Six Thousand Bottles Deep in Horse Country
World Equestrian Center · Ocala · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 14, 2026
Wingman Metrics
A 29-page wine list lands on the table and for a moment you forget you're in Ocala, Florida. Six thousand bottles, a dedicated sommelier, and a cellar that has earned Stirrups recognition among the world's best restaurant wine programs — this is not a resort afterthought. It's the real deal, and it hits you immediately.
The list is anchored in Napa Valley and Burgundy, which makes sense for a steakhouse clientele that knows what they want and is willing to pay for it. Heavy hitters like Opus One, Stag's Leap Cask 23, Chateau Margaux, and Caymus show up alongside more food-friendly picks like Jordan Cabernet and Duckhorn Merlot, giving the list both trophy appeal and practical depth. Far Niente Chardonnay is a smart white anchor — it earns its place next to a lobster bisque. If there's a gap, it's that the list skews heavily toward the familiar power players; adventurous drinkers hunting for grower Champagne or left-field Italian producers may come up short.
An estimated 20 to 40 by-the-glass options at $16 to $30 per pour is a strong program for a resort steakhouse — enough range to work through a meal without committing to a bottle. The sommelier on staff means the glass pours aren't just whatever the distributor pushed that week. Expect the selection to rotate seasonally, which keeps things interesting if you're a regular.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $60+
Jordan is the quietly confident choice on a list full of showboats. It drinks well above its price point relative to its neighbors here, and it has the structure to stand up to a Prime Ribeye without demanding your full attention or your full wallet.
Duckhorn Merlot
Everyone at this table is ordering Cabernet, which means the Duckhorn Merlot gets overlooked every single night. That's a mistake. It's a serious wine with the weight and plush texture to match wagyu beef, and it won't come with the same sticker shock as the Napa Cab headliners.
Opus One
Opus One is a fine wine that's been on every upscale steakhouse list since 1990, and it will be marked up accordingly here. You're paying for the brand recognition more than anything else — and at a resort property, that premium gets stacked. The money is better spent elsewhere on this list.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cask 23 + Dry-Aged Porterhouse
Cask 23 is built for exactly this moment. The wine's iron-and-black-fruit intensity matches the funky depth of a dry-aged porterhouse, and the structure holds through every bite. This is the pairing that justifies the whole evening.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Stirrups is the rare resort restaurant where the wine program is the actual draw, not just a supporting act. The markups sting, but when you're sitting in front of a 6,000-bottle list with a knowledgeable sommelier at your side, you're getting what you paid for.
SR 200 / Southwest Ocala · Ocala · Thai
Royal Orchid makes solid Thai food, and you should absolutely go — just order a Thai iced tea or a beer and pretend the wine list doesn't exist. If someone at your table insists on wine, point them to the Riesling and move on.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SR 200 / Southwest Ocala · Ocala · Italian
Carrabba's Ocala isn't a wine destination and doesn't pretend to be — but Wine Wednesday (call ahead to confirm it's still running at this location) can turn a steep markup into a reasonable deal. Come for the Chicken Bryan, drink the Riesling, skip the Caymus.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown Ocala · Ocala · Charcuterie and Tapas
The Keep is doing something genuinely different for downtown Ocala — a rotating mead program, thoughtful wine picks, and markups that actually respect the customer. If you're in the area and care about what's in your glass, this is the move.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
South Ocala · Ocala · American Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse is a great place to eat a steak and throw peanut shells on the floor — we respect the chaos. But the wine list is purely functional at best and an afterthought at worst, so come here for the food and the fun, not the Cabernet.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
World Equestrian Center · Ocala · Seafood
Juno & The Peacock shouldn't be this interesting, and that's the whole point — a seafood restaurant inside an Ocala equestrian complex with Chacra Patagonian Chardonnay and Eyrie Pinot Blanc is a genuine surprise. Markups lean steep and the format feels set-it-and-forget-it, but the underlying list has real taste behind it.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
World Equestrian Center · Ocala · American
The Polo Pony is a reliable pour for the horse show crowd — familiar bottles, fair enough execution, and enough range to keep a table happy. We wouldn't drive to Ocala for the wine list, but if you're already at the World Equestrian Center, you'll drink just fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
I-35 / North Creek · Laredo · Steakhouse
Outback Laredo's wine program is a national chain doing national chain things — predictable, overpriced relative to quality, and staffed by people who aren't expected to know anything about what they're pouring. Come for the Bloomin' Onion, stick to a cocktail, and save the wine order for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Creek / I-35 · Laredo · Steakhouse
Logan's Roadhouse is not a wine destination — it's a steakhouse chain where wine clearly wasn't part of the concept. Order a beer, order a cocktail, and save the bottle for a restaurant that's actually trying.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Mall del Norte Area · Laredo · Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse Laredo is a great spot for a $17 steak and a bucket of rolls — the wine list is an afterthought and everyone involved knows it. Order a margarita, or grab the Ste. Michelle Riesling and call it a night.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.