Napa on a sizzling plate, reliably.
Downtown · Richmond · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 16, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Ruth's Chris Steak House - Richmond’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The list reads exactly like you'd expect from a national upscale steakhouse: Napa-heavy, Bordeaux-accented, and anchored by the greatest hits of American wine culture. It's polished, it's predictable, and there's nothing wrong with it — as long as you know what you're walking into. This is a wine list built to move bottles, not raise eyebrows.
With 150-200+ labels, the depth is real, but the range skews hard toward California Cabernet and Chardonnay — Caymus, Silver Oak, Jordan, Stag's Leap, Far Niente. Bordeaux and Burgundy make appearances, and Champagne gets its due with Veuve Clicquot holding down the sparkling section. What's missing is anything adventurous: no natural wine, no off-the-beaten-path regions, no Italian reds worth getting excited about. If you love Napa and can afford it, this list delivers. If you want to explore, you're in the wrong room.
Fifteen to twenty-five pours by the glass is a respectable showing for a steakhouse, ranging from $14 to $25 a pop. The usual suspects dominate — expect Rombauer Chardonnay and something Cabernet-shaped from Napa to anchor the list. Rotation appears minimal; this is a set-it-and-forget-it BTG program, not a constantly evolving slate.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $55+
In a list where bottles routinely climb past $100, Jordan is the Cab that delivers real Sonoma character without requiring a second mortgage. It's the move if you want quality California Cabernet without paying the Caymus premium.
Duckhorn Merlot
Everyone's reaching for the Cab, but Duckhorn's Merlot is a genuinely compelling wine that gets overlooked next to the Napa Cab parade. Plush, structured, and built for a USDA Prime ribeye — it punches above its reputation.
Veuve Clicquot Brut Champagne
Veuve is fine, but at steakhouse markup it's a reliable way to overpay for a bottle you can grab at any wine shop for half the price. Save the Champagne budget for somewhere that carries something more interesting.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet + USDA Prime Ribeye
Artemis has the structure and dark fruit to stand up to a richly marbled ribeye served on a 500-degree plate. It's a classic California Cab match — the tannins cut through the fat and the fruit holds its own against the char.
The Bottom Line
Ruth's Chris Richmond is a reliable, well-executed wine program for people who know what they like and aren't looking to be surprised. Send a friend here if they love Napa Cab and want a proper glass with a perfect steak — just remind them to check the markup before they start ordering bottles.
· Richmond · Steakhouse
Perry's is a perfectly competent wine stop for steakhouse purposes — you'll find something to drink, the by-the-glass selection is broad, and nobody's going home unhappy. But if you care about value or discovery, this list won't challenge you, and the markup on recognizable names is a quiet tax on your loyalty to the brand.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Scott's Addition · Richmond · American, Seafood
Lillian is the rare spot where the wine list is more ambitious than the address suggests — a focused, France-and-Italy-forward program with legit producers, a knowledgeable floor lead, and bottle prices that don't feel punitive. Send a friend here, tell them to sit at the counter, order oysters, and ask PJ what's open.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Carytown · Richmond · American, Seasonal
Shagbark is the real deal — a legitimately serious wine program attached to a kitchen that can back it up, priced fairly enough that you'll actually want to explore. If you're in Richmond and you care about what's in your glass, this is the room you should be in.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Richmond · Richmond · Indian, Vegetarian
Lehja is doing something genuinely unusual — building a serious, award-winning wine program inside a spice-forward Indian restaurant in suburban Virginia — and pulling it off. Send your wine-curious friends here and watch them recalibrate their expectations.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Rocketts Landing · Richmond · American, Steakhouse, Seafood, Contemporary
The Boathouse is a reliable choice if you time it right — hit that 4–6pm happy hour and suddenly the steep markups become a non-issue. Outside of that window, you're paying a premium for the view as much as the wine, which is fine as long as you go in knowing that.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Museum District · Richmond · Cafe, American
Garnett's is a neighborhood sandwich shop with zero pretension and a wine program that quietly overachieves — especially if you lean into the Date Night Special. Send your friends here when they say they can't afford a nice dinner.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
· Franklin · Steakhouse
Char is a genuinely enjoyable steakhouse with a wine list that does the job without doing much more. The room earns its keep; the wine program is still a passenger rather than a co-pilot. If you're coming here for the Prime beef and the atmosphere, you'll eat well — just don't expect the list to take you anywhere the food isn't already going. Worth a visit, but bring your own expectations in check at the wine menu.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Steakhouse
The Grove Steakhouse is a solid pick if you're in a celebratory mood and want serious Champagne options with your cut of beef — the sparkling program alone is worth a look. The rest of the list doesn't take many risks, and the markups on recognizable labels are exactly what you'd expect from a steakhouse at a casino property. Go in with eyes open, steer toward the value picks, and you'll have a good night.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Fresno · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Fresno is a reliable landing pad if someone else is picking the restaurant and wine takes a back seat to a great center-cut filet. The wine program isn't adventurous and markups at this tier tend to sting, but the service is polished and the experience is consistent. If wine is the reason you're going out, look elsewhere — but if it's the steak and wine is just along for the ride, you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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