California classics done right on Capitol Square
Capitol Square · Madison · Steak house · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · May 1, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Rare Steakhouse’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 Rare reads like a greatest hits of Napa Valley — Caymus, Silver Oak, Opus One, Shafer Hillside Select. It's not trying to surprise you; it's trying to impress you, and for a steakhouse on Capitol Square, that's a reasonable strategy. You know exactly what you're getting before the bread hits the table.
The California focus is heavy and intentional — this is a Cab house, full stop. Stag's Leap, Jordan, Duckhorn, Far Niente: these are names that sell themselves to a business-dinner crowd, and Rare leans into that without apology. What's missing is any real depth outside the golden state — if you're hunting Burgundy, Barolo, or even a serious Rhône, you're going to be disappointed. The 150-250 bottle range gives it enough breadth to feel serious, but the selection skews toward safe names over interesting ones.
The by-the-glass program runs 12-20 options in the $12-$18 range, which is workable for a downtown Madison steakhouse. Don't expect anything too adventurous — this is likely anchored by Caymus and Jordan pours for the crowd that wants a known name without committing to a bottle. Rotation appears limited; this list feels more set-it-and-forget-it than actively curated.
Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $12-$18 by the glass
Jordan is one of the most consistent, food-friendly Napa Cabs on the market, and if it's on the by-the-glass list here, it's the move — big enough to stand up to a ribeye but not so extracted it bulldozes everything else on the table.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot
Everyone at a steakhouse orders Cab, which means the Duckhorn Merlot gets overlooked constantly. It shouldn't — this is one of the benchmark Napa Merlots, plush and structured, and it actually shines alongside roasted and braised preparations in a way that big Cab sometimes can't.
Opus One
Opus One is a legitimately great wine, but at a steakhouse markup it's almost certainly landing north of $300-$400 a bottle — a price you can beat at any serious wine shop. If you want to flex, there are better values on this list that drink in the same stratosphere without the brand tax.
Shafer Vineyards Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon + Chargrilled Oysters Rockefeller
Hear us out — the Hillside Select's power and dark fruit cuts through the richness of the spinach, cream, and Pernod in the Rockefeller preparation in a way that a lean white simply can't. It's unconventional, but it works, and it's the kind of move that makes the table take notice.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Rare is a reliable wine destination for Napa devotees visiting Madison — the list is familiar by design, the WS Award of Excellence is well-earned, and the setting delivers. Just don't come here looking for natural wine or anything that strays from the California playbook.
South West Side / Arbor Gate · Madison · Contemporary American
Bonfyre is a reliable neighborhood grill that happens to have Wine Down Wednesday, and that promotion does more for this wine program than anything on the list itself. Come on a Wednesday, order the Riesling or the Malbec with your steak, and you'll leave happy — just don't expect the list to dazzle you on a Tuesday.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown / Capitol Square · Madison · Sushi / Japanese
Red Sushi isn't a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — but the fortified and dessert options give it more credibility than most comparable spots downtown. Come for the sushi, stay for the Madeira.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Far West Side / Greenway Station · Madison · Casual Italian
Biaggi's is a chain, the markups are steep, and nobody on staff is going to geek out over Nebbiolo with you — but the Wine Wednesday promotion (50% off bottles $75 and under) genuinely changes the math. Come on a Wednesday, order a bottle of Santa Margherita or a Chianti Classico at half price, and you'll have a perfectly solid dinner without any regrets.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Madison · Seafood and Steak
Tempest is a reliable downtown option for wine with your oysters — the list has genuine highlights and the glass count is respectable, but the markups are steep and the program isn't pushing itself. Go for the Sancerre, go for the Riesling, and don't overthink it.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Side / Junction Road · Madison · Wine Bar & Bistro
Eno Vino West is the dependable neighborhood wine bar Madison's west side needs — not flashy, not adventurous, but genuinely well-stocked and fairly priced. Show up on a Monday or Tuesday, grab a half-price bottle, and stop overthinking it.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Near West Side / Monroe Street · Madison · Californian-style, veggie-forward American
Everly's list is more thoughtful than most neighborhood spots its size, with a few genuinely exciting bottles mixed in with the safe pours. We'd send a friend here for wine, but we'd tell them to go in with eyes open on the markup — you're paying a premium for the atmosphere as much as what's in the glass.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Brookfield · Brookfield · Steak house
Mr. B's is a reliable, well-kept steakhouse wine list that knows its audience and serves them well — just don't expect any surprises. If you're a California Cab loyalist heading out for a serious steak dinner in the Milwaukee suburbs, this is your spot.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
West Loop · Chicago · Steak house
BLVD Steakhouse doesn't reinvent the steakhouse wine list, but it executes the formula competently — solid producers, proper storage, and enough range to keep a table of Cab loyalists happy all night. Just go in with your eyes open on the markups and skip the trophy-bottle trap.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Glen Allen · Glen Allen · Steak house
Hondos is exactly what it is: a reliably solid California-focused steakhouse wine list that's been doing this long enough to earn its Wine Spectator credential. Don't come here looking for surprises — come here knowing what you want and you'll leave satisfied.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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