Napa's Greatest Hits, Cooked Medium-Rare
Cannery Row / New Monterey · Monterey · Steakhouse, American, Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 23, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Whaling Station Steakhouse’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 Whaling Station reads like a greatest hits compilation of California heavy-hitters — Caymus, Silver Oak, Jordan, Far Niente. It's exactly what you'd expect from a classic steakhouse perched above Cannery Row, and it delivers on that promise without any surprises. This is a list built for the guest who already knows what they want before they sit down.
The list leans hard into Napa Cabernet and California Chardonnay, which makes sense for a steakhouse crowd, but it leaves adventurous drinkers with nowhere to go. Stag's Leap Artemis and Duckhorn Merlot represent the Napa side well enough, while Far Niente and Rombauer anchor the Chardonnay column. There's some Central Coast and Monterey County representation — a nod to local terroir that we appreciate — but don't come here looking for Rhône varieties, Italian reds, or anything that falls outside the California mainstream. The bottle range of $55 to $300 gives you room to spend, but not always room to find genuine value at the top end.
Twelve to twenty pours by the glass is a respectable number for a restaurant of this style, spanning $14 to $30. The selection mirrors the bottle list — familiar California names that won't confuse anyone but won't excite them either. There's no obvious rotation or seasonal program at work here; what's on the list is what's on the list.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley — $55–$75 (bottle estimate)
Jordan is one of California's most consistently overdelivering Cabernets — elegant, food-friendly, and priced below the prestige ceiling of Caymus or Silver Oak. If you're splitting a bottle over a prime rib, this is where you put your money.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon
Most people at this table are ordering Caymus on autopilot. Artemis is the smarter move — more structured, better with food, and from a house with serious pedigree. It tends to get overlooked next to flashier labels but it holds its own against anything on this list.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is the house wine of steakhouses that haven't updated their thinking in 15 years. It's marked up aggressively everywhere it appears, and you can find it at retail for significantly less. The wine itself is fine — big, soft, crowd-pleasing — but you're paying a premium for the name, not the glass.
Far Niente Chardonnay + Prime Rib
Counterintuitive, yes — but the richness and toasted oak in Far Niente actually holds up to a well-marbled prime rib better than you'd think. If you're splitting cuts and want one bottle that works across the table, this is a conversation starter.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Whaling Station is a reliable steakhouse wine list in the most literal sense — it does exactly what it says on the label, no more. Send a friend here if they love California Cabernet and don't want any homework; steer them elsewhere if they're looking to discover something new.
Pacific Grove · Monterey · Sustainable Seafood / Californian
Wild Fish isn't trying to be a wine destination, but the list punches thoughtfully above its weight with genuine regional focus and fair pricing. If you're eating here — and you should be — drink local and let the terroir match the catch.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pacific Grove · Monterey · Seafood-focused California/American
The Beach House at Lover's Point is a reliable coastal wine stop — not a destination for wine lovers, but a perfectly decent list for a date-night dinner with a sunset backdrop. Don't come chasing cellar depth; do come ready to drink local and enjoy the view.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pebble Beach · Monterey · Steakhouse / American Tavern
The Tap Room is a reliable resort wine list — not inspiring, not embarrassing, and marked up like the real estate it sits on. If you're at Pebble Beach anyway, the list does the job; just go in with eyes open and budget accordingly.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pebble Beach · Monterey · Seafood-focused California cuisine
Stillwater earns its reputation on setting and execution, and the wine list is professionally managed with real producers and proper care — but the pricing reflects the zip code more than it reflects generosity. Go in with eyes open, lean local, and let the view do the rest.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Pebble Beach · Monterey · Italian
Pèppoli is the real deal for Italian wine in a resort setting — deep list, knowledgeable staff, and an Antinori-anchored program that takes the Italian canon seriously. Just go in knowing that Pebble Beach prices apply across the board, and steer toward the mid-tier bottles where the value actually lives.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Pebble Beach · Monterey · Hawaiian Fusion
Roy's at Pebble Beach is a dependable wine list in a stunning setting — competently assembled, a little overpriced for what you get, and unlikely to surprise you. Order smarter than the tourists at the next table and you'll drink well here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Forrestal Village / Route 1 · Princeton · Steakhouse, American, Seafood
Salt Creek Grille isn't trying to be a wine destination, and it doesn't need to be — it's a reliable steakhouse with a California-heavy list that gets the job done at a slight premium. Send a friend here if they want a comfortable, familiar bottle with a solid meal; don't send them if they're hoping for something to talk about on the drive home.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bossier City (Horseshoe Casino) · Shreveport · Steakhouse, American, Seafood
Jack Binion's is a reliable casino steakhouse wine list — familiar, safe, and overpriced in spots, but it covers the bases competently and won't embarrass you in front of your table. If you're already there for the dry-aged beef, lean on Jordan or Stags' Leap and don't overthink it.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Fort Wayne · Fort Wayne · Steakhouse, American, Seafood
Cork 'N Cleaver is a Fort Wayne institution for a reason — the steaks earn their reputation and the wine list keeps up well enough to not embarrass anyone. Just don't come here expecting discovery; come for a solid Cab, a great piece of beef, and a room that feels like 1987 in the best possible way.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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