Horse Country Hides a Serious Wine Program
Ocala · Ocala · American
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You don't expect to find a 350-500 bottle list anchored by Gaja and Opus One at a steakhouse attached to a horse arena in central Florida, and yet here we are. The Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence since 2023 isn't honorary — this list has real bones. Sit down, order something good, and let the Grand Arena view do the rest.
The list leans hard into California and France, which is exactly what a prime steakhouse crowd wants, but Stirrups executes it at a higher level than most. You've got Stag's Leap, Jordan, Silver Oak, and Caymus covering the Napa Cab bases, while the Burgundy section pulls in Louis Jadot and Joseph Drouhin's Chambolle-Musigny for anyone who wants to go old-world. Italy shows up meaningfully with Gaja Barbaresco and Antinori Tignanello — not just token bottles tossed in to say they tried. The gaps are real: no serious Rhône presence, light on Spain, and the Southern Hemisphere is largely absent — but for the restaurant's identity as an upscale American steakhouse, the focus feels intentional rather than lazy.
With 20-35 pours available at $12-$20, the by-the-glass program is one of the strongest in Ocala — which, granted, isn't a high bar, but the range here would hold up anywhere. You can actually work through different styles rather than defaulting to whatever Cabernet they pre-opened. We'd like to see more rotation, but what's on offer is well-selected.
Jordan Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $45
Jordan is one of those bottles that still delivers genuine Alexander Valley Cab character without the Napa markup. If it's sitting at the lower end of the list's price range, it's the move for a table ordering steaks without wanting to spend three figures.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir
Everyone at the table is ordering Cabernet, and that's fine — but Domaine Drouhin's Oregon Pinot brings a Burgundian sensibility at a friendlier price point than the actual Burgundies on this list. It's the quiet overachiever that most people skip on a steakhouse menu, and that's their loss.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is everywhere, and the markup at a destination steakhouse is going to reflect that. It's not a bad wine, but you're paying a premium for a label that gets ordered on autopilot. There are better Cabs on this list for the money.
Antinori Tignanello + Prime Steaks and Chops
Tignanello's Sangiovese-Cabernet blend has the structure to stand up to a serious prime cut while the acidity keeps things moving through rich, fatty bites. It's also the kind of bottle that makes a steakhouse dinner feel like an event rather than just a meal.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Stirrups earns its Wine Spectator hardware — a legitimately deep list in a genuinely unexpected location, built for the serious wine drinker who also happens to be watching show jumping. The markups sting, but the selection justifies the trip.
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
Southwest / Time Corners · Fort Wayne · American
Catablu is exactly what it needs to be for its neighborhood — a reliable, thoughtfully maintained list that won't embarrass you on a date night or bore you entirely. It's not a destination wine list, but it's a solid supporting act for a kitchen that clearly takes food seriously.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Otay Ranch Town Center · Chula Vista · American
BJ's is a fine place to drink a craft beer and eat a Pizookie. It is not a place to drink wine. Order a Brewhouse Blonde, skip the wine list entirely, and save your wine night for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SanTan Village · Gilbert · American
The Cheesecake Factory is a perfectly fine place to eat — the wine list just isn't a reason to go. Order a cocktail, split a bottle of Santa Margherita if you must, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that earned it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.