California Classics Done Right for Steak Night
Newport News · American, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed April 30, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Schlesinger's Chophouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Schlesinger's leans hard into the classic American chophouse playbook — white tablecloths, prime cuts, and a wine list that reads like a greatest hits of California Cabernet. It's comfortable and confident, but don't come here looking for surprises. This is a list that knows exactly what its audience wants and delivers it without much deviation.
The 150-250 bottle list is a California parade, anchored by the usual suspects: Caymus, Silver Oak, Jordan, Stag's Leap, and Duckhorn. If you love Napa Cab and buttery Chardonnay, you're in the right place — Rombauer and Cakebread are both represented for the Chardonnay crowd. What's missing is any real reach beyond California: no domestic outliers, no Old World depth, no natural wine curiosity. Wine Spectator gave this their Award of Excellence in 2024, and the California focus earns that recognition within a very specific lane.
Twelve to twenty by-the-glass options is a respectable spread for a chophouse format, and you can expect the pours to track the bottle list — California Cabs, Chardonnay, probably a safe Pinot. Don't expect the glass list to rotate with the seasons or feature anything off the beaten path. What's there should be reliable and well-kept.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $65
Jordan consistently over-delivers for the price — it's a polished, food-friendly Cab that won't embarrass you at a business dinner and doesn't carry the Caymus markup premium. Solid pick if you want to look smart without spending stupid.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot
Everyone at a steakhouse goes straight for the Cab, but Duckhorn's Merlot is a genuinely serious wine with structure, plum richness, and enough weight to stand up to a ribeye. Most tables walk right past it — don't be that table.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is everywhere, and at a steakhouse it's the default order for people who don't want to think about it. Markups on this bottle tend to be punishing — you're paying for the name recognition, not the experience. The Jordan or Stag's Leap will drink just as well for less grief on the bill.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Dry-aged New York strip
Stag's Leap has that classic Napa structure — firm tannins, dark fruit, a backbone of acidity — that cuts through the fat of a dry-aged strip without overwhelming the beef's natural funk. It's a textbook match that earns its reputation.
The Bottom Line
Schlesinger's is a dependable, well-executed chophouse wine list for the California-loving steak crowd — no revelations, but no disasters either. If you're in Newport News and need a reliable Cab with your ribeye, this is your spot.
· Newport News · Chinese
P.F. Chang's Newport News doesn't take wine seriously, and the two-bottle list makes that plain. The $6 price point softens the blow, but if wine matters to your meal, you're better off sticking to the cocktail menu or a cold Tsingtao. We wouldn't steer anyone here for the wine program.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
City Center · Newport News · Hotel Restaurant / New American
Latitudes won't inspire any wine lists of its own, but it's honest about what it is: a competent hotel wine program priced fairly enough that you won't feel gouged when the check arrives. If you're here for dinner, grab the Arcturos Riesling or the Campuget Rosé, avoid The Prisoner's markup, and pair wisely with the seafood. It does the job.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · American Bistro
This isn't a wine list in the traditional sense — it's a producer showcase, and Second Street leans into it with a multi-course dinner format. If you're into Napa and trust the Spoto brand, it's a worthwhile evening; if you wanted options, you're out of luck.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Newport News · Italian
Carrabba's wine list does exactly what a chain wine list does: it keeps people comfortable and keeps margins high. If you're here for a business dinner or a family birthday, order the TerraMare house pour and move on — but don't come here expecting wine to be part of the experience.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · American
Cheddar's is a casual comfort-food chain, and the wine list reflects exactly that level of ambition — none. Order a beer or a cocktail and save the wine conversation for somewhere that wants to have it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · Steakhouse / Cocktail Bar
Steak & Tonic is a genuinely surprising find for Newport News — the wine ambitions outpace most steakhouses in its weight class, even if the execution can wobble and the pricing likely skews steep. It earns the Wild Card badge because it's the kind of place you walk into expecting a cocktail and walk out talking about the wine list.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Westwood · Los Angeles · American, Steakhouse
A Cabernet-first list with 30 glasses and a long bottle book, but no wine prices posted online. If you want a known price, the $9 happy hour Bonanza Cabernet by Caymus is the one posted figure, and if you want to step away from Cabernet, try the Il Bruciato Super Tuscan by the glass. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Scottsdale · Scottsdale · American, Steakhouse
A very large list with a long glass section, from a $14 Muscadet to a $90 pour of Krug. Start with the $14/glass Mélon de Bourgogne, then look at the Arizona Selections page if you want an Arizona bottle, and confirm prices because the PDF says they are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Van Ness / Polk · San Francisco · American, Steakhouse
A serious steakhouse list with a glass program you can actually use: 32 pours by the stem from 14 to 99 and California Cabernet across eight pages. Start with the Keenan Cabernet at 22 by the stem, or step up to the Jordan Alexander Valley at 129 with the Porterhouse, and ask which vintages are current since the list is subject to vintage change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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