NanaSteak
A solid steakhouse list that won't embarrass you
Downtown Durham · Durham · American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at NanaSteak feels exactly like the room it lives in — polished, confident, and built to impress on a date night without taking many risks. You're getting a list that checks the expected steakhouse boxes: some Champagne, a few Italians, a California contingent. It's not going to surprise you, but it won't embarrass you either.
Selection Deep Dive
The list leans on familiar geography — France, California, Italy, with a small but interesting Austrian detour via the Steininger Gruner Veltliner. The Tenuta Casabianca Chianti Colli Senesi hints that someone in the building has a passing interest in Italian terroir beyond the obvious names, which is encouraging. Truchard Vineyard's California presence is a solid call — they're a legit Carneros producer who tend to get overshadowed by bigger Napa labels. What's missing is any real depth in aged bottles or off-the-beaten-path regions; this is a 50-80 bottle list that plays to the crowd rather than the curious.
By the Glass
At least four pours by the glass at $14 a pop — that's functional but not exciting. We'd love to see more range here, especially something adventurous beyond the usual suspects. The glass program feels like an afterthought next to the bottle list, which is a missed opportunity in a room this energetic.
Tenuta Casabianca Chianti Colli Senesi '21 — $36-$45 (estimated)
Chianti Colli Senesi doesn't get the respect it deserves — this Sangiovese-driven wine has the acidity and savory backbone to cut through a ribeye without charging you Classico Riserva prices. If it's on the lower end of the bottle range, it's the smartest order on the list.
Steininger Gruner Veltliner '24
A Gruner Veltliner on a steakhouse list is a curveball worth catching. Austria's signature white — peppery, lean, high acid — is genuinely underrated with beef fat and rich sauces. Most tables will walk right past it for a Chardonnay. Don't be most tables.
Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Brut NV
It's a perfectly fine Champagne, but Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée is a high-volume, widely distributed label that restaurants love to mark up because the name sounds impressive. You're almost certainly paying $90+ for a bottle that retails around $40. The bubbles are fine; the math is not.
Tenuta Casabianca Chianti Colli Senesi '21 + Charcoal Grilled Center Cut Filet Mignon
Sangiovese and charcoal-grilled beef is one of the oldest duos in the book for a reason. The wine's cherry fruit and grippy tannins play off the char without steamrolling the filet's natural tenderness. It's the right weight — not so big it overwhelms, not so light it disappears.
✔️ The Bottom Line
NanaSteak is a reliable wine stop in a great room — you'll drink well enough without any nasty surprises on the bill, as long as you steer clear of the Champagne markups. Send your friends here for a steak night; just coach them on what to order.
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