A Solid Steakhouse List That Plays It Safe
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Fine Dining Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed March 31, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Spencer's for Steaks and Chops’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Spencer's — tucked inside the Hilton Salt Lake City Center — you get the full steakhouse treatment: dark wood, white tablecloths, and a wine list thick enough to use as a doorstop. At 300-500 selections, this is one of the more serious wine programs in Salt Lake City, and it knows it. The American-heavy focus makes sense for the room, even if it limits the adventure.
The list leans hard into Napa and Sonoma, which is exactly what the prime ribeye crowd wants, and Spencer's delivers that reliably. You'll find names like Grgich Hills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Far Niente Chardonnay anchoring the California side, with some welcome detours into German Riesling via producers like Forge Cellars and Bex. France and New Zealand make appearances, but don't expect a deep Old World rabbit hole — this list is built for people who know what they like, not for people hunting obscure producers. The gaps are real: no meaningful Italian presence, thin on Rhône, and the Southern Hemisphere beyond New Zealand is largely absent.
The by-the-glass program runs 20-35 options, which is genuinely generous for a steakhouse of this size and gives casual diners real flexibility without committing to a bottle. Quality skews toward the recognizable rather than the interesting — you're more likely to find a crowd-pleasing California Chardonnay than anything that'll make you stop mid-sip. Rotation appears limited, so don't expect seasonal surprises.
Forge Cellars Dry Riesling Classique — Not publicly listed
Forge Cellars is one of the Finger Lakes' most serious producers, and their Classique Riesling punches well above its price point anywhere it shows up. In a list this Napa-heavy, it's an underpriced alternative that actually cuts through a rich steakhouse meal better than most of the Chardonnays on the list.
Forge Cellars Dry Riesling Classique
Most tables at Spencer's are ordering Cabernet or Chardonnay without a second thought — which means this Finger Lakes Riesling sits quietly overlooked. It's dry, precise, and has the acidity to handle anything from crab cakes to a butter-basted filet. The kind of wine that makes a sommelier quietly excited when you order it.
Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon
At $81 on the list against a $20 retail price, this is a 305% markup on a mass-market bottle that has no business being priced anywhere near $80. Bonanza is a fine Tuesday-night-at-home Cab — it is not a special occasion pour, and you're paying fine dining prices for a grocery store wine.
Grgich Hills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon + Prime dry-aged ribeye
Grgich Hills makes structured, age-worthy Napa Cab with enough tannin and dark fruit to stand up to the fat and char on a dry-aged ribeye. It's the classic call for a reason — and at a place like Spencer's, leaning into the California-steakhouse tradition actually makes sense.
The Bottom Line
Spencer's is the most reliable wine program in its lane in Salt Lake City — a serious steakhouse list with real depth, knowledgeable staff, and proper glassware. Just watch the markup, skip the Bonanza, and let the sommelier talk you into that Riesling.
Unknown · Salt Lake City · Contemporary American
A bottle-only list that runs from $57 to $1,988, with no by-the-glass section posted. Start with the 2020 CVNE Crianza at $57/bottle or the 2013 López de Heredia at $145/bottle, and confirm today's list because it carries no print date. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Central City · Salt Lake City · Greek
A short, Greek-focused list (with one bottle from Cyprus) that is easy to scan from light to full. Start with the Skouras Moschofilero or the St. George Agiorgitiko at $15 a glass, then ask about the rotating glass; if you bring your own bottle, the list posts a $15 corkage fee that is waived when you buy a bottle in house. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Japanese and Sushi
A small wine list tucked behind a bigger sake list: 14 wines, most posted at $12 to $16 for the first number, with Veuve Clicquot at $130 on top. Start with the Simonet Blanc de Blancs or the Redhawk Riesling alongside nigiri, and ask which of the two numbers is the glass price. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Main Street Historic District · Salt Lake City · Contemporary American
A California-leaning list with glass pours from $17 to $55 and bottles that run from $60 to a $900 Opus One. Start with the $60 André Brunel Côtes du Rhône white, or go for the $185 Dutton-Goldfield Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir, and confirm prices because the restaurant says vintages, pricing and availability change. This unrated guide covers the posted drink list, not service, storage or markups.
The Avenues · Salt Lake City · New American and Italian-influenced wine bar and bistro
A long list organized by style and region, with two-number prices running from 8 | 40 to 19 | 97 and a $17 flight of any three by-the-glass wines on Sunday through Thursday. Start with the 8 | 40 Aichenberg Grüner Veltliner or the 11 | 53 Giraudon Aligoté, and ask which number is the glass price before you order. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Italian
A bin-numbered list with Italian reds up front and a 20-pour glass page behind it, judged only on what is posted. Start with the $15 Cascina Vèngore Arneis by the glass, or the $58 Simčič Pinot Grigio if you want a bottle, and confirm prices because the wine menu is linked as 9-16-26. This unrated guide covers the posted wine menu, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Manchester · Fine Dining Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Manchester is a reliable destination for wine at a steakhouse: professional service, a sommelier who won't embarrass you, and a 350-label list that covers every base — just none of them adventurously. Send your out-of-town clients here without hesitation; send your wine-curious friend somewhere with more personality.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Hamilton Place · Chattanooga · Fine Dining Steakhouse
If you're here for the steak and want a California Cab to go with it, The Capital Grille won't let you down — but it won't surprise you either. Catch the Generous Pour event and you've got a genuinely solid evening; skip it, and this is just another chain wine list priced for expense accounts.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
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Staff
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