Napa-Heavy Clubhouse Playing the Steakhouse Classics
Larimer Square · Denver · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 14, 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 Capital Grille's wine list reads exactly like you'd expect from a national steakhouse chain: 350+ bottles dominated by Napa Cabs, safe Bordeaux, and Italian crowd-pleasers. It's a corporate playbook executed competently—deep enough to impress expense account diners, predictable enough that nothing scares the steak-and-potatoes crowd.
The focus is squarely on Napa Valley, with usual suspects like Caymus, Jordan, and Stag's Leap anchoring the California section. Bordeaux gets representation but skews toward recognizable châteaux rather than interesting producers. Italy shows up with the requisite Super Tuscans and Barolos. What's missing: natural wines, smaller producers, anything adventurous. This is a list built for clients who expense their dinner, not wine nerds looking for discovery. The 350-500 bottle count sounds impressive until you realize it's depth through duplication, not diversity.
Twenty-five to thirty-five pours by the glass is respectable for a steakhouse, and they rotate through a serviceable mix of regions. Expect the usual suspects—California Chardonnay, Oregon Pinot, Napa Cab—poured into standard stemware. Nothing here will blow your mind, but nothing will embarrass you either. The glass program exists to give tables safe options without committing to a full bottle.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $75-85
Still overpriced for what it is, but Jordan delivers consistent quality and the markup here is slightly less brutal than on flashier labels
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet
Often overlooked for their pricier S.L.V. and Fay bottlings, but Artemis offers solid Napa Cab character without the trophy-bottle markup
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
The steakhouse darling gets marked up 3-4x retail here and delivers the same sweet, oak-bombed profile you can find at Total Wine for half the price
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon + Dry Aged New York Strip
Jordan's balanced tannins and restrained fruit won't fight the beef's funky dry-aged character—a rare case where the corporate pick actually makes sense
The Bottom Line
This is steakhouse wine done by the book: deep list, safe picks, steep markups, proper storage. You won't discover anything new, but you won't get embarrassed either. It's the wine equivalent of ordering the filet—reliable, expensive, and exactly what you expected.
· Denver · Steakhouse
STK Denver is a place where wine exists to support a vibe, not to excite a drinker. If you're here for the scene and the steak, grab a glass of Bonanza at happy hour and call it a night — but don't come expecting the wine list to be part of the experience.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
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
Cherry Creek · Denver · American, Seafood
Salt Water Social plays it safe with wine but plays it well — California classics at fair prices, with a Wednesday half-price night that makes it a genuine weekly option. No one's discovering anything new here, but you won't be disappointed either.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Denver · Denver · Regional Steakhouse
Urban Farmer is a solid, no-drama wine stop for anyone who loves California Cab and wants a proper glass with a well-cooked steak. It won't surprise you, but it won't disappoint you either — and in Denver's steakhouse scene, that's worth something.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
LoDo · Denver · Mediterranean, Spanish
Rioja earned its Wine Spectator nod, and then some — a Spanish wine list this focused and this well-stocked is rare anywhere, let alone Denver. If Spain is your thing, or you want it to become your thing, this is the room.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Denver · Denver · Italian
Restaurant Olivia is the kind of neighborhood Italian spot that quietly holds a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and earns it without making a fuss about it. Send your friends who think Denver can't do wine right — this list will change the conversation.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Plano · Steakhouse
Steve Fields clearly puts its energy into the kitchen, not the cellar — and at these price points, that imbalance is hard to ignore. Order the Evesham Wood if it's still there, and otherwise come for the steak, not the wine list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Steakhouse
Greystone is a reliable, if predictable, steakhouse wine list — the kind where you can always find something decent but you'll rarely be surprised. Skip the Opus splurge, order the Paradigm, and you'll walk out satisfied.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Steakhouse
Morton's San Diego is spending more energy on the wedge salad than the wine list, and it shows. Come for the steak, order carefully, and don't expect much beyond the obvious.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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