Power Dining With a Cellar to Match
Washington · American, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 7, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Occidental’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at The Occidental arrives like the restaurant itself — serious, heavy, and clearly not messing around. Seven-hundred-plus selections in a room that's been hosting presidents since Teddy Roosevelt's era sets an expectation, and the list doesn't flinch. This is old-school power dining with the cellar to back it up.
California and France anchor the list with real authority — we're talking Opus One, Dominus Estate, Chateau Margaux, and Chateau Lynch-Bages alongside the kind of Louis Jadot Burgundy lineup that actually rewards exploration. Italy gets a respectable nod with Tignanello holding it down for the Antinori faithful. The gaps are minor: if you're hunting natural wine or adventurous New World bottles off the beaten path, look elsewhere — but for classic, blue-chip selections executed with conviction, this is one of DC's best rooms. Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence since 2025 is well earned.
Twenty to thirty pours by the glass is a generous offering for a steakhouse of this caliber, with glass prices running $14 to $25 — reasonable given the address and the pedigree. The selection skews predictably toward Cabernet and Chardonnay, which makes sense when half the room is ordering the dry-aged ribeye. We'd love to see a little more range by the glass, but what's there is well-chosen and properly poured.
Jordan Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $14–$25 by the glass
Jordan is one of California's most consistent over-performers — structured, food-friendly, and never showy. By the glass at The Occidental, it's the smart order before you commit to a full bottle of something bigger.
Marchesi Antinori Tignanello
In a room full of Napa Cabs and Bordeaux heavyweights, Tignanello — that iconic Sangiovese-Cabernet blend from Tuscany — gets overlooked. It's a Raging Wine favorite on any list it appears, and at a steakhouse full of Caymus loyalists, you'll have it practically to yourself.
Caymus Vineyards Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus Special Selection is a fine bottle in the right context, but it's one of the most heavily marked-up wines in America's restaurant industry. You're paying a significant premium here for a label that's become a status signal rather than a value proposition — the money goes further almost anywhere else on this list.
Far Niente Chardonnay + Lobster Bisque
Far Niente's Chardonnay is rich and textured without being a butter bomb — exactly what you want against a cream-forward lobster bisque. The wine's bright acidity cuts through the richness while its toasty oak notes echo the bisque's depth. Classic move, executed well.
The Bottom Line
The Occidental is the kind of place you bring someone you want to impress — the wine list is deep, the staff knows what they're doing, and the classics are all present and accounted for. Just go in knowing you're paying for the zip code as much as the bottle.
Washington · Washington · Seafood
Oceanaire is a safe, well-executed wine destination for California Chardonnay lovers who want reliable bottles with their seafood without too many surprises. Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence since 2017 is well-earned for what it is — just know this list was built for comfort, not adventure.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Georgetown · Washington · French
Lutèce is a strong place to explore French wine with a firm budget in mind. The posted list runs from a $64 Southern Rhône red to $600 Champagne, so tell Chris Ray what you want to spend and let that guide the conversation. Confirm prices and availability when you book or arrive.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Washington, DC · Washington · Steakhouse
STK DC is a vibe restaurant that treats wine as an accessory, not a feature. If you're here for the scene, the cocktails will serve you better than the list ever will.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Washington · Middle Eastern / North African
Maydan's wine list is one of the most geographically coherent and genuinely adventurous in Washington, DC — it matches the kitchen's ambition and then some. If you're willing to let go of the familiar, this is one of the best by-the-glass programs in the city for opening your eyes to what the wine world looks like beyond Europe.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Washington · Restaurant
Moon Rabbit's wine list is doing something rare: it's short enough to read in two minutes and interesting enough to talk about for twenty. If you care about well-chosen, adventurous bottles at prices that won't wreck your dinner bill, send your people here.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Washington · Washington · Spanish
Xiquet is doing something genuinely rare in D.C. — a tightly edited, Spain-first wine program inside a room that actually earns it. Four sommeliers and a Wood Spectator Award of Excellence since 2023 confirm this isn't an accident; just know you're paying for the setting as much as the bottle.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
National Park Corridor / Parkway · Gatlinburg · American, Steakhouse
The Park Grill is a reliable dinner stop if you're winding down after a day in the Smokies and want a solid glass of California wine with your steak — just don't expect the list to reward curiosity or spare your wallet. Send your friends here for the food and the vibe; tell them to drink the Sonoma-Cutrer and not overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Stowe Village · Stowe · American, Steakhouse
Harrison's is the kind of reliable neighborhood anchor that Stowe regulars and ski-weekend visitors can count on — the wine list won't blow your mind, but it won't let you down either. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink fine; just don't send them expecting a deep dive.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Denver · Denver · American, Steakhouse
Range is a confident, well-kept steakhouse list that won't surprise you but absolutely won't let you down — especially if California Cabs are your language. Just come in with your eyes open on pricing, and let Dan steer you toward the Jordan.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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