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๐Ÿ”ฅThe Rager

The Alston

Champagne Bar Meets Serious Wine Cellar

River North ยท Chicago ยท French Steakhouse ยท Visit Website โ†—

date-nightdeep-cellarsplurge-worthyby-the-glass-hero

Reviewed March 8, 2026

Wingman Metrics

List VarietyDeep & Eclectic
MarkupSteep
GlasswareVarietal Specific
StaffKnowledgeable & Friendly
Specials & DealsSeasonal Rotation
Storage & TempProper

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.

๐Ÿ’ฐBest Value

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

๐Ÿ’ŽHidden Gem

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

โ›”Skip This

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

๐Ÿฝ๏ธPerfect Pairing

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

๐Ÿ”ฅ 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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