Solid Steakhouse Pours in a Wine Desert
Naples · Naples · American Steakhouse
Reviewed February 24, 2026
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.
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
Downtown Naples · Naples · Upscale Seafood & Steakhouse
Ocean Prime delivers exactly what it promises: a safe, corporate wine experience that won't embarrass your boss but won't surprise anyone either. Come for the scene and the seafood, order a cocktail, and if you must have wine, stick to the recognizable mid-tier bottles and don't look at the markup too closely.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Stemless Casual
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hanes Mall / Strickland Rd · Winston Salem · American Steakhouse
Firebirds isn't trying to reinvent anything, and the wine list reflects that — it's a dependable, California-forward selection that does its job without embarrassing itself. If you want adventure, look elsewhere; if you want a solid bottle with a good steak in a comfortable room, this gets you there.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Jersey City Waterfront · Jersey City · American Steakhouse
Fire & Oak is a hotel steakhouse wine list that does exactly what it's supposed to do: make business travelers feel at home and move bottles that everyone recognizes. If you're expecting something beyond that, you're in the wrong restaurant.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Nob Hill / Van Ness Corridor · San Francisco · American Steakhouse
House of Prime Rib is one of San Francisco's great dining institutions and the wine list knows its assignment — California Cabs to drink with California beef, no fuss. It won't thrill anyone looking for adventure, but it won't embarrass anyone either, and for a night built around tableside carving and Yorkshire pudding, that's probably enough.
Plays It Safe
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.