Las Brisas Southwest Steakhouse
West Texas hides a serious wine program
Lubbock · Lubbock · Southwestern American, Steakhouse
Reviewed April 9, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
You don't expect to open a wine list in Lubbock and find Chateau Lynch-Bages sitting next to William Chris Vineyards, but here we are. Las Brisas has been holding a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence since 2015, and the list earns it — this isn't a steakhouse wine program running on autopilot. The Southwestern rusticity of the room makes the seriousness of the cellar feel like a genuine surprise.
Selection Deep Dive
The list runs 200-plus bottles deep and leans hard into California Cabernet — Jordan, Silver Oak, Caymus, Stag's Leap, Chateau Montelena — which makes perfect sense when you're selling prime ribeyes in Texas. Bordeaux shows up with real intention: Chateau Lynch-Bages is not a filler pick, it's a statement. What separates Las Brisas from the average Texas steakhouse, though, is the commitment to local producers — Llano Estacado, McPherson Cellars, Duchman Family, and William Chris Vineyards all have a seat at the table. The gap is anything outside the California-Texas-Bordeaux triangle; if you're hunting Burgundy, Rhône, or anything from the Southern Hemisphere, you'll come up short.
By the Glass
With 20-35 pours available by the glass, this is a strong program for the format — more than enough to work through a full meal without committing to a bottle. The pours skew predictably toward approachable California names and a Texas producer or two, which is smart for this crowd. We'd love to see more rotation and a Texas spotlight slot that changes seasonally, but what's here covers the table well.
McPherson Cellars — $40-$50
McPherson makes some of the most honest, food-friendly wine in Texas at prices that still make sense at restaurant markup. It's a far better story than another Caymus at four times retail.
Duchman Family Winery
Most people at a steakhouse walk right past the Texas section, but Duchman's Italian-varietal program — think Montepulciano and Vermentino grown in the Hill Country — is quietly one of the best arguments for drinking local. Order it before the table defaults to California on instinct.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is fine wine, but it's also the most marked-up, most over-ordered bottle in every American steakhouse. You're paying a popularity tax here. The same money gets you something with more character and less hype elsewhere on this list.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Prime Ribeye
Stag's Leap brings structure and dark fruit without the syrup overload — it cuts through the ribeye's fat and lets the char speak. It's the California Cab on this list that actually earns its place next to a serious piece of beef.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Las Brisas is exactly the kind of wine program you should seek out when you're in a food city that doesn't get enough credit — a real sommelier, a cellar that respects both Napa and the Texas Hill Country, and enough range to reward the curious. It's not cheap, but it's not lazy either, and in Lubbock, that counts for a lot.
Comments
Get the Weekly Wingman
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.