Racetrack Views, Serious Cabernet Energy
Hot Springs · American, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 10, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Bugler’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
Opening the wine list at The Bugler, you get the message fast: this place is here for Cab drinkers with expense accounts and a view of the racetrack. The list is polished, familiar, and built for people who know what they want — which is usually something Californian and red.
The France and California focus is tight and deliberate, anchored by heavy-hitters like Chateau Margaux, Silver Oak Alexander Valley, Stag's Leap, and Jordan — the kind of lineup that plays every Steakhouse Greatest Hits without many surprises. Louis Jadot covers the Burgundy flank on the French side, and Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling does lone duty as the token Pacific Northwest gesture. The list runs 80 to 120 bottles, which is respectable for Hot Springs, but adventurous drinkers looking for Rhône, anything Italian, or a natural wine will hit a wall fast. Wine Spectator handed this place an Award of Excellence in 2025 — and the France and California muscle earns it, even if the range doesn't push many boundaries.
Ten to sixteen pours by the glass gives you enough to work with, and the program seems built around the same California-forward producers that anchor the bottle list. Don't expect rotating selections or anything off the beaten path — this is a set-it-and-forget-it glass program that prioritizes consistency over discovery.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $35
At the bottom of the price range in a room full of big Cabs, this Riesling is the quiet overachiever. It's a well-made, widely respected bottle from one of Washington's best producers, and it's the smartest play if you're ordering the Chilean Sea Bass.
Louis Jadot Burgundy
Everyone at the next table is ordering Caymus, which means the Jadot is sitting there getting overlooked. For a steakhouse crowd conditioned to California fruit bombs, a proper Burgundy from a reliable Beaune négociant is a genuine left-field move — and it almost certainly drinks better with the menu than people expect.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is fine wine. It's also the most marked-up bottle on every steakhouse list in America, and The Bugler is no exception. You're paying for the name recognition here, not hidden value — and for the same money or less, the Jordan or Stag's Leap gives you a smarter story.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Steaks
Stag's Leap built its reputation on Napa Cab that's structured but never brutish — exactly what you want next to a properly seared steak. It has the tannin to cut through fat and the fruit to make you feel like the evening is going well.
The Bottom Line
The Bugler is a reliable steakhouse wine list that knows its audience and serves them well — just don't show up expecting to be surprised. If you're in Hot Springs and want a serious bottle of Cab with a racetrack view, this is your spot.
Central Avenue / South Hot Springs · Hot Springs · Sports Bar Chain
Buffalo Wild Wings Hot Springs is a place to drink beer and watch sports — the wine list exists to technically have one, not to be used. Order a beer, order a cocktail, or bring your own if they allow corkage, but don't let the wine list be the reason you're here.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Central Avenue / Commercial Strip · Hot Springs · Mexican / Tex-Mex
This is a margarita restaurant with a wine list that exists only so no one has to say there isn't one. Come for the fajitas and the frozen drinks — the wine is strictly last resort.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Highway 7 North / Outskirts · Hot Springs · Southern Country Restaurant
We wouldn't send anyone to Cracker Barrel for wine, and neither should you — the food is the point, the wine is a footnote. If you need a glass with dinner, grab the Gambino sparkling and move on with your life.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Central Avenue / South Hot Springs · Hot Springs · Casual American
The wine list at Cheddar's Hot Springs exists because a restaurant has to have one, not because anyone gave it a second thought. Order a cocktail, enjoy the scratch kitchen, and save the wine conversation for somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Central Avenue / South Hot Springs · Hot Springs · Italian Chain
Olive Garden's wine list is the automotive equivalent of a rental car: it gets you where you're going, nobody's excited about it, and you return it without a second thought. Come for the breadsticks, drink the Chianti, and keep your expectations appropriately parked.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Central Avenue / South Hot Springs · Hot Springs · Seafood Chain
Red Lobster's wine program is exactly what it is — a chain afterthought with recognizable labels and pricing that won't actively insult you. Come for the biscuits, drink the Kim Crawford with your shrimp, and don't expect anything more.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
National Park Corridor / Parkway · Gatlinburg · American, Steakhouse
The Park Grill is a reliable dinner stop if you're winding down after a day in the Smokies and want a solid glass of California wine with your steak — just don't expect the list to reward curiosity or spare your wallet. Send your friends here for the food and the vibe; tell them to drink the Sonoma-Cutrer and not overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Stowe Village · Stowe · American, Steakhouse
Harrison's is the kind of reliable neighborhood anchor that Stowe regulars and ski-weekend visitors can count on — the wine list won't blow your mind, but it won't let you down either. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink fine; just don't send them expecting a deep dive.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Denver · Denver · American, Steakhouse
Range is a confident, well-kept steakhouse list that won't surprise you but absolutely won't let you down — especially if California Cabs are your language. Just come in with your eyes open on pricing, and let Dan steer you toward the Jordan.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
