Paso, you could do a lot worse; just order smart and don't default to the Jadot.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Westside / Northwest (The Canyons at Cimarron) · El Paso · Steakhouse
Oak & Antler isn't reinventing the steakhouse wine list, but the Wednesday half-price promotion turns a merely adequate program into a legitimately smart evening out. Come on a Wednesday, order the Jordan, eat a ribeye, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown · El Paso · Fine Dining
Cafe Central is running a world-class wine program in a city that most wine people wouldn't put on their radar — and the pricing is fair enough that you can actually drink at the level this list deserves. If you're passing through El Paso, this is a genuine destination worth building a trip around.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · El Paso · American
Anson11 is a reliable destination for a well-executed California wine experience in a city where that kind of list isn't guaranteed — just don't expect to be surprised. Send your Caymus-loving friends here without hesitation; send your adventurous wine nerd somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
El Paso · El Paso · Regional, Southwestern American
Mesa Street Grill isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it delivers a competent, fairly priced California list that holds up to the food without embarrassing anyone. Send a friend here for a solid dinner — just don't expect to be surprised.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East El Paso · El Paso · Seafood, Steakhouse
Landry's wine list does exactly what a mid-tier chain seafood house needs it to do — keeps the table happy without embarrassing anyone. Just don't show up expecting inspiration; show up expecting a cold glass of Vermentino and a solid piece of fish.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Mesquite · St. George · Steakhouse
Katherine's is a reliable casino steakhouse wine list — it won't let you down if you stick to the California anchors, but it won't excite you either. Send a friend here for the prime rib and the Rodney Strong; just don't go expecting discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Side · Green Bay · Steakhouse
Prime Quarter's wine list is a workhorse, not a showpiece — but for a grill-your-own steakhouse in Green Bay, that's perfectly fine. Come on a Wednesday, order the Malbec or Franciscan Cab, and focus on not overcooking your ribeye.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown · Atlanta · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Downtown Atlanta is here for the steak, full stop — the wine list is a six-bottle shrug that treats wine as a revenue line, not an experience. Order the Trimbach, enjoy your butter-drenched ribeye, and don't expect the list to surprise you.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.