Napa's Greatest Hits, Cooked Medium-Rare
Cannery Row / New Monterey · Monterey · Steakhouse, American, Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 23, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Whaling Station Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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.
· Monterey · Brewpub / New American
Alvarado Street is primarily a brewery, and the wine list knows it — it's compact, unpretentious, and priced without gouging. But it also has enough Central Coast credibility (Comanche, Curran, Le P'tit Paysan) to surprise you. If you're in the group that wants wine while everyone else debates hop schedules, you're covered and you won't overpay for it.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Carmel Valley · Monterey · Californian / Fine Dining
Lucia has the bones of a serious wine program — sommelier on staff, strong regional identity, and a setting in Carmel Valley that practically demands a good bottle. We just can't verify the specifics well enough to point you toward a particular pour or call out the markups with any precision. Go in expecting a deep, well-kept list with hotel-restaurant pricing to match, and let the sommelier do the heavy lifting. It's worth the conversation.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Monterey · Wine bar
If you're rolling through Monterey and want something more interactive than staring at a laminated wine list, The Wine Experience is a legitimate detour — especially for anyone curious about what the Santa Lucia Highlands and San Benito County are actually producing right now. We'd send a curious friend here without hesitation; we'd just tell them to skip any expectations of a formal dinner and lean into the tasting-room energy instead.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Acceptable
Carmel-by-the-Sea · Monterey · Continental / Fine Dining
Anton & Michel is the kind of room where the wine list serves the occasion rather than the other way around — and for a special-occasion dinner over beef Wellington or rack of lamb, that might be exactly what you want. We'd love to get a full look at current pricing before giving this a stronger endorsement, but the Central Coast regional focus is a legitimate draw for anyone who wants to drink local in one of California's best growing corridors. Go for the room, stay for the lamb, and ask your server what's drinking well off the list right now.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Monterey · Wine bar / Tasting room
De Tierra is a focused, fairly priced producer tasting room that makes a real argument for Monterey wine without inflating the ego or the prices. If you're driving the 68 corridor or wandering through the peninsula, this is worth a stop — just go in knowing you're here for one winery's story, not a deep-dive across regions.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Monterey · Wine Bar / Bistro
A Taste of Monterey is exactly what it advertises — a tight, local-first wine list that doubles as a crash course in what the Central Coast can do with white grapes. Pricing is honest, the regional focus is genuine, and the Wrath Falanghina alone is reason enough to pull up a stool. If you're eating along the Monterey waterfront and want something more interesting than a tourist-trap wine list, this is worth the detour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
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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