Napa on parade, with the bill to match
Brookside · Kansas City · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 26, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed The Capital Grille’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 leather-bound real estate prospectus, and flipping through it feels about as expensive. It's polished, organized, and immediately tells you that California Cabernet is the religion here — everything else is a supporting cast.
Three hundred to five hundred labels sounds impressive until you realize a good chunk of the real estate goes to Napa and Sonoma heavyweights you already know by name: Stag's Leap, Caymus Special Selection, Jordan, Opus One, Far Niente. Bordeaux and Burgundy show up with enough depth to give the list some Old World credibility, but they feel like guests rather than residents. If you're hunting for grower Champagne, natural wine, or anything from the Southern Hemisphere, keep hunting. This is a greatest-hits list designed to comfort a certain type of corporate expense account, and it does that job very well.
Twenty to thirty by-the-glass options is generous, and the Capital Grille keeps the quality level consistent with the bottle program — you're not getting poured off leftovers here. Rombauer Chardonnay almost certainly anchors the white side, which will delight half the table and bore the other half. Rotation appears minimal; this is a 'set and forget' program dressed in a sharp suit.
Bourgogne Maximum, Labour-Roi, 2009 — $30
At $30, this is the one honest deal hiding in a list that otherwise treats your wallet like a dry-aged ribeye. A village Burgundy for the price of a cocktail round is worth grabbing before someone at corporate notices.
Duckhorn Merlot
Everyone at a steakhouse table is fighting over the Cabernets, which means the Duckhorn Merlot gets ignored. That's a mistake — it's one of California's most consistent Merlots and it holds its own next to a bone-in filet without demanding the same attention or price premium.
Castello del Poggio, Piedmont, N.V.
A $15 retail bottle showing up at $44 on the menu is a 193% markup — and for a no-vintage Piedmont Moscato-style wine, that's just embarrassing. This is a filler bottle propped up by a fancy address. Skip it entirely.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Dry-aged bone-in ribeye
Stag's Leap Cab has the structure to stand up to the fat and char on a dry-aged bone-in without the raw tannin aggression of some Napa heavyweights. It's the classic steakhouse match for a reason, and here it's executed properly.
The Bottom Line
The Capital Grille delivers exactly what it promises — a deep, California-forward list served with competence and proper glassware — but it charges handsomely for that reliability, and the markups on entry-level bottles are hard to ignore. Send your friend here if they want a safe, well-run wine experience; send them somewhere else if they want a deal.
· Kansas City · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Kansas City isn't a wine destination, but it's not a wine disappointment either. Prices are fair, the South American focus makes thematic sense, and the VIK and Lapostolle picks show there's a ceiling here above the house pour. Come for the beef, drink the Eulila, leave happy.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Stockyards District · Kansas City · Steakhouse
A steakhouse list with a 22-pour glass section at $12 to $20 and a Bottle List that runs from 46 to 348. Start with the Emilio Moro Tempranillo at $12 or the Amigoni Urban Drover at $14, and put a glass of the Daou Cabernet next to the Kansas City Strip. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups, so confirm what is pouring.
Crossroads / Westside border (Southwest Boulevard) · Kansas City · Spanish tapas / small plates
A tapas-bar drinks sheet with glass/bottle pairs starting at 9/36 and a separate sherry-by-the-glass list. Start with the Reino de la Vina Tempranillo Reserva at 12/48 alongside the Paella Valenciana, or the Venta Morales Tempranillo at 10/40, and confirm prices because the sheet is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
River Market · Kansas City · French
A French-led list with 25 two-price wines up front and a long run of Burgundy, Bordeaux and Rhône bottles behind them. Start with the Chinon Le Garenne at 42 or the Cornas 'Granit 60' at 88, ask which number is the glass price, and confirm prices, since the page is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Country Club Plaza · Kansas City · Winery Restaurant / American
A long, bin-numbered list that mixes dry wines, sweet wines and flavored sparklers on one page, with a Cakebread Cellars wine as its priciest bottle. Start with the $12.00 Pinot Noir or the $12.75 Winemaker's Barrel Reserve, and confirm prices at the Plaza location before you go. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
North Kansas City · Kansas City · Italian-American
A glass list that fits an Italian menu: 24 wines from $8 to $13, with Barolo, Amarone and Brunello available by the bottle. Start with the $8 Capasoldo Pinot Grigio, or the $13 Banfi Chianti Riserva if you are ordering the Veal Parmigiana, and confirm current prices. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks list, not service, storage or markups.
· Hoschton · Steakhouse
Jacks is a genuinely fun neighborhood hang with solid food, but the wine program doesn't match the ambition of the kitchen. If wine is your thing, call ahead or bring your own if corkage is an option — otherwise, lean into the cocktails and enjoy the patio. We'd love to revisit this rating if they ever put some real thought into the list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Point · Atlanta · Steakhouse
Malone's earns its loyal following on the strength of its pork chops and tenderloin, not its wine list. If wine matters to your meal, you may want to call ahead and ask what's available — or just lean into a cocktail and let the steak do the heavy lifting. This one's a food-first destination.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Acworth · Steakhouse
AG Steakhouse earns its reputation as a go-to for celebrations and big nights out on Lake Acworth — but the wine program appears to be in service of the experience rather than a destination in itself. If you're splurging on the filet or the Oscar-style halibut, budget accordingly for the bottle too, and don't expect the list to surprise you. A solid place to drink wine; not a reason to come specifically for wine.
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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