Denver's 800-Bottle Beast for Steak & Cult Cabs
DTC · Denver · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 14, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Shanahan's Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You crack open the wine list and immediately know you're in serious territory — over 800 bottles spanning 20+ countries, with names like Sine Qua Non, Krug, and Leflaive casually peppered throughout. This is the kind of cellar that makes wine nerds sweat and casual drinkers reach for the sommelier.
The breadth here is genuinely impressive: California cult Cabs sit alongside white Burgundy royalty (Leflaive), northern Rhône icons (Chave), and grower Champagnes. You'll find serious depth in Napa (Turley, Tusk) and enough international firepower to keep things interesting beyond the usual steakhouse suspects. The focus skews classic and collectible rather than natural or trendy, which fits the white-tablecloth vibe perfectly. A few gaps in more adventurous categories, but when you're sitting on this much firepower, who's counting?
Twenty-five options by the glass is strong for a high-end steakhouse, giving you room to explore without committing to a full bottle. The selection leans traditional — expect solid Cabs, a few Burgundies, maybe a Super Tuscan — but the pour quality matches the room's ambitions. It's not where you'll find orange wine or funky Beaujolais, but that's not what you came here for anyway.
A solid Turley Zinfandel (if available by the bottle) — Market pricing
Turley's jammy powerhouse style plays beautifully with dry-aged beef and won't break the bank compared to the cult Cabs sitting three pages deeper
White Burgundy from Leflaive
Most people default to red with steak, but a rich, mineral-driven Leflaive white cuts through the fat of Wagyu like nobody's business and shows off the cellar's serious chops
Entry-level California Cabs at steakhouse markup
At this level, you're paying luxury pricing — make it count with something you can't easily grab at home
J.L. Chave Hermitage + Dry-aged ribeye
Northern Rhône's smoky, meaty Syrah mirrors the char and umami of a perfectly aged steak — it's a classic pairing executed at the highest level
The Bottom Line
If you've got the budget and want to drink serious bottles with your beef, Shanahan's delivers one of Denver's deepest cellars. The markup stings, but the selection and sommelier team make it worth the splurge for special occasions.
· Denver · Steakhouse
STK Denver is a place where wine exists to support a vibe, not to excite a drinker. If you're here for the scene and the steak, grab a glass of Bonanza at happy hour and call it a night — but don't come expecting the wine list to be part of the experience.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Denver · Denver · American, Steakhouse
Range is a confident, well-kept steakhouse list that won't surprise you but absolutely won't let you down — especially if California Cabs are your language. Just come in with your eyes open on pricing, and let Dan steer you toward the Jordan.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Cherry Creek · Denver · American, Seafood
Salt Water Social plays it safe with wine but plays it well — California classics at fair prices, with a Wednesday half-price night that makes it a genuine weekly option. No one's discovering anything new here, but you won't be disappointed either.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Denver · Denver · Regional Steakhouse
Urban Farmer is a solid, no-drama wine stop for anyone who loves California Cab and wants a proper glass with a well-cooked steak. It won't surprise you, but it won't disappoint you either — and in Denver's steakhouse scene, that's worth something.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
LoDo · Denver · Mediterranean, Spanish
Rioja earned its Wine Spectator nod, and then some — a Spanish wine list this focused and this well-stocked is rare anywhere, let alone Denver. If Spain is your thing, or you want it to become your thing, this is the room.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Denver · Denver · Italian
Restaurant Olivia is the kind of neighborhood Italian spot that quietly holds a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and earns it without making a fuss about it. Send your friends who think Denver can't do wine right — this list will change the conversation.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· 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
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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