Steak-forward, wine-safe, no surprises
Bakersfield · Bakersfield · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 23, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Ruth's Chris Bakersfield is exactly what you'd expect from a national steakhouse chain — long enough to feel serious, safe enough to never surprise you. It's a corporate list done competently, with 150-plus bottles and a glass program that covers the bases without taking any risks. You're not here to discover wine; you're here to drink something that works with a ribeye.
California dominates, as it should at a steakhouse of this type — Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet anchor the list with recognizable producers like Belle Glos, Mer Soleil, and Ferrari-Carano. Oregon gets a nod with the Benton-Lane Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, and Italy shows up in token form with Santa Cristina Pinot Grigio. What you won't find is any adventurous detour into natural wine, grower Champagne, or anything a serious wine drinker would describe as a find — this is a list built for approval, not discovery. The $500+ ceiling on bottles suggests they're stocking some heavier hitters deeper in the cellar, but the everyday diner will likely stay in the $60–$120 range where the list is just fine.
Fifteen to twenty-five options by the glass is a solid count, and the range from $14–$30 keeps things accessible by steakhouse standards. The pours skew predictably California — Narrative Chardonnay on the lower end, Mer Soleil Reserve Chardonnay stepping it up, Sea Sun Pinot Noir for the red-but-not-too-red crowd. Rotation appears minimal; this is a set-it-and-leave-it glass program that gets the job done without any ambition.
Dry Creek Vineyard Fumé Blanc, Sonoma County — $14
Dry Creek's Fumé Blanc is a legitimately good Sonoma white — grassy, focused, and food-friendly — and at the lower end of the glass price range it's the smartest pour on the menu before your steak arrives.
Benton-Lane Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Most people at a steakhouse beeline for the big California Cab, but Benton-Lane's Willamette Valley Pinot is a more interesting glass — earthy, cooler-climate, and a genuine change of pace from the surrounding California fruit bombs.
Belle Glos Pinot Noir 'Clark & Telephone', Sta. Maria Valley
Belle Glos is a marketing triumph masquerading as a discovery — it's the Pinot Noir everyone orders because they've heard of it, and Ruth's Chris charges accordingly. You're paying a premium for name recognition on a wine that's pleasant but nowhere near worth the markup in this context.
Ferrari-Carano Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma + USDA Prime Ribeye
Ferrari-Carano's Cab has enough structure and dark fruit to stand up to the sizzling butter delivery system Ruth's Chris calls a steak — it's the most honest pairing on the menu and exactly why the wine exists.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Ruth's Chris Bakersfield is a reliable wine stop if your expectations are calibrated to 'corporate steakhouse': proper storage, competent service, and a list that will not embarrass you or excite you. Send a friend here for the steak; the wine is a supporting actor that knows its role.
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