Bold Reds, Big Checks, Few Surprises
Scottsdale · Scottsdale · Upscale Steakhouse
Reviewed March 16, 2026
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.
Old Town Scottsdale · Scottsdale · American
Frasher's isn't reinventing the steakhouse wine list, but it's doing the job with a Wine Spectator credential and a Wednesday half-price night that makes the steep markups a lot easier to live with. Send a friend here if they want a reliable California Cab with their red meat — just tell them to go on Wednesday.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
DC Ranch · Scottsdale · American, Small Plates
The Living Room isn't trying to reinvent wine — it's trying to make California Cab and Chardonnay feel like an event, and it mostly succeeds. Send your friends here for a comfortable, well-staffed wine experience; just remind them to drink the Duckhorn.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Scottsdale · Scottsdale · French
The Mick Brasserie is a dependable, well-staffed wine destination dressed up as a casual neighborhood spot — a genuinely rare combo in Scottsdale. The markups keep it from being a great deal, but the sommelier team and the quality of the list make it worth showing up for.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Scottsdale · Scottsdale · American, Steakhouse
STK Scottsdale is a reliable California wine destination — not a discovery, but a dependable one. If you're here for Wagyu and a bottle of Stag's Leap, you will not leave disappointed; just don't expect the list to surprise you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Scottsdale · Scottsdale · Italian
Marcellino is doing something genuinely uncommon in Scottsdale — a disciplined, Italy-first wine program with real producers and a sommelier who clearly cares. Markups tip steep on the prestige bottles, but the depth of the list earns it a spot on your list if Italian wine is your thing.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Scottsdale · Scottsdale · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Scottsdale isn't trying to be a wine bar, and it doesn't need to be — the list is purpose-built for red meat and it delivers. Markups lean steep on the trophy bottles, but the Argentine and Chilean selections give you a real path to drinking well without getting gouged.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Proper
West Chandler · Chandler · Upscale Steakhouse
Fleming's Chandler is a reliable, well-run wine program that earns its reputation without doing anything surprising — the markup is real, but the staff knows what they're selling and the cellar conditions show it. Send a friend here for a business dinner; just steer them away from the Josh Cab.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Legacy Area · Plano · Upscale Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Plano is a safe, well-executed wine program with real depth on paper and a knowledgeable staff to help you navigate it — but you're paying steakhouse prices for the privilege, and the list rarely strays outside its California comfort zone. Send your clients here, bring your parents here, but don't expect to be challenged.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Shops at Legacy · Plano · Upscale Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Plano is a well-oiled machine — proper storage, knowledgeable staff, and a list big enough to find something worth drinking. Markups are steep and the list plays it safe, but if someone else is paying, there are worse places to order a bottle of Napa Cab with a bone-in ribeye.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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