Princeton's Clubby Steakhouse Plays the Hits Well
Princeton · Princeton · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 18, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Witherspoon Grill’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 Witherspoon Grill reads like a greatest hits album — Silver Oak, Opus One, Caymus front and center. It's a confident, familiar lineup that tells you exactly who this place is cooking for: the Princeton professor celebrating tenure, the alumni weekend crowd, the client dinner that needs to impress without taking risks.
California and France anchor everything here, and that's by design — 150 to 250 bottles deep with a clear bias toward Napa Cabernet and classic Burgundy. You'll find the reliable stalwarts: Jordan, Stag's Leap, Duckhorn, Far Niente, and Louis Jadot alongside Joseph Drouhin on the Burgundy side. What you won't find is much adventure — no Rhône wildcards, no domestic outliers, no natural wine curiosity. The list has held a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2008, and it earns that credential by being consistently solid rather than exciting.
A solid 12 to 20 pours by the glass keeps the program accessible without being overwhelming. The selections mirror the bottle list — expect California Chardonnay and Cabernet to dominate, with a few French options mixed in. Rotation appears limited; this is a set-it program, not one that's swapping in seasonal surprises.
Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $40s
Jordan consistently punches above its price point — it's approachable, well-structured, and a smarter move than reaching for the Opus One if you want a great glass of Napa Cab without the trophy-wine markup.
Chateau Ste. Michelle
Easy to overlook on a list stacked with Napa heavyweights, but Chateau Ste. Michelle consistently offers real quality at a fraction of the price of the California names surrounding it. Most diners walk right past it — their loss.
Opus One
Look, Opus One is a legitimate wine — but on a restaurant list it's almost always marked up to the stratosphere, and you're paying for the label as much as the liquid. At Witherspoon, there are better ways to spend that money.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Braised Short Ribs
Stag's Leap brings enough structure and dark fruit to stand up to the richness of braised short ribs without overwhelming the dish — it's the kind of pairing that feels obvious in hindsight and makes the whole table happy.
The Bottom Line
Witherspoon Grill isn't trying to be a wine destination and it doesn't need to be — it's a dependable, well-maintained list that serves its room well. Send a friend here if they want a great bottle of Napa Cab with dinner; don't send them if they're chasing something unexpected.
Route 1 / MarketFair area · Princeton · Seafood / Steakhouse
Eddie V's Princeton is a reliable, well-run wine program that excels on its own terms — California-focused, sommelier-staffed, and properly stored — but it won't challenge your palate or your loyalty to the coasts. Send your California Cab-loving friends here without hesitation; send the natural wine crowd somewhere else.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Greater Princeton Area / Hamilton · Princeton · French-Inspired Contemporary American
Rat's is a destination restaurant that takes its wine program seriously — 900 bottles, a sommelier on staff, and a reserve list with actual depth earn it that much. The markups are real and you'll feel them, but if you time it right with happy hour, this is one of the better wine experiences in the Princeton orbit.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Witherspoon Corridor · Princeton · Artisanal wood-fired pizza, Italian
Nomad Princeton earns its reputation on the pizza, not the pour — and that's fine, but know what you're walking into. If the wine matters to you, bring a bottle and pay the corkage, or stick to whatever Thomas Henry has on tap.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Princeton · Princeton · Italian
La Mezzaluna isn't where you go to discover wine — it's where you go to drink something Italian and not think too hard about it. That's a perfectly valid reason to visit, as long as you know what you're signing up for.
Plays It Safe
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
Route 1 / MarketFair · Princeton · New American / Wine Bar
Seasons 52 Princeton is a reliable wine stop for anyone who wants a wide-open by-the-glass menu, fair pricing, and zero surprises — in a good way and a bad way. Send a friend here if they're still figuring out what they like; send a wine nerd somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Eagle Ranch · Vail · American
The Wild Sage is your dependable neighborhood spot in Eagle Ranch — the wine list won't blow your mind, but it won't embarrass you at dinner either. Watch the markups on the top-shelf Napa bottles and stick to the mid-range, and you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront · Traverse City · American
Warehouse Kitchen + Cork won't win any awards for depth or ambition, but it plays its hand honestly — fair prices, solid local representation, and a full by-the-glass program that respects your wallet. If you're in Traverse City and want a glass of something local with a water view, this works.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Truckee · Truckee · American
Sunnyside is a casual lodge restaurant wearing a serious wine list under its flannel — the markup is steep and it won't win any awards for staff expertise, but the producer lineup is legitimately impressive for where you're sitting. If you're already at the lake, this is absolutely worth ordering a real bottle.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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