A Serious Cellar for Serious Steak Nights
East Memphis · Memphis · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 21, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Capital Grille - Memphis’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Capital Grille Memphis arrives with the same confidence as the room itself — heavy, well-dressed, and not messing around. Over 350 selections (some sources put it closer to 1,500 depending on the vintage depth), this is clearly not a list someone threw together on a Tuesday. It signals that wine is taken seriously here, even if the format skews corporate steakhouse.
The list leans hard into California — Napa Cabernets and Carneros Chardonnays anchor the whole thing — with solid representation from Washington State's Columbia Valley and a respectable Champagne section headlined by Veuve Clicquot and Moët. There are nods to Willamette Valley Pinot and even Ribera del Duero for the adventurous table, which gives the list more range than you'd expect from a national chain. Flora Springs Trilogy out of Napa and Duckhorn's Paraduxx blend add some interesting left-of-center picks amid the predictable lineup. Gaps exist — if you're hunting Old World depth beyond Champagne, you'll find it thin.
Twenty to thirty options by the glass is genuinely impressive and puts Capital Grille in a different tier from most Memphis spots for pour selection. The Rombauer Carneros is almost certainly on that list, which means you can get a legitimately good glass without committing to a bottle. Rotation appears limited — this reads more like a curated standing list than something that changes seasonally.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Artist Series, Columbia Valley — $24
Washington State Riesling at a steakhouse is an underdog move that pays off. The Artist Series punches well above its price point, and in a room full of $100+ Napa Cabs, it stands out as smart ordering.
Duckhorn Paraduxx, Zinfandel / Cabernet / Merlot, Napa
Most tables here go straight for the Cab. Paraduxx is Duckhorn's Zin-forward blend and it's genuinely more interesting — darker fruit, more texture, something to actually talk about. Most people walk right past it.
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Yellow Label Brut, Reims, N.V.
Veuve Yellow Label is everywhere and rarely a deal at restaurants. At Capital Grille's price point, you're paying a significant premium for a label that retails around $55. The Moët Imperial or a glass of something still from California will serve you better dollar for dollar.
Flora Springs Trilogy, Napa + Dry-aged bone-in ribeye
Trilogy is a classic Bordeaux-style blend built for exactly this moment — the tannin structure holds up to the fat and char of a dry-aged cut, and the Napa fruit richness doesn't get buried by the beef. This is what the list is actually for.
The Bottom Line
Capital Grille Memphis is the rare chain that earns its wine reputation — a well-stocked, professionally managed list with a sommelier on the floor and glassware to match. We'd send a friend here for a steak-and-Cabernet night without hesitation, just don't expect to discover anything outside the California comfort zone.
Midtown · Memphis · Steak House
Porch and Parlor is a reliable Southern steakhouse wine list that plays to its crowd — if you love California Cabernet with your dry-aged beef, you're in the right place. It won't challenge you, but it'll take care of you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Memphis · Memphis · American
Flight is the most wine-serious restaurant in downtown Memphis, and it earns that title without being stuffy about it. If you want California confidence with a sommelier who actually knows the list, this is your spot.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Memphis · Memphis · American, French
Chez Philippe is the wine list of a well-run fine dining institution that has been doing this right for 30 years — not a revelation, but reliably good and properly stored in a room that knows how to use it. Send a friend here if they want California Cab with a French menu inside one of Memphis's great hotels; don't send them if they're looking for anything off the beaten path.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Memphis · Memphis · Steak House
Char is a dependable, well-executed steakhouse wine list that earned its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence by doing the classics right — but it's not trying to surprise you, and it won't. Send a friend here for a special occasion Cab and a steak; just don't expect the list to spark any new obsessions.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Cooper-Young · Memphis · Italian
Bari is the kind of Italian wine program Memphis deserves more of — specific, serious, and fairly priced for what you're getting. If you're anywhere near Cooper-Young and want to drink real Italian wine with real Italian food, this is the move.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Unknown · Memphis · Bistro
Hu. Bistro isn't trying to be a wine destination, but its by-the-glass list is priced fairly and built with more care than you'd expect from a hotel rooftop. If you're in Memphis and want a decent glass without getting gouged for the privilege, this works.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
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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