The Alston
Champagne Bar Meets Serious Wine Cellar
River North ยท Chicago ยท French Steakhouse ยท Visit Website โ
Reviewed March 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list here is a 300-400 bottle statement piece โ a clear signal that The Alston takes wine as seriously as its dry-aged steaks. There's a dedicated Champagne bar, a sommelier team that actually knows their stuff, and the kind of cellar depth that makes you want to skip the cocktail menu entirely.
Selection Deep Dive
This is classic French steakhouse wine territory done right: serious Bordeaux holdings, real Burgundy depth, and a California Cabernet section that goes beyond the usual Napa suspects. The Italian selection shows thoughtfulness too, with enough Barolo and Super Tuscans to keep things interesting. We're seeing vintage Champagnes on offer, not just the house pour nonsense, and the overall range suggests someone actually curates this list rather than letting a distributor auto-fill it. The only gap? Not much adventure here โ this is Old World blue chips and New World power players, nothing funky or natural.
By the Glass
With 25-35 options by the glass, you've got real choices beyond the basic Chardonnay-Cab-Pinot trifecta. The glass program rotates seasonally, which means they're not pouring the same oxidized Sancerre for six months straight. Expect classic varietals served in proper stems โ this isn't a stemless situation.
Entry-level Napa Cabernet โ $60-80
At the low end of their bottle range, you're getting steakhouse-appropriate California Cab without the triple-digit markup spiral
Classic Bordeaux from overlooked vintages
With this much Bordeaux depth, there are likely older vintage bottles from solid but underrated years hiding at fair prices while everyone chases the trophy vintages
Top-tier Napa Cabernet
Steakhouse markup on cult Cabs is brutal โ you're paying 4x retail for a name you could buy at a wine shop and drink at home
Vintage Champagne + Hand Cut Steak Tartare
The acidity and minerality of aged Champagne cuts through the richness of raw beef and egg yolk like a knife, while the luxury factor matches the elegance of the dish
๐ฅ The Bottom Line
The Alston delivers serious wine program firepower in a city that doesn't lack for upscale steakhouses. The markup stings on the high end, but the depth, proper service, and glass selection earn the badge.
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