Napa hits a sizzling butter-soaked home run
Downtown · Indianapolis · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 21, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Ruth's Chris Steak House - Indianapolis’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 list reads like a greatest hits of American wine — Caymus, Silver Oak, Opus One, Far Niente. It's not trying to surprise you, and it doesn't. What it does do is show up fully dressed for a steak dinner, which is exactly what you came here for.
Two hundred to three hundred bottles deep, but the range is narrower than that number suggests — this is Napa and Sonoma's bench players and All-Stars, with a Bordeaux section that nods to Old World without committing to it. Cab Sauv dominates, as it should at a steakhouse of this caliber, but don't expect anything left of center. There are no natural wines, no esoteric Jura whites, no quirky Finger Lakes Riesling — and that's a deliberate choice, not an oversight. If you came for intellectual diversity, wrong room; if you came for a Duckhorn Merlot with a ribeye, you're exactly where you need to be.
Twenty to thirty options by the glass is genuinely strong for a steakhouse, and the selections skew toward the same California-forward playbook as the bottle list. Rotation appears limited — this reads more like a permanent fixture than a dynamic program. Still, having this many glass pours means you can build a proper flight across courses without committing to a full bottle.
Duckhorn Merlot — Unknown — check Wednesday pricing
On Wednesday's half-price night, bottles at or under $100 drop by 50%. Duckhorn Merlot in that window is a legitimate steal — it's a polished, serious Napa Merlot that rarely shows up at anything resembling a fair price at a restaurant like this.
Far Niente Chardonnay
Everyone comes here locked onto reds, and Far Niente Chardonnay gets ignored as a result. It's one of Napa's most consistent whites — rich but structured, without being a butter bomb — and it's genuinely excellent against the lobster bisque before your steak arrives.
Opus One
Opus One is a flex, not a value play. At steakhouse markup it's going to land somewhere painful, and the honest truth is Silver Oak or even Caymus delivers 85% of the experience for a fraction of the price. Order Opus One at home where you paid retail.
Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon + Cowboy Ribeye
Silver Oak's Alexander Valley Cab is built for exactly this moment — it's got enough dark fruit and structure to stand up to the fat and char of a cowboy ribeye without steamrolling the meat. Classic call, but classics are classics for a reason.
Wednesday — 50% off bottles priced at $100 or less; $50 off bottles over $100.
The Bottom Line
Ruth's Chris Indianapolis is a reliable, well-stocked wine program that knows exactly who it's serving and doesn't apologize for it. Hit it on a Wednesday and the value equation changes dramatically — otherwise, temper your markup expectations and enjoy the Cab.
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
· Atlanta · Steakhouse
Hal's delivers a competent, Napa-forward bottle list that does exactly what a steakhouse wine program is supposed to do — just without much surprise or value mercy. Send a friend here if they want a reliable big-red experience; warn them to leave the credit card breathing room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Houston · Steakhouse
Perry's is a reliable steakhouse wine list — nothing that'll make you rethink your palate, but enough to drink well with red meat if you know where to look. The fortified and dessert wine section is genuinely worth your attention; the rest is competent but forgettable.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Steakhouse
New York Prime's wine list is exactly what it needs to be for its audience — safe, recognizable, and priced for expense accounts. If you know what you want and don't mind paying for it, you'll be fine; just don't come looking for discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
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.
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