Ruth's Chris Steak House
Napa-forward and proud of it
Downtown · El Paso · Steakhouse
Reviewed April 13, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Ruth's Chris El Paso reads exactly like you'd expect — a greatest hits album of California Cabernet and Chardonnay, thick with names every steak lover already knows. There's nothing surprising here, but there's also nothing sloppy about it. It's a list built to match $50+ ribeyes, and it does that job competently.
Selection Deep Dive
Napa Valley dominates, with heavy hitters like Caymus Special Selection, Far Niente, Jordan, Beringer Private Reserve, and Duckhorn Merlot anchoring the list. Bordeaux and Burgundy make appearances as the obligatory Old World nod, but don't expect deep regional exploration or anything off the beaten path. The list clocks in somewhere between 150 and 300 bottles, which sounds impressive until you realize how many of those slots are variations on the same Napa Cab theme. If you came here hoping to stumble onto a grower Champagne or a Willamette Valley Pinot, you're at the wrong steakhouse.
By the Glass
The by-the-glass program runs 15-25 options, which is a respectable spread for a steakhouse. Standouts include the Browne Family Forest Project pours, which represent the best glass-for-glass value on the menu. Rotation appears minimal — this is a set-it-and-forget-it program, not a list that's refreshed with any urgency.
Browne Family Forest Project Cabernet Sauvignon — $11
At $11 a glass for a bottle that retails around $15, this is practically at cost — a rare moment of restraint from a chain that could easily charge double. Order it without guilt.
Browne Family Forest Project Chardonnay
Most tables here are gunning straight for the big Napa Cabs, and this Chardonnay gets overlooked. At $11 a glass it's an honest, food-friendly pour that works well before the steak arrives — don't wait for someone else to figure that out.
Caymus Vineyards Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon
Look, Caymus is fine. But it's also the most marked-up, most predictable bottle on any steakhouse list in America. You're paying a serious premium for the name recognition, and at a Ruth's Chris you're almost certainly not getting the cellar conditions or the glass to do it justice anyway.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon + USDA Prime Ribeye
Jordan's Sonoma Cab is plush enough to stand up to the rich, buttery sizzle of a Ruth's Chris ribeye without the overt jammy sweetness of a Caymus. It's the more elegant call at the table, and it won't wreck your check the same way the Special Selection will.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Ruth's Chris El Paso is a reliable, no-drama wine experience for people who like their Cabernet as dependable as their steaks. You won't discover anything new here, but you also won't be disappointed — and that Browne Family by-the-glass deal is genuinely worth knowing about.
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