Charley's Steak House
Classic Steakhouse Pours That Actually Deliver
International Drive · Orlando · Seafood, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 12, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Charley's opens with a confident lineup of California heavyweights — Caymus, Silver Oak, Opus One — and it's clear this place knows its audience. Dark wood, low lighting, and a room full of people celebrating something sets the stage for big red wine energy. Wine Spectator has recognized this list since 2023, and walking in, you can see why they bothered.
Selection Deep Dive
Two hundred to three hundred selections sounds like a lot until you realize a good chunk of the real estate is occupied by the California Cab canon — Stag's Leap, Beringer Private Reserve, Far Niente, Chateau Montelena — all solid choices, but not exactly adventurous. The Italian corner earns its keep with Sassicaia, Gaja Barbaresco, and Antinori Super Tuscans giving the list some actual personality. France gets a nod via Louis Jadot Burgundy and trophy bottles like Château Margaux, though at those prices you're firmly in special-occasion-or-expense-account territory. If you're hunting for grower Champagne, natural wine, or anything south of the equator, keep walking.
By the Glass
The by-the-glass program runs 12 to 20 options, which is a respectable spread for a steakhouse of this size. Wednesday's half-price wine night is the real headline here — come midweek, order a glass you'd normally talk yourself out of, and feel good about it. Don't expect the pours to rotate with the seasons, but the selection covers the basics well enough to get you through a ribeye without complaint.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — N/A — price not confirmed
Jordan consistently punches above its retail weight, and in a list full of four-figure showboats, it's the kind of bottle that actually makes sense to order at a steakhouse — structured, food-friendly, and recognizable enough that nobody at the table will question your call.
Gaja Barbaresco
Everyone at a steakhouse reaches for Cabernet on autopilot, but Gaja's Barbaresco is the move if you want something that will genuinely make the table stop talking. Complex, nervy, and built for red meat in a way most California Cabs just aren't — most diners walk right past it.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
At $160 a bottle you're paying a significant premium over what this wine costs anywhere else. Caymus is fine — it's crowd-pleasing, soft, and recognizable — but it's not a $160 bottle of wine. On a list with this much depth, spending that money on almost anything else is the smarter play.
Sassicaia 2021 + Bone-in Ribeye
Sassicaia's Cabernet-forward structure and high-toned acidity cut through the ribeye's fat exactly the way you want it to, and the Italian backbone adds complexity that a straight California Cab at this price point rarely matches. It's a splurge, but it's the right splurge for this dish.
Wednesday — Half-price wine night every Wednesday — the best reason to visit midweek.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Charley's is a dependable, well-stocked steakhouse list that earns its Wine Spectator badge without doing anything surprising — come on a Wednesday, avoid the Caymus, and aim for the Italian section. We'd send a friend here for a celebration dinner without hesitation, as long as they know to skip the obvious picks.
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