Kentucky steakhouse plays it California straight
Downtown · Lexington · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 28, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Tony's of Lexington’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Tony's reads exactly like you'd expect from a well-heeled Kentucky steakhouse — heavy on California reds, anchored by names your uncle would recognize, and priced like they know you're celebrating something. It's confident and comfortable, if not particularly adventurous.
This is a California-forward list with a tight lane and no real intention of leaving it. Napa Cabernet is the clear headliner — Caymus, Silver Oak, Hall, Honig, Quilt, and a handful of others crowd the red section like a greatest hits playlist. The Zinfandel bench is actually a quiet strength, with Seghisio, Saldo, Klinker Brick Old Ghost, and Orin Swift's 8 Years in the Desert all showing up in force. Outside California, you're mostly looking at token Italian pours by the glass, and there's no meaningful Old World presence — no Bordeaux, no Burgundy, no Barolo to speak of.
The BTG program runs 12-20 options and leans casual on the white side — Copper Ridge and Kendall Jackson anchor the Chardonnay section, which isn't exactly inspiring at these price points. The Tintero Moscato d'Asti is a genuine bright spot for anyone who wants something fun and low-ABV, and it's a welcome outlier in an otherwise predictable lineup.
Seghisio Zinfandel — null
Seghisio is one of the most consistent, food-friendly Zins made in California and a legitimate alternative to the Napa Cab markup trap. At a steakhouse with this pricing structure, it's almost certainly the best dollar-per-pleasure bottle on the list.
Klinker Brick Old Ghost Zinfandel
Most tables here are gunning straight for the Caymus, but Old Ghost from Klinker Brick is a serious, age-worthy Zinfandel from Lodi that routinely punches above its category. It gets overlooked every time, which means the value gap is real.
Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet
Caymus is a fine wine, but it's also one of the most marked-up bottles in American restaurants. At a $$$-$$$$ steakhouse, you're paying a premium on top of a premium for a label that has coasted on its reputation for years. The list around it offers better wine for less.
Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet + 14 oz Prime Cut New York Strip
Alexander Valley Silver Oak has that classic American oak structure and dark fruit profile that was practically designed for a prime NY strip. It's the kind of pairing that exists for a reason — the tannins cut the fat, the fruit matches the char, and everybody at the table knows exactly why it works.
The Bottom Line
Tony's delivers a dependable, California-centric wine program that suits the steakhouse format without ever challenging it. If you're here for a celebratory ribeye and a recognizable red, you'll leave satisfied — just don't expect the list to surprise you.
South Lexington / Harrodsburg Road · Lexington · Italian, Contemporary Italian, Seafood
Giuseppe's isn't a wine destination, but Monday night half-price bottles make it one of the better value plays in Lexington — show up then, lean on the seafood, and you'll leave happy. Any other night, the markups ask a lot and the list doesn't ask you to think very hard.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Lansdowne / Nicholasville Road · Lexington · Italian-American
Sutton's isn't a wine destination, but it's a perfectly reasonable place to drink a bottle of Chianti while someone else handles the cooking. The Tignanello alone earns this list a second look if you know to ask for it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Gratz Park · Lexington · New American / Southern
Jonathan at Gratz Park is the kind of reliable wine room you'd expect from a historic inn with a real sommelier — competent, well-stocked, and leaning safe. Pricing is on the steeper side and the list won't surprise you, but in Lexington, this is still one of the better places to order a full bottle with dinner.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Palomar / Harrodsburg Road · Lexington · Italian, Seasonal American-Influenced
Bella Notte isn't a wine destination, but it's a reliable neighborhood spot with one genuinely smart move: Thursday half-price bottles turn a steep list into a real value play. Go on a Thursday, order the Decoy Cab with a wood-grilled steak, and you'll leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Lexington · Italian
ItalX is a dependable Italian wine list for a night out downtown — not exciting, but not embarrassing either. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink well enough, as long as they steer toward the Italian reds and away from the obvious tourist traps.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Summit at Fritz Farm · Lexington · New American / Southern
33 Staves is a perfectly competent hotel wine list in a city where nobody's really coming for the wine. Drink it for what it is, keep your expectations calibrated, and save the serious bottle hunting for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Plano · Steakhouse
Steve Fields clearly puts its energy into the kitchen, not the cellar — and at these price points, that imbalance is hard to ignore. Order the Evesham Wood if it's still there, and otherwise come for the steak, not the wine list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Steakhouse
Greystone is a reliable, if predictable, steakhouse wine list — the kind where you can always find something decent but you'll rarely be surprised. Skip the Opus splurge, order the Paradigm, and you'll walk out satisfied.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Steakhouse
Morton's San Diego is spending more energy on the wedge salad than the wine list, and it shows. Come for the steak, order carefully, and don't expect much beyond the obvious.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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