The Bull Ring
California classics meet Santa Fe prime cuts
Santa Fe · Santa Fe · Steak House · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 18, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The Bull Ring has been a Santa Fe institution for decades, and the wine list feels exactly like that — dependable, Californian, and not trying to surprise anyone. You open it and immediately know where you are: Napa, Sonoma, repeat. It earns its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, though not by taking risks.
Selection Deep Dive
The list runs 150-250 bottles and leans hard into California Cabernet, which makes sense when you're serving prime cuts in a room that smells like wood smoke and leather. Caymus, Jordan, Silver Oak Alexander Valley, Stag's Leap, and Opus One cover the big-name bases, with Far Niente holding down the Chardonnay side. Don't come looking for Burgundy, Rhône exploration, or anything with a screw cap — this list was built to sell beef. The gaps are real, but within its lane, the selection is coherent and well-executed.
By the Glass
The by-the-glass program runs 12-20 options in the $12-$18 range, which is reasonable for Santa Fe's upscale dining scene. The selection mirrors the bottle list — California-dominant and steak-friendly. There's no evidence of regular rotation, so what you see is likely what you've always gotten.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $40+
Jordan punches above its price point relative to the trophy names on this list. It's a structured, food-friendly Cab that holds its own next to a ribeye without requiring you to commit to a three-digit bottle.
Duckhorn Merlot
Everyone at The Bull Ring is chasing Cabernet, and the Duckhorn Merlot quietly sits there being excellent. Napa Merlot at this level is seriously underrated — richer and more complex than most people expect, and it typically comes in under the Cab heavyweights in price.
Opus One
It's a great wine. It's also the most marked-up bottle on any steakhouse list in America. You're paying a significant premium for the name recognition here — the same money spent on multiple bottles of Jordan or Far Niente gets you further in both volume and conversation.
Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon + Crab Cakes
Silver Oak's Alexander Valley Cab is softer and more approachable than its Napa counterpart — enough fruit to complement the sweetness of crab without steamrolling it. It's a counterintuitive move that actually works, and it gives you something to talk about at the table.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Bull Ring is a reliable Santa Fe steakhouse with a California wine list that does exactly what it's supposed to — keep the Cab flowing and the beef happy. It's not adventurous, but it's honest, and for a classic chophouse night out, that's enough.
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