The Sycamore Inn

The wine list at The Sycamore Inn feels exactly like the room it lives in — warm, wood-paneled, and proudly Californian. This is a place that knows what it is: a classic steakhouse where Cabernet Sauvignon is the answer before you've even asked the question. Flip through the list and you'll find a greatest-hits roster of Napa names that reads like a celebration of the state's most iconic producers.

The focus here is California through and through, and the list leans hard into Napa Cab country with names like Caymus, Jordan, Silver Oak, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, and Beringer Private Reserve anchoring the reds. Duckhorn Merlot offers a soft landing for those not ready to commit to the big tannic bruisers, and Far Niente Chardonnay holds down the white wine end with some real credibility. Opus One makes an appearance for the splurge crowd, which feels right for a room with this much dark wood. What's missing is any real exploration outside California — no domestic breadth from Oregon or Washington, and international options appear to be an afterthought at best.

The by-the-glass program runs 12 to 20 options in the $10–$18 range, which gives you a workable selection for sipping while you wait on a prime cut. Expect the usual California suspects to dominate the pour list — this isn't a program that's rotating esoteric grapes by the glass. It gets the job done for a steakhouse crowd, but don't expect to be surprised.