Corporate Chains and Wine Don't Mix Well
Naples · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 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
· Billings · Steakhouse
Jake's is doing exactly what a Billings steakhouse is supposed to do with wine — safe choices, name brands, and a Champagne section that lets people feel fancy. If you want adventure, you're in the wrong place; if you want a reliable glass of something Californian to go with your ribeye, you'll leave satisfied.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Rochester · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Rochester is a reliable if uninspired choice for wine with your steak — the Trimbach and Belle Glos are worth seeking out, but the pricing is corporate-tier steep and the list doesn't reward curiosity. Order the wine you know, enjoy the steak, and don't expect any surprises.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Boca Raton · Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Boca Raton is a dependable choice if you want a proper glass of Napa Cab with your dry-aged ribeye and aren't going to sweat the markup. Just don't come here expecting discovery — this list is built for comfort, not adventure.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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