Napa hits a resort, predictably and well
Mauna Lani Resort · Kailua-Kona · Upscale American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 24, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Ruth's Chris Steak House – Mauna Lani’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 arrives looking exactly like you'd expect from a Ruth's Chris in a luxury resort: heavy on California Cabs, priced for people who just got off a long flight and don't feel like arguing. It's polished, it's confident, and it knows its audience — which is either a strength or a warning, depending on your mood.
The list runs 150-plus bottles and leans hard into Napa Valley and Sonoma, with Bordeaux and Washington making cameo appearances to give it a veneer of range. Caymus, Jordan, Silver Oak, Stag's Leap, Duckhorn, Far Niente — these are all names that play well with the expense-account crowd and steak-night tourists alike. What's missing is any sense of adventure: no interesting Rhône, no domestic left-field picks, nothing that makes you feel like whoever built this list was having fun. France shows up but only the safe zip codes.
You're looking at an estimated 15-25 by-the-glass options in the $14-$24 range, which is respectable volume for a resort steakhouse. Rombauer Chardonnay almost certainly anchors the white side — it always does here — while the reds skew Cab-heavy and California all the way. Don't expect weekly rotation; this is a set-it-and-forget-it program built for consistency, not discovery.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $90–$110 (est.)
Jordan is the move when you want Napa credibility without paying Opus One prices. It's a genuinely well-made Alexander Valley Cab that doesn't need to shout, and at a steakhouse in a resort, it's usually the most honest dollar-for-dollar option on the list.
Duckhorn Merlot
Everyone at this table is ordering Cab, and that's fine, but Duckhorn's Merlot is consistently one of the most underrated bottles in the California canon. Plush, structured, and built for red meat — it gets overlooked every time Caymus is on the same page, which is exactly why you should order it.
Opus One
Yes, it's on the list. Yes, it's impressive to say out loud. But resort markup on an already-expensive bottle turns Opus One into one of the worst value propositions in the room. You're paying for the name twice — once to the winery, once to the real estate. Drink Jordan instead and bank the difference.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + USDA Prime Ribeye
Stag's Leap brings that classic Napa structure — dark fruit, firm tannins, enough acid to cut through fat — without the brute force of some of its neighbors. A ribeye at Ruth's Chris comes out sizzling in butter, and that's exactly the kind of richness this Cab was born to handle.
The Bottom Line
Ruth's Chris Mauna Lani does exactly what it promises: a deep, California-forward wine list served in proper glassware at steep resort prices inside a flawless steakhouse setting. You won't discover anything new here, but if you're after a great bottle of Napa Cab with your Prime filet and an ocean breeze somewhere nearby, this list will not let you down.
Waikoloa · Kailua-Kona · Hawaii Regional Cuisine / Asian Fusion Seafood Grill
Roy's Waikoloa is a reliable night out with food that outpaces the wine list by a full length. Drink the Sonoma-Cutrer with the butterfish, skip the markups on the obvious stuff, and let the view do the heavy lifting.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waikoloa · Kailua-Kona · Italian osteria with locally sourced Hawaiian ingredients
Pueo's isn't building a destination wine program, but it's doing something harder — keeping prices honest in a market that rarely does. Send your friends here for dinner; just know the list is a supporting character, not the headliner.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waikoloa · Kailua-Kona · Beachside Hawaiian and Pacific Rim
Come for the sand, the sunset, and the Huli Huli chicken — just don't come expecting the wine list to match the view. Order the best white they have cold, tip your server well, and make peace with it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Alii Drive · Kailua-Kona · Hawaiian-style barbecue / plate lunches
We would never send someone to TJ's for the wine list — we'd send them for the smoked brisket and the ocean view. But if you want something in a glass while you eat, the list does just enough to keep you covered, and $12 a pour is fair by Hawaii standards.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Kailua-Kona · Kailua-Kona · Hawaiian-inspired and pan-Pacific fare with a classic tiki bar
Don the Beachcomber is a genuinely fun place to spend an evening in Kona, and the cocktail program absolutely earns its reputation — so get the mai tai and leave the wine list alone. If you insist on a bottle, grab the La Crema, accept your losses, and watch the sunset.
Crowd Pleasers
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Kailua-Kona · Kailua-Kona · Contemporary American and Seafood
Come for the manta rays and the sunset, order a cocktail, and make your peace with it. The wine list is a hotel afterthought dressed in markup we can't recommend with a straight face.
Crowd Pleasers
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Highway 29 corridor · St. Helena · Upscale American Steakhouse
PRESS is the rare place where a 2,700-bottle list actually delivers — deep, well-stored, and staffed by people who know what they're talking about. The pricing is steep by any honest measure, but if Napa Cabernet is your religion, this is the cathedral.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Appleton · Upscale American Steakhouse
Vince Lombardi's wine list won't win any awards for creativity, but it's competent, well-suited to the menu, and it won't embarrass the kitchen. If you're here for a prime steak and a reliable bottle of Jordan, you'll leave happy — just don't come looking for discovery.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Downtown / Maple District · Evanston · Upscale American Steakhouse
The Barn does exactly what it sets out to do — deliver a no-fuss, big-red-forward wine list in a clubby, comfortable room. It's not a destination for wine lovers, but if you're coming for a serious steak and want something reliable in the glass, you'll leave satisfied.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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