Big list, big markups, big steaks
Downtown Hartford · Hartford · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 3, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Capital Grille Hartford’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list arrives looking like a small novel, and that's before you get to the Champagne section. This is a corporate steakhouse program done with genuine effort — 350-plus labels, a sommelier on the floor, and enough Napa Cab to keep every power lunch table happy for the next decade. The bones are real; the prices are going to sting.
California dominates, as expected, with Napa and Sonoma Cabs anchoring the red side — Jordan, Silver Oak, Duckhorn, Far Niente, all the familiar names are here and accounted for. France shows up with legitimate Bordeaux and Burgundy representation plus proper Champagne options in Veuve Clicquot and Moët & Chandon. Italy and Spain get enough shelf space to feel intentional rather than obligatory, with Tuscan Super Tuscans and Rioja sitting alongside Piedmont. The gaps are on the adventurous side — no natural wine, no orange wine, nothing from the Southern Hemisphere beyond some Australian Shiraz and Argentine Malbec — but that's not who this list is trying to impress.
Roughly 20-25 pours by the glass, ranging from around $12 up to $30, which tracks with the chain's national program. The selection skews heavily toward California crowd-pleasers, and you're not going to find anything weird or exciting in the glass lineup. It's a safe, functional program — the kind where you know exactly what you're getting and pay accordingly.
Far Niente Chardonnay Napa Valley 2020 — $135
At 80% over retail, this is the least punishing markup on the list and it's genuinely excellent Napa Chardonnay — rich, well-made, and worth the premium in a way that some of its neighbors here are not.
The Capital Grille Private-Label Cabernet Sauvignon
House-label wines at chain restaurants get dismissed, but Capital Grille's private-label Cab is sourced to spec and priced below the famous names on the same list — it's the move if you want serious Cabernet without paying the Silver Oak tax.
Meiomi Pinot Noir California NV
At $55 a bottle for something retailing around $20, this is a 175% markup on a mass-market, non-vintage Pinot that you can grab at any grocery store. There is no version of this that makes sense when better options are sitting right next to it on the list.
Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 2018 + Bone-in ribeye
Silver Oak's Alexander Valley Cab has the fruit weight and structure to go toe-to-toe with a dry-aged bone-in ribeye without either one bullying the other — classic pairing, executed at a place built to deliver exactly this moment.
The Bottom Line
The Capital Grille Hartford is exactly what it promises to be: a polished, Napa-forward steakhouse list with real depth, proper service, and markups that will make you wince if you check your phone at the table. Come for the steak and the Silver Oak, just don't look up the retail price until you're home.
· Hartford · Italian
Geppetto is the kind of place where the wine list actually reflects the kitchen's point of view — Italy, seriously, without apology. It's not a destination wine program, but it's a trustworthy one, and in Torrington, that earns real points.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Hartford Center · Hartford · Upscale American Seafood and Raw Bar
Max's Oyster Bar is exactly the kind of reliable wine program a seafood-focused restaurant should have — thoughtfully built around what's on the plate, staffed by people who can guide you through it. The markup keeps it from being exceptional, but if you stick to the Old World whites, you'll drink very well.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
West Hartford · Hartford · American Tavern
Tavern in the Square West Hartford is a perfectly decent place to watch a game and eat a burger, but the wine list is purely functional — familiar brands, steep markups, and zero curation. Stick to draft beer or a cocktail unless a glass of Prosecco is all you need.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Hartford · Hartford · New American / Seafood
Max's Trumbull Kitchen is a reliable wine stop elevated by a genuinely smart focus on seafood-friendly whites — just don't pay full price when you can come back on Thursday and get the whole list at half off. That changes the math considerably.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
West Hartford Center · Hartford · American / Burgers / Gastropub
Max Burger isn't a wine destination — it's a burger destination that happens to take wine seriously enough to price it fairly and run half-off Thursdays. If you're eating here anyway, you're in better shape than you think.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Blue Back Square / West Hartford · Hartford · Spanish Tapas
Boqueria West Hartford won't surprise wine geeks, but it delivers a coherent, fairly priced Spanish list that genuinely serves the food. If you're eating tapas and drinking well, this is a solid neighborhood call.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Franklin · Steakhouse
Char is a genuinely enjoyable steakhouse with a wine list that does the job without doing much more. The room earns its keep; the wine program is still a passenger rather than a co-pilot. If you're coming here for the Prime beef and the atmosphere, you'll eat well — just don't expect the list to take you anywhere the food isn't already going. Worth a visit, but bring your own expectations in check at the wine menu.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Steakhouse
The Grove Steakhouse is a solid pick if you're in a celebratory mood and want serious Champagne options with your cut of beef — the sparkling program alone is worth a look. The rest of the list doesn't take many risks, and the markups on recognizable labels are exactly what you'd expect from a steakhouse at a casino property. Go in with eyes open, steer toward the value picks, and you'll have a good night.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Fresno · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Fresno is a reliable landing pad if someone else is picking the restaurant and wine takes a back seat to a great center-cut filet. The wine program isn't adventurous and markups at this tier tend to sting, but the service is polished and the experience is consistent. If wine is the reason you're going out, look elsewhere — but if it's the steak and wine is just along for the ride, you'll be fine.
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.
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