Ruth's Chris Steak House
Napa Classics and Prime Cuts, Done Right
Hamilton Place · Chattanooga · Steakhouse, Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 10, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list here reads like a greatest hits album of American wine — Caymus, Duckhorn, Prisoner, Orin Swift. If you've been to a Ruth's Chris anywhere in the country, you already know the setlist. That's not necessarily a knock, but don't come looking for surprises.
Selection Deep Dive
The list leans hard into Napa Valley and California, which makes sense given the format — big red wines next to big steaks is a reliable formula. Duckhorn's Napa Merlot and Cabernet anchor the serious end, while Prisoner Wine Company and Orin Swift handle the approachable, label-driven middle. Champagne representation comes via Moët & Chandon, which covers the celebration crowd without going deep into grower producers or vintage options. If you're hoping for Old World depth, Burgundy obscura, or anything from the Southern Hemisphere, adjust expectations accordingly.
By the Glass
By-the-glass specifics weren't available at time of research, but a program built around Orin Swift and Prisoner almost certainly pours both by the glass — that's their whole deal at chains like this. Expect a short, safe list of five to eight pours that mirrors the bottle list in miniature. Rotation is unlikely; what's on tonight is probably what's on every night.
Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot — null
Duckhorn Merlot is a genuinely good bottle that holds its own next to anything on this list. In a steakhouse context where Cabernet gets all the glory, the Merlot is often slightly cheaper and frankly more food-flexible. Worth asking about.
Orin Swift Mercury Head Cabernet Sauvignon
Most people reaching for Orin Swift here will default to Papillon or Abstract — the flashy labels. Mercury Head is the sleeper: a single-vineyard Napa Cab with real structure that punches above its price point and actually improves with a little time in the glass over dinner.
Moët & Chandon Champagne
Moët is fine, but at steakhouse markup you're paying a serious premium for a bottle that costs $40 at any grocery store. If you want bubbles, ask if they have anything else — or save the splurge for a bottle with the meal instead of before it.
Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon + USDA Prime Ribeye
Caymus is engineered for exactly this moment — rich, ripe, and built to stand up to the sizzling butter and char on a Ruth's Chris ribeye. It's not subtle, but neither is the steak, and that's the whole point.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Ruth's Chris Chattanooga delivers exactly what the brand promises: a dependable, Napa-forward list that hits the right notes for a celebratory steak dinner, even if it won't inspire much exploration. Send a friend here for a reliable night out, just tell them to skip the Moët markup.
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