Solid Steakhouse Pours in a Wine Desert
Naples · American Steakhouse
Reviewed February 24, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed The Grill’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at The Grill reads like every other upscale steakhouse in Southwest Florida: Napa Cabs, big-brand Chardonnays, and markups that assume you're paying with house-sale money. Nothing here will surprise you, but nothing will embarrass you either.
The list skews heavily toward California and familiar French regions—think Caymus, Silver Oak, and a few Bordeaux that get wheeled out for celebrations. There's a token Italian section with the usual suspects (Barolo, Brunello) and enough Pinot Noir to keep the lighter-red crowd happy. Depth is sacrificed for breadth, and breadth is sacrificed for brands people recognize. You won't find natural wines, orange wines, or anything that requires explanation.
Glass pours lean predictable: a domestic Chardonnay around $14, a Malbec that does the job, maybe a Sancerre if you're lucky. The rotation is more 'annual' than 'seasonal'—these bottles aren't going anywhere until they're empty. Count on 8-10 options that cover the bases without taking risks.
Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon — $42
Solid Washington Cab with plenty of fruit and structure for $42—a rare reasonable markup in a sea of $80 Napa bottles
Domaine Chandon Brut Classic
Most people sleep on California sparklers at steakhouses, but this Napa méthode traditionnelle has enough acid to cut through butter-poached lobster and costs half what Champagne does here
Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay
At $58 a bottle, you're paying $40 over retail for something you can grab at any grocery store—order literally anything else
Duckhorn Merlot + Bone-In Ribeye
Merlot gets dismissed at steakhouses, but Duckhorn's plush blackberry fruit and soft tannins let the beef's char and fat shine without a tug-of-war
The Bottom Line
The Grill won't wow anyone hunting for natural wines or rare finds, but if you need a dependable Cab with your steak in Naples, it gets the job done. Just don't look too hard at the markups.
Downtown Fort Myers · Naples · Steakhouse
Chops City Grill is the real deal for wine in Southwest Florida — a 400-bottle list with a sommelier and proper stems isn't something you take for granted down here. The markups keep it from being a full Rager, but if you're eating a prime ribeye anyway, you're already committed to spending money, so lean into it.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Naples · Naples · American
Warren is a whiskey bar that does wine correctly, which is more than most can say. Eric Gaboury and the Wine Spectator nod give it credibility, and if you stick to the California producers you know or let staff steer you toward the Burgundy shelf, you'll drink well with your steak.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Mercato · Naples · American
Old Vines is exactly what it needs to be for Mercato — a polished, reliable wine list with genuine depth in its California and French lanes, even if the pricing skews toward the Naples wallet and the list doesn't take many risks. Send a friend here if they want something they recognize done well; send a wine nerd elsewhere.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Naples · Naples · American Steakhouse
Shula's is a genuinely impressive California Cab cellar wearing a classic steakhouse suit — the markups sting and the list doesn't wander far from Napa, but if that's your game, this is one of the better places to play it in Southwest Florida. Come on a Wednesday, order the Hillside Select, and stop overthinking it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Occasional
Proper
Marco Island · Naples · Italian
Sale E Pepe is the rare beachside Italian that takes its wine program as seriously as the frescoes on the walls — the Italian cellar depth is real, the WS credential is well-earned, and it's worth the trip even if the markups sting a little. Send your friends here for Barolo and osso buco; they'll thank you.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Vanderbilt Beach · Naples · Gulf Coast Seafood
Baleen delivers exactly what a resort wine list should: no surprises, no risks, just reliable bottles at premium prices. If you're here for the sunset and fresh grouper, the wine program won't get in the way—but it won't elevate the meal either.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Stemless Casual
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· McLean · American Steakhouse
We don't fully understand how a six-bottle list this good ended up at The Palm Tysons Corner, but here we are. If you're eating here and care about wine at all, this list deserves your attention — especially that Sancerre at $23. It's a small program, but it's a thoughtful one, and in a category full of lazy steakhouse lists, that counts for a lot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· The Woodlands · American Steakhouse
We're working with event-night evidence, not a full house list, so drawing firm conclusions about Del Frisco's Grille's everyday wine program would be dishonest. What we can say is that a six-wine promotional dinner built around one producer family isn't a reason to make this your wine destination. Come for the steakhouse experience — but don't expect the wine list to be the main event.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
· Ashburn · American Steakhouse
Eddie Merlot's is a dependable upscale steakhouse that delivers on the beef side of the equation. The wine program appears to be functional rather than inspired — a crowd-pleasing list built to sell confidently, not to excite. If you're coming for a business dinner or a straightforward date night and want a Napa Cab with your prime-aged ribeye, you'll be just fine. If you want something to talk about on the drive home, you might need to bring your own bottle or do a little pre-visit homework.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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