Hill Country Views, Serious Cellar to Match
Austin · Steak house · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 9, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Steiner Ranch Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Steiner Ranch Steakhouse arrives with the same confidence as the Hill Country sunset visible from your table — big, deliberate, and clearly meant to impress. At 350-500 bottles deep with a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence already on the wall, this is not a list assembled by accident. California and France anchor everything, which makes complete sense for a steakhouse at this level.
The California Cabernet bench reads like a greatest-hits album — Caymus, Silver Oak Alexander Valley, Stag's Leap, Chateau Montelena, Jordan, Opus One — and for once, that's not a criticism. These are the right bottles for the right room. France gets serious representation too, with Chateau Margaux and Louis Jadot Burgundy selections showing that whoever built this list wasn't just defaulting to Napa. The gaps show up in the middle ground: adventurous drinkers hunting for Rhône value or anything natural are going to feel underserved. But within its lane — classic, prestige-driven, steak-forward — this list is well-executed and earns its accolades.
Twenty to thirty-five options by the glass is genuinely generous for a steakhouse, and the Wednesday half-price wine night means you can explore the list without committing to a full bottle at full freight. We'd want to know more about rotation frequency — a static glass program at a place with this many bottles would be a missed opportunity. For now, it's one of the better reasons to come on a midweek date night.
Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 — $198
At a steakhouse where Opus One runs $595 and Chateau Margaux tops $1,250, Silver Oak Alexander Valley at $198 is the move. It's a recognizable, crowd-pleasing Cab that actually delivers on the promise — rich, structured, built for red meat — and doesn't require a second mortgage to order.
Louis Jadot Burgundy
In a room full of Napa Cab zealots, the Louis Jadot Burgundy selections tend to get overlooked. That's your opportunity. Burgundy and a quality filet is a combination most steakhouse crowds aren't chasing, which means you're not competing for the last bottle and you might just have the best glass at the table.
Château Margaux 2015
At $1,250 a bottle, the Margaux is a flex, not a value play. Retail on the 2015 vintage runs steep on its own, and restaurant markup on trophy wines like this is rarely kind. Unless someone else is signing the check, this is a bottle that deserves a more contemplative setting than a loud steakhouse on a Saturday night.
Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon + Bone-in ribeye
Montelena's Cab has the structure and dark-fruit weight to stand up to the fat and char on a bone-in ribeye without bullying the meat. It's the kind of pairing that feels inevitable about halfway through the glass — classic California meets classic steakhouse, no surprises, no complaints.
Wednesday — Half-price wine night every Wednesday — the best reason to skip the weekend crowd and explore the list without the full-price sting.
The Bottom Line
Steiner Ranch Steakhouse is a legitimate destination wine list dressed in ranch clothes — the California and French selections are deep and well-chosen, and Wednesday half-price nights make it accessible. Markups are steep across the board, but the overall program earns its Best of Award of Excellence and then some.
· Austin · Steakhouse
Perry's is a competent steakhouse wine program that won't embarrass you, but it won't thrill you either. The by-the-glass breadth is the real story here — 37 options gives you room to explore without committing to a bottle. Just don't come expecting adventurous picks or fair markups across the board; come expecting a list that gets the job done for a celebratory dinner without too much fuss.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Austin · Seafood Steakhouse
Truluck's Austin runs a by-the-glass program that genuinely outperforms what most standalone seafood houses manage, with producers like Markus Molitor and Drouhin-Vaudon sitting next to the expected California lineup. Pricing is fair without being flashy. If you're eating seafood and want to drink well without committing to a bottle, this list has you covered — just work through the whites and bubbles and don't let the Napa trophy bottles at the top drain your wallet.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Austin · Upscale American Seafood and Steakhouse
Eddie V's is a reliable wine destination in the sense that a well-pressed suit is reliable — it won't let you down, but it won't make anyone's year-end list either. If you're on a date, celebrating something, or just need a wine program that won't embarrass you in front of a client, this is a safe and comfortable call. Just don't expect to find anything that makes you pull out your phone to take a note.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Austin · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Austin is not a destination wine list, but it's a legitimately fair one — South American focus, honest prices, and a couple of genuine steals hiding in plain sight. If you're here for the espeto corrido experience, grab a VIK blend at $30 and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Austin · Steakhouse
ALC Steaks plays it safe and plays it competently — this is a wine list that serves the room without challenging it. If you know what you're looking for, there are smart picks buried in here; if you don't, you'll still drink fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Austin · Austin · American, Italian
Sammie's is a genuinely fun room with a wine list that's earned its Wine Spectator hardware — the Italian depth is real, the sommelier knows her stuff, and Monday half-price bottles might be the best deal in Austin. Just go in knowing the markups lean steep, and let Jenny point you toward the plays that aren't on the tourist track.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Houston · Houston · Steak house
A Cabernet-first list with a long Napa Cabernet section, two flights and two Texas bottles. Start with the $18 Duckhorn Decoy Cabernet by the glass or the $48 Silver Palm bottle, and ask about the $60 Becker Vineyards Cabernet from Texas. The restaurant's online list shows no date, so confirm prices before you order. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Miami · Miami · Steak house
Hereford Grill's list ranges from Napa Cabernet to Argentine Malbec and Vega Sicilia, but it posts no prices. Order the Adentus Malbec blend with the boneless ribeye and ask your server for the price. Confirm current availability, since the PDF file name carries 12.10.2025. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Capitol Square · Madison · Steak house
Rare is a reliable wine destination for Napa devotees visiting Madison — the list is familiar by design, the WS Award of Excellence is well-earned, and the setting delivers. Just don't come here looking for natural wine or anything that strays from the California playbook.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
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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