Old-School Steakhouse Does Wine by the Numbers
Downtown · San Antonio · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 10, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Palm San Antonio’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The Palm rolls out a 200+ bottle list that reads like a steakhouse wine playbook from 2010—heavy on Napa Cabs, a few Italian hits, and 18 by-the-glass options that won't surprise anyone. It's the wine equivalent of their caricature-covered walls: familiar, safe, and built for expense accounts.
California dominates here, particularly Napa Valley and Paso Robles, with Frank Family and DAOU leading the charge alongside the ubiquitous Rombauer Chardonnay. They throw in some Tuscan credibility with Gaja's Ca'Marcanda Promis, but the list plays it extremely safe—this is wine for people who order by recognition, not curiosity. Bottles run $47-$179, which sounds reasonable until you realize most of these retail for half that. No sommelier on staff means you're on your own navigating the crowd-pleasers.
Eighteen glass pours at $12-$45 cover the basics without much adventure. You'll find your standard Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet lineup—solid enough to pair with a New York strip but nothing that'll make you put down your phone. The range is functional, rotating seemingly never, which means you're getting the same pours whether you visit in January or July.
DAOU Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon — $47
Paso Robles fruit bomb at entry-level bottle pricing—probably the fairest markup on the list for something that can actually stand up to their prime beef
Gaja Ca'Marcanda Promis
The only wine here with any Italian soul—Tuscan blend that most steak-and-Cab crowds overlook, but it's got the structure and depth this menu deserves
Rombauer Chardonnay
Every steakhouse in America has this butter bomb, and they all charge like it's rare—you're paying peak markup for peak predictability
Frank Family Cabernet Sauvignon + Prime New York Strip
Classic Napa Cab with the tannin structure to cut through prime beef fat—this pairing is why steakhouses exist, even if it's predictable
The Bottom Line
The Palm delivers exactly what you expect from a legacy steakhouse: a wine list designed not to offend, with markups designed to impress the person paying. Come for the steaks and the nostalgia, but don't come for wine discoveries.
Pearl District · San Antonio · Farm to Table
Isidore is doing more with wine than San Antonio's dining scene typically demands, and the farm-driven menu gives every bottle on this list a genuine reason to exist. Send your wine-curious friends here — they'll leave impressed without knowing exactly why, and that's the mark of a list done right.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
La Cantera · San Antonio · American, French
Signature is a reliable, polished wine experience for a resort restaurant — not a destination list, but one that won't let you down with the right order. Stick to France and Jordan, skip the Opus One markup, and let the Krug do something interesting with the meat.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
San Antonio · San Antonio · American, Seasonal
Landrace is a reliable, California-first wine destination that does what it promises — no surprises, no let-downs, and a big enough glass pour selection to keep everyone at the table happy. Send your friend here if they love Napa Cab; steer them elsewhere if they're looking for adventure.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown San Antonio · San Antonio · American Steakhouse
Bohanan's is doing real work on the wine side — a deep, well-curated list in a room that deserves it, even if the pricing leans on the premium end and the staff isn't quite sommelier-level yet. If you're in San Antonio and want a proper bottle with a proper steak, this is your spot.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Stone Oak · San Antonio · Asian Fusion BBQ
Come for the inventive Thai-Texan BBQ mashup, but stick to beer or cocktails. The wine program feels like an afterthought at a restaurant that deserves better.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Central · San Antonio · Southern
Ida Claire isn't trying to blow anyone's mind with wine—and that's fine. Fair pricing, decent variety by the glass, and a list that won't confuse your wine-curious friends. You won't find anything exciting, but you won't get gouged either.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Franklin · Steakhouse
Char is a genuinely enjoyable steakhouse with a wine list that does the job without doing much more. The room earns its keep; the wine program is still a passenger rather than a co-pilot. If you're coming here for the Prime beef and the atmosphere, you'll eat well — just don't expect the list to take you anywhere the food isn't already going. Worth a visit, but bring your own expectations in check at the wine menu.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Steakhouse
The Grove Steakhouse is a solid pick if you're in a celebratory mood and want serious Champagne options with your cut of beef — the sparkling program alone is worth a look. The rest of the list doesn't take many risks, and the markups on recognizable labels are exactly what you'd expect from a steakhouse at a casino property. Go in with eyes open, steer toward the value picks, and you'll have a good night.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Fresno · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Fresno is a reliable landing pad if someone else is picking the restaurant and wine takes a back seat to a great center-cut filet. The wine program isn't adventurous and markups at this tier tend to sting, but the service is polished and the experience is consistent. If wine is the reason you're going out, look elsewhere — but if it's the steak and wine is just along for the ride, you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
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.
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