Ruth's Chris Steak House - Richmond

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.