Big Steakhouse Energy, Safe But Solid
Unknown · Atlanta · American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 29, 2026
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.
· Atlanta · American / Cajun
Lagarde isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list reflects that honestly — fair prices, familiar pours, and just enough interesting picks (Nebbiolo, Riesling, Albariño) to reward a curious diner. Come for the Cajun food, let the wine support the meal rather than headline it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Wine shop / bottle shop
Elemental Spirits Co. is doing something genuinely rare in Atlanta: a small-format bottle shop with actual conviction behind every label. If you care about drinking something interesting — Jura oddities, Columbia Gorge naturals, old-world Loire — this shelf is worth the trip.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Southern
The Southern Gentleman isn't here to win wine awards, and it doesn't pretend to be. But fair prices, a full glass pour program, and a couple of genuinely smart picks buried in a short list make it more than serviceable — come for the food, order a glass, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Winery Restaurant / American
City Winery Atlanta is a genuine wildcard: a one-producer list shouldn't work this well, but between the Finger Lakes whites, the Rhône-inspired reds, and the live music backdrop, it earns its place on your rotation. Go in curious, not skeptical.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Decatur · Atlanta · Bakery / Café
B-Side at the Bakery is the best argument we've seen for what a café wine list can be when someone actually cares. If you're in Decatur, this is a mandatory stop — come for the coffee, stay for the Morgon.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Unknown · Atlanta · Bottle Shop / Market
Savi Provisions is a Wild Card because nobody expects to find Quilceda Creek and Joseph Phelps Insignia next to the olive bar — but the narrow focus and market-tier markups mean this is really a stop for collectors on a grocery run, not a destination for curious drinkers. Worth a browse; approach the register with caution.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Murfreesboro · Murfreesboro · American Steakhouse
The Chop House Murfreesboro does exactly what it's designed to do: give you a decent glass of California red with your steak at a familiar price point. If you're looking for a wine revelation, you're in the wrong place — but if you just want a solid night out with a reliable pour, it delivers.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Oyster Point / Jefferson Avenue · Newport News · American Steakhouse
LongHorn Newport News isn't a wine destination — it's a steakhouse where wine is an afterthought, priced to extract margin rather than reward curiosity. Order the ribeye, pick the least-bad bottle, and don't expect anyone at the table to talk about what's in the glass.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hanes Mall / Strickland Rd · Winston Salem · American Steakhouse
Firebirds isn't trying to reinvent anything, and the wine list reflects that — it's a dependable, California-forward selection that does its job without embarrassing itself. If you want adventure, look elsewhere; if you want a solid bottle with a good steak in a comfortable room, this gets you there.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.