Big List, Big Steaks, Big Markups
Downtown Indianapolis · Indianapolis · American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed March 22, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list lands on the table like it means business — 350+ bottles deep, leather-bound, organized by region. It screams 'expense account dinner' before you've read a single label, which is either exciting or alarming depending on who's paying.
This is a Napa-forward list with genuine depth: Stag's Leap, Jordan, Far Niente, Duckhorn — the greatest hits of California are well-represented and well-sourced. Bordeaux and Burgundy add some old-world credibility, though the selection there feels more curated for name recognition than adventurous exploration. You won't find much outside the prestige zip codes — no natural wines, no interesting domestic outsiders, no southern hemisphere depth. It's a list built for people who already know what they want, not one that's going to teach you anything new.
Thirty to forty pours by the glass is genuinely impressive for a steakhouse — most in this category offer a dozen and call it a day. The Rombauer Chardonnay and Chalk Hill Chardonnay anchor the white side, while the Stag's Leap Cabernet gives the reds something to brag about. Rotation appears limited; this feels like a curated standing program rather than something that changes with the seasons.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — null
Jordan consistently overdelivers for what it is — structured, food-friendly Cab from Alexander Valley that holds its own next to bottles twice the price. In a list full of Napa ego, this is the pick that makes you look smart without bleeding your wallet dry.
Chalk Hill Chardonnay
Chalk Hill gets overlooked next to the flashier Rombauer and Far Niente, but it's one of Sonoma's most consistent producers — cooler-climate elegance with actual restraint. Most tables walk right past it, which means more for us.
Rombauer Chardonnay
Rombauer is fine wine, but it's everywhere — every steakhouse, every hotel bar, every airport lounge with a wine list. You're paying a significant restaurant premium for something you could grab at a grocery store for $30. The markup here isn't earning its keep.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Dry Aged NY Strip
Stag's Leap Cab has the structure and dark fruit to stand up to a dry-aged strip without steamrolling it — the tannins cut through the fat and the finish lingers just long enough to make you order another pour. Classic pairing, executed properly.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Capital Grille Indianapolis is exactly what it promises to be: a serious, well-run wine program at a place that takes its steak very seriously. Just know you're paying the full freight — this isn't where you hunt for bargains, it's where you celebrate and hand over the credit card without checking the total.
Downtown Indianapolis · Indianapolis · American Steakhouse
Prime 47 is a dependable, California-forward steakhouse list that earns its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence — not because it takes risks, but because it executes the classics reliably and keeps the Cabs flowing. Send a friend here if they want a good bottle with a great steak; just don't send them expecting to discover anything new.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Indianapolis · Indianapolis · French, Japanese
Vida is the kind of wine program that makes you wish more mid-sized American cities had a Jared May running their lists — deep Burgundy, serious California, and a dining concept that actually justifies both. Yes, you'll pay for it, but this is a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence winner for real reasons.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Indianapolis · Indianapolis · American Steakhouse
St. Elmo is the rare steakhouse that earns its Best of Award of Excellence without feeling like it's trying to impress anyone — the list is deep, the wines are real, and Monday half-price night is genuinely one of the best deals in Indianapolis. The markups can sting, but the bones of this program are excellent.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Herron-Morton Place · Indianapolis · Fine-Casual American
Tinker Street is the wine list that Indianapolis shouldn't have yet somehow does — globally curious, genuinely deep in spots, and anchored by a few pours that would feel at home at a serious wine bar in any major city. The markups on entry-level bottles keep it from being a full Rager, but the ambition earns a trip.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Mass Ave · Indianapolis · Southern, American, Brew Pub
The Eagle is a genuinely great place to eat fried chicken — the wine list, however, is an afterthought dressed up in a menu. Drink the beer, order the bubbles if you must, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that reciprocates.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Indianapolis · New American
Cerulean is exactly what a serious restaurant in a mid-sized American city should be doing with wine — real producers, fair pours, a sommelier who actually knows the list. Send your friends here, especially if they're doing the tasting menu.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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
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