Bold Reds, Big Checks, Few Surprises
Scottsdale · Upscale Steakhouse
Reviewed March 16, 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 Capital Grille arrives with the confidence of a restaurant that has won a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and knows it. The list is thick, organized, and serious — this is not a place that phoned it in. But flip past the prestige labels and the prices start doing things to your blood pressure.
The list leans hard into California — bold Cabs, power Chardonnays, and cult-adjacent names like Orin Swift, Caymus, and The Prisoner front and center. There's legitimate international coverage spanning France, Italy, Germany, New Zealand, Argentina, and Spain, so it's not a one-trick pony, but the soul of this list is unmistakably American red. Old World depth is present but feels more like window dressing than a real commitment. If you came for Burgundy or Barolo rabbit holes, you're at the wrong restaurant.
Twenty-five by-the-glass options is a serious number for a steakhouse, running from $13 up to $42 a pour. The range hits sparkling, white, and red with recognizable names like Schramsberg Mirabelle, Mer Soleil Silver Chardonnay, and Orin Swift Palermo Cab doing the heavy lifting. Rotation appears minimal — this list is built for consistency, not discovery.
Schramsberg Mirabelle Blanc de Blancs NV — $75
At 88% over retail, this is the least punishing markup on the list — and Schramsberg Mirabelle is genuinely good sparkling wine. Order it before the dry-aged porterhouse arrives and feel fancy without getting completely robbed.
Mer Soleil Silver Chardonnay
In a room full of people ordering Caymus, the unoaked Mer Soleil Silver is the understated move. It's clean, bright, and won't compete with the kitchen — most guests walk right past it for something bolder and miss out.
Riondo Spumante Prosecco Extra Dry NV
A $15 bottle of grocery-tier Prosecco hitting the menu at $55 is a 267% markup on a wine that has no business being in this price neighborhood. If you want bubbles, spend the extra $20 and get the Schramsberg.
Orin Swift Palermo Cabernet Sauvignon + Dry-Aged Porterhouse
Palermo is big, dark-fruited, and built for exactly this moment. The fat and char on a dry-aged porterhouse need a wine with enough structure and fruit density to stand up — Palermo doesn't flinch.
The Bottom Line
The Capital Grille Scottsdale is a reliable, well-run wine program that earns its Award of Excellence and then charges you generously for it. Send your friend here if they want a polished experience and aren't watching the bill too closely — just steer them away from the Prosecco.
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A short, Italian-leaning wine list with a note that the full list is available on request. Start with the Planeta Grillo at 12/40 or the Noussan Petit Arvine at 23/80, ask which number is the glass price, and confirm everything, since the files are linked with 2024 dates in their names. This unrated guide covers the posted wine PDF, not service, storage or markups.
Old Town · Scottsdale · Modern Latin
A 32-wine list that mixes 26 two-price pairs, like 11/39, with six single prices from 90 to 155. Start with the 11/39 Pinot Grigio, or the 15/53 Trimbach Pinot Blanc if you want the one Alsace wine, and ask what each number in a pair covers before you order. This unrated guide covers the posted Old Town wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Scottsdale · Scottsdale · Italian
An Italian list dated 06.17.26 with 18 glass pours at 15 to 19 and full bottles from 60 to 970. Start with the Barbera d’Alba La Gemella at 15 a glass, or the Fontanavecchia Aglianico del Taburno from the chef’s Campania hometown at 17, and confirm prices because the list says they are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Old Town · Scottsdale · American Gastropub
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North Scottsdale · Scottsdale · American Brasserie
A California-led list with a real glass tier under the big Cabernet bottles: 20 wines carry labeled 6 oz, 9 oz and bottle prices, starting at $13. Start with the Thomas Schmitt Riesling Kabinett at $13 for 6 oz or the Massican Sauvignon Blanc at $18 for 6 oz, and confirm prices because the menu is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted beverage menu, not service, storage or markups.
North Scottsdale · Scottsdale · Prime Steakhouse
A producer-by-producer list with 43 glass pours from $10 to $45, most of them $19 or less. Start with the $18 Pascal Jolivet Sauvignon Blanc, or pair the Daou Vineyards Cabernet ($18 glass, $72 bottle) with the 35 oz Prime Tomahawk at $147, and ask which bottling is pouring. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
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Ruth's Chris Franklin is a reliable wine execution at a chain price point — nobody's going home unhappy, but nobody's going home with a story either. Go on a Wednesday, hit the half-price bottle promotion, and drink better than the menu's markup would otherwise allow.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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