Big Steakhouse Energy, Safe But Solid
Unknown · Atlanta · American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 29, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Capital Grille’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at The Capital Grille reads exactly like you'd expect from a national steakhouse chain — heavy Napa Cabs, a Champagne parade, and enough recognizable labels to make a corporate expense account feel comfortable. It's not adventurous, but it's not sloppy either. This is a list built to impress clients, not wine nerds.
At 27 labels, the list is tight and skews hard toward American red wine royalty — Joseph Phelps, Opus One, Chappellet, Morlet — with some token international representation via Ceretto Barolo, Château L'Évangile Pomerol, and Casa Lapostolle's Clos Apalta from Chile. The Champagne section is genuinely impressive: Krug Grande Cuvée, Cristal 2009, Dom Pérignon 2006, and Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque 2007 all in one place is a flex. What's missing is anything remotely off the beaten path — no Rhône, no Burgundy depth beyond the Château Corton Grancey, no grower Champagne, no skin-contact anything. This list was designed for comfort, not discovery.
The website references a by-the-glass program, but specific pours and pricing aren't available to verify. Based on the overall list profile, expect the usual suspects — probably a Chardonnay, a Pinot Noir, a Cab, and a bubbly option — but we can't name names without the data to back it up. Go in knowing you may need to commit to a bottle to get anything interesting.
Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta Colchagua Valley — Unknown
In a list dominated by Napa ego and inflated French labels, Clos Apalta is the sleeper. It's a genuinely serious Chilean red — Carmenère-led blend from one of the country's top estates — that consistently punches above its price point relative to the Napa heavyweights surrounding it on this list.
Hanzell Vineyards Sonoma Valley Chardonnay
Most people at a steakhouse are scanning for the Opus One or the Dom Pérignon. Hanzell is one of California's oldest and most historically significant wineries, making Chardonnay that's more Burgundian in spirit than 90% of what gets called 'Burgundy-inspired' on American lists. It gets overlooked here and it shouldn't.
Opus One Napa Valley Proprietary Red
Opus One is the ultimate steakhouse showboat bottle — a brand so famous it basically sells itself, which means restaurants mark it up accordingly and without apology. You're paying a premium for the name recognition. The wine is good, but at steakhouse prices you're buying a label, not a revelation.
Ceretto Barolo Piedmont Nebbiolo + Dry-Aged Bone-In Ribeye
Barolo and big beef is a classic for a reason — Nebbiolo's firm tannins and high acidity cut through the fat and amplify the savory depth of a properly dry-aged ribeye. The Ceretto is one of the more approachable Barolo producers, making it a smarter play here than going full Opus One with a 20-oz bone-in.
The Bottom Line
The Capital Grille's wine list is a polished, predictable steakhouse list — it won't surprise you, and the markup will sting, but there are legitimate bottles here if you know where to look. Send a friend here for the Hanzell or the Clos Apalta; steer them away from the trophy wines unless they're on someone else's card.
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Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Rose & Rye isn't a destination for wine nerds, but it's a perfectly functional list for a date night where the wine is supporting the evening, not headlining it. Order the Crémant, avoid the Caymus markup, and you'll do just fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Steakhouse
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Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Grocery Store
Fair
Stemless Casual
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Del Frisco's Grille Fort Worth has a wine list the same way an airport newsstand has a wine section — technically true, practically limiting. Order the Tokaji for dessert, drink cocktails with dinner, and don't expect anyone to help you navigate the difference.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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