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 →
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
Il Premio is a steakhouse that took its wine list seriously enough to skip the obvious plays, and the result is one of the more interesting Italian-focused lists in Atlanta right now. It's compact, priced fairly across the board, and built for exploration — whether you're going glass by glass through the Italian regions or just need a solid bottle of Chianti Classico at $72 to make a steak dinner feel right. We'd send a friend here specifically for the wine.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Healdsburg · Steakhouse
Stark's is the rare steakhouse that treats wine as something other than an afterthought or a cash grab. The list is compact but genuinely considered, markups are fair across the board, and the full bottle-to-glass availability is a policy every restaurant should copy. If you're eating in Healdsburg and want to drink well without overpaying, this is a legitimate stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Albany · Albany · Steakhouse
Order by the glass and explore: the posted menu gives you Riesling, Chablis, Cahors and Rioja without a bottle commitment. Pentimento at $16 is our price-conscious red starting point. Check the current list before ordering; the complete cellar, service and storage haven't been independently verified.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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