Corporate Chains and Wine Don't Mix Well
Naples · Naples · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated March 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · February 24, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Shula's Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Shula's reads like every other chain steakhouse in America: the usual suspects marked up to eye-watering heights. Walking in, you know exactly what you're getting before you even crack the leather-bound list — Caymus, Duckhorn, maybe a token Barolo at triple retail.
The selection sticks hard to the corporate playbook: safe California cabs, predictable Napa names, and a smattering of French and Italian reds that feel obligatory rather than curated. There's no regional exploration, no surprises, just the wines every distributor pushes to every steakhouse chain from coast to coast. The list favors big brands over interesting producers, and the markup structure suggests they're banking on expense accounts rather than wine lovers. You won't find natural wines, orange experiments, or emerging regions here — just the wines your boss ordered in 2005.
The glass program is minimal and predictable: a house cab, a house chardonnay, maybe a Malbec if you're lucky. Pours are generous but the selections rotate about as often as the furniture. Expect standard 6-ounce pours from bottles opened who knows when, served in generic stemware that treats a $15 wine the same as a $30 one.
Château de Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône — $68
Still overpriced, but at least you're getting quality Rhône craftsmanship from a legendary producer rather than California cab at steakhouse markup
Produttori del Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo
If they have it, this co-op delivers proper Piedmont character at a fraction of their Barolo prices — elegant, structured, and actually food-friendly
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
The chain steakhouse cliché at $180+ — you're paying $80 for the bottle and $100 for the name recognition
Ridge Lytton Springs Zinfandel + 48-Ounce Porterhouse for Two
If you're committing to massive dry-aged beef, Ridge brings enough fruit, spice, and structure to stand up without the Napa cab tax
❌ The Bottom Line
Shula's treats wine like another branded product on the menu — safe, corporate, and priced for people who aren't paying. Order a cocktail or bring your own if they allow corkage.
Naples · Naples · American
Warren is a whiskey bar that does wine correctly, which is more than most can say. Eric Gaboury and the Wine Spectator nod give it credibility, and if you stick to the California producers you know or let staff steer you toward the Burgundy shelf, you'll drink well with your steak.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Mercato · Naples · American
Old Vines is exactly what it needs to be for Mercato — a polished, reliable wine list with genuine depth in its California and French lanes, even if the pricing skews toward the Naples wallet and the list doesn't take many risks. Send a friend here if they want something they recognize done well; send a wine nerd elsewhere.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Naples · Naples · American Steakhouse
Shula's is a genuinely impressive California Cab cellar wearing a classic steakhouse suit — the markups sting and the list doesn't wander far from Napa, but if that's your game, this is one of the better places to play it in Southwest Florida. Come on a Wednesday, order the Hillside Select, and stop overthinking it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Occasional
Proper
Marco Island · Naples · Italian
Sale E Pepe is the rare beachside Italian that takes its wine program as seriously as the frescoes on the walls — the Italian cellar depth is real, the WS credential is well-earned, and it's worth the trip even if the markups sting a little. Send your friends here for Barolo and osso buco; they'll thank you.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Vanderbilt Beach · Naples · Gulf Coast Seafood
Baleen delivers exactly what a resort wine list should: no surprises, no risks, just reliable bottles at premium prices. If you're here for the sunset and fresh grouper, the wine program won't get in the way—but it won't elevate the meal either.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Stemless Casual
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Naples · Naples · Upscale Seafood & Steakhouse
Ocean Prime delivers exactly what it promises: a safe, corporate wine experience that won't embarrass your boss but won't surprise anyone either. Come for the scene and the seafood, order a cocktail, and if you must have wine, stick to the recognizable mid-tier bottles and don't look at the markup too closely.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Stemless Casual
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / South Main Street · Canandaigua · Steakhouse
Nick's is a perfectly respectable chophouse wine list for Canandaigua — locals get two solid Finger Lakes Rieslings, steak lovers get their Napa Cabs, and there's enough Italian depth to keep things from being totally predictable. The markups on the trophy bottles are aggressive, but play it smart and you'll drink well.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
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
Route 28/Thruway Corridor · Kingston · Steakhouse
This is a chain wine list doing exactly what chain wine lists do: minimum effort, maximum familiarity, corporate pricing. Order the steak, grab a beer, or spring for the Chateau Ste. Michelle if you need something in a glass.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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