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.
Ali'i Drive / Waterfront · Kailua-Kona · Contemporary Hawaiian Café and American
Island Lava Java is genuinely great for Kona coffee, breakfast, and that Ali'i Drive ocean view — just don't show up expecting the wine list to match the scenery. Order a pour of the Fleur de Mer rosé, enjoy the trade winds, and call it a day.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Honokohau Harbor (North Kona) · Kailua-Kona · Casual American bar & grill with Hawaiian influences
Harbor House isn't a wine destination, but it's doing more with 17 labels than most waterfront bars bother to attempt. If you're grabbing a harbor-view lunch or a casual dinner after a dive, there's a real, honest pour waiting for you here.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Kailua Pier / Ali'i Drive · Kailua-Kona · Seafood & Steak
Fish Hopper is a perfectly decent place to drink wine if you're already there for the ocean view and the clam chowder — just don't come expecting the list to impress anyone. Stick to the better California producers, avoid the house wine trap, and let the sunset do the work.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Mauna Kea Resort · Kailua-Kona · Contemporary Hawaiʻi Regional Seafood
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Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Pawai Place / Kailua Industrial · Kailua-Kona · Hawaiian, Seafood, Hawaii Regional Cuisine
Umekes isn't a wine destination, but the pricing is honest, the glass count is surprisingly high, and the Riesling-with-poke move alone is worth knowing about. Send your friends here for the food; the wine will take care of itself.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ali'i Drive / Waterfront · Kailua-Kona · Steakhouse
This is a chain wine program doing exactly what corporate tells it to — nothing more, nothing less. If you're in Kailua-Kona for the wine, you're in the wrong zip code and definitely the wrong restaurant.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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
Downtown / Mizner Park area · Boca Raton · Upscale American Steakhouse
Morton's Boca Raton is a thoroughly competent steakhouse wine program that exists to lubricate expense accounts and anniversary dinners, not to challenge anyone's preconceptions about wine. Send a friend here if they want a reliable, well-executed Napa-heavy list — just don't send them expecting discovery.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Proper
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