California and France, No Surprises, No Complaints
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · Mediterranean · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 12, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The Terrace Grill's wine list reads like a confident, well-edited greatest hits of California and France — nothing that'll make your jaw drop, but nothing that'll make you wince either. For a waterfront Mediterranean spot in Fort Lauderdale, the 150-plus bottle selection signals a kitchen that actually wants you to drink well with your meal. Wine Spectator's been handing them an Award of Excellence since 2021, and it's not hard to see why.
The list leans hard into California Cabernet and French classics, and it does those two lanes well. You've got Caymus, Jordan, and Stags' Leap covering the big California Cab territory, while Louis Jadot anchors the Burgundy side for anyone craving something with a little more dirt under its fingernails. The Mediterranean cuisine is a natural fit for French whites and lighter reds, though the list could stand to lean into that pairing logic harder — more southern French and Italian options would make the whole thing feel tighter. At $40–$150 a bottle, the range is accessible without feeling cheap.
Twelve to twenty by-the-glass options is a solid spread for this format — enough to navigate a table with mixed preferences without defaulting to the house pour. Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio and Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling anchor the white side at accessible price points. Glass pours run $12–$18, which is reasonable for the neighborhood and the setting.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $12
At the low end of the glass pour range, this is the sleeper pick on the list. Off-dry Riesling is criminally underordered at dinner, and it's a natural bridge between the kitchen's Mediterranean flavors and the Florida heat outside. Drinks way above its price point.
Louis Jadot Burgundy
Most tables at a place like this are reaching for the Caymus or Jordan without a second thought. Jadot Burgundy is the patient, smarter order — earthy, food-friendly, and built for a meal rather than a statement. The rack of lamb will thank you.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is on every list in America, and you're paying a premium for the name recognition at every single one of them. It's not a bad wine — it's just not an interesting one, and the markup on a bottle this ubiquitous rarely makes sense when there are better California Cabs on the same list.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon + Rack of Lamb
Jordan is a more elegant, structured Cab than Caymus — less fruit-forward, more grip — and it's exactly what a rack of lamb wants next to it. The wine's tannins cut through the fat, the lamb's richness softens the oak, and suddenly you're having a very good dinner.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Terrace Grill isn't where you go to chase down rare bottles or get your mind blown by an unexpected producer — it's where you go to drink well without overthinking it. For waterfront Mediterranean dining in Fort Lauderdale, that's a perfectly respectable offer.
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · Italian, Floridian
La Fuga earns its Wine Spectator hardware with a focused Italian-California list that does right by the food — just be prepared for steep markups on the prestige bottles. Send a friend here when they want serious Italian wine with their pasta and a view.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · Italian
Anthony's Runway 84 is a Fort Lauderdale institution that knows its audience and delivers exactly what it promises: big Napa names, old-school Italian comfort, and no surprises. Wine-forward diners may find the list a little safe, but the Italian highlights and the fresh Wine Spectator Award of Excellence signal that someone here is paying attention — even if the list isn't ready to take risks.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ft. Lauderdale Beach · Fort Lauderdale · Steak House
Steak 954 is a legitimately strong wine program for a beach hotel steakhouse — deep on the producers that matter, proper storage, and a by-the-glass count that punches above its weight. Markups are what they are at this address, but if you pick smart, this is a great place to drink wine with a serious piece of beef.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Fort Lauderdale Beach · Fort Lauderdale · French, Japanese
MAASS is the real thing — a sommelier-driven program with genuine depth, proper glassware, and staff that actually knows what's in the cellar. Markups run steep at the top end, but this is a Best of Award of Excellence list for a reason, and it earns every bit of the credential.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · American, Farm to Table
Daniel's is a legitimate Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence earner — the list is deep, the heavy hitters are all here, and the room is built for serious wine drinking. The markups sting and there's no sommelier pushing you toward discovery, but if you know what you're looking for, this is one of Fort Lauderdale's best bottles-over-dinner experiences.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · Brazilian Steakhouse
Chima isn't a wine bar wearing a steakhouse costume — it's a legitimate churrascaria that happens to have built a wine program worth respecting. Pricing runs steep across the board, but Wednesday half-price night changes the math entirely, and the Argentine and Italian selections give you real choices beyond the usual California parade.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Proper
Chandler Fashion Center area · Chandler · Mediterranean
Pita Jungle isn't a wine destination, but the pricing is honest and the pours are fair. Come for the hummus and shawarma, order a glass without overthinking it, and leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Disney · Anaheim · Mediterranean
Catal is doing the best version of a tourist-district wine list — which still means it's playing not to lose rather than to win. If you're here for a pre-park dinner and want something drinkable without drama, it delivers. Just don't come expecting a wine destination.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Buckhead · Atlanta · Mediterranean
For a hotel restaurant in Buckhead, {Three} Arches is doing more than the minimum — the list is recognizable and functional without being exciting, and the Grüner Veltliner alone earns a small amount of goodwill. Send a friend here if they need wine with dinner; just don't send them if wine is the point of the evening.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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