California Classics, Steakhouse Swagger, Tampa Rooftop
West Shore · Tampa · American, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 12, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Union New American’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 Union New American reads like a California greatest hits album — Caymus, Silver Oak, Opus One, Rombauer. If you've eaten at a upscale American steakhouse in the last decade, these names are old friends. It's a confident, crowd-pleasing list that knows exactly who it's serving.
With 150-250 bottles and a sharp California focus, this is a list built to flatter a ribeye and impress a client dinner, not challenge anyone's assumptions. The anchor producers — Stag's Leap, Jordan, Duckhorn, Far Niente — are all legitimate, and the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence (since 2023) confirms the list is at least being curated with intention. What's missing is any real adventurousness: no meaningful European presence, no domestic outliers, no natural wine detour. It's a list that wins on name recognition rather than discovery.
With 12-20 options by the glass, there's enough to work with across a meal — expect the usual suspects from California to dominate here too. Rotation appears minimal; this feels like a set-and-forget program rather than something a manager is tweaking weekly. That said, the quality floor is high enough that you're unlikely to get a bad pour.
Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $60
Jordan consistently overdelivers for its price point — elegant, food-friendly Cab that doesn't try to be a blockbuster. At a steakhouse loaded with bigger, pricier options, this is the move if you want finesse over flash.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot
Everyone sleeping on Duckhorn Merlot at a steakhouse is ordering Cab out of habit. This is plush, structured, and genuinely great with red meat — and you'll likely pay less than the Cabernets dominating the list.
Opus One
Opus One is a landmark wine, no argument there — but at a restaurant with steep markups and no sommelier to contextualize it, you're paying a luxury premium for a label. Save it for a place that can actually do it justice.
Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay + Korean BBQ Roll
The Korean BBQ roll's sweet-savory char and richness need something that can match without fighting — Rombauer's buttery, fruit-forward Chardonnay is basically built for this moment. It's the most fun pairing on the menu and nobody's ordering it.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Union delivers a reliable, California-heavy wine list that makes sense for a buzzy Tampa steakhouse with rooftop ambitions — just don't come looking for surprises. Send a client here; take a wine-curious friend somewhere else.
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Bern's is a legend for a reason, and even this sparkling-focused slice of its list shows a house that genuinely cares about what's in the glass. The grower Champagne presence alone makes it worth a visit — just steer clear of the Korbel section and spend a few extra dollars where it counts.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Proper
Tampa · Tampa · American
The Rez Grill isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it's doing the casino steakhouse thing better than it has any obligation to — a real sommelier, a Thursday half-price night, and a list that knows its lane. Come for the ribeye, order the Jordan, and leave before you hit the slots.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
SoHo · Tampa · American, Seasonal
Élevage is the kind of place that does California wine correctly without doing anything unexpected with it — the list is dependable, the setting earns it, and the Wine Spectator nod is deserved. Send a friend here if they love Napa Cab and a good steak; redirect the wine geeks to somewhere with more range.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Tampa · Tampa · Seafood, Floridian
Ulele is a great restaurant that happens to have a competent wine list — not a wine destination that happens to serve great food. If you're in town for the waterfront, the smoked mullet dip, and a solid glass of California Chardonnay, you'll leave happy; just don't expect the list to keep up with the ambition of the kitchen. Wednesday's half-price wine night is genuinely worth planning around.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Water Street · Tampa · American, French
Boulon is a reliable wine stop in Tampa's growing Water Street corridor — the list is curated enough to respect, even if it rarely surprises. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink well; just don't send the friend who's hoping to find something they've never heard of.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Tampa · Tampa · American
Meat Market Tampa is exactly what it says it is: a well-funded, serious steakhouse with a wine program to match, and the Wine Spectator hardware on the wall is earned. The markups are real and the list doesn't stray far from its California-France axis, but if you're sitting down to a serious piece of beef and want a serious bottle, this room delivers.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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
Geneva · Geneva · American, Steakhouse
The James is a dependable California-focused steakhouse list that earns its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for doing one thing consistently well. If you're there for the beef and the big reds, you'll leave satisfied — just go in with your eyes open on the markups.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Sauk City · Sauk City · American, Steakhouse
A Wisconsin supper club earning a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence is genuinely surprising, and Green Acres earns it by stocking a focused, California-forward list that's built for exactly the kind of food it serves. It won't impress the natural wine crowd, but it'll take great care of anyone who wants a proper bottle with a proper steak in a historic room off the highway.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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