Smith & Wollensky
Big steakhouse energy, California-heavy and proud
Wellesley · Wellesley · Steak House · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 16, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Smith & Wollensky Wellesley arrives like the restaurant itself — substantial, confident, and unapologetically classic. Three hundred to five hundred bottles deep, it leans hard into California and France, which is exactly what you'd expect from a steakhouse operating at this level. Wine Spectator has handed them an Award of Excellence since 2020, and looking at the list, you understand why.
Selection Deep Dive
California is the clear star here — Caymus, Silver Oak Alexander Valley, Stag's Leap Cask 23, Far Niente, Jordan, and Opus One read like a greatest-hits compilation for Cabernet lovers who want something they recognize. France holds its own with Chateau Margaux and Chateau Lynch-Bages anchoring the prestige end, giving the list some genuine old-world credibility. Italy gets a nod through Sassicaia and Tignanello, which rounds things out nicely for anyone who finds the California parade a bit one-note. The list is thorough where it counts for a steakhouse, though adventurous drinkers looking for Burgundy depth, southern hemisphere representation, or anything left of center will find it thin.
By the Glass
Twenty to thirty pours by the glass is a strong showing — you're not stuck choosing between two sad options while your table deliberates. Prices run $14 to $30, which is honest for this market and format. We'd expect the glass program to reflect the bottle list's California-forward DNA, so expect Cabernet-heavy rotation rather than anything that'll surprise you.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $50-range
Jordan consistently punches above its price point — it's polished Alexander Valley Cab without the Opus One tax. At a steakhouse where markups run steep, this is the bottle that still makes sense on paper.
Duckhorn Merlot
Everyone at this table is ordering Cabernet. Meanwhile, Duckhorn's Merlot is sitting there doing its best work — plummy, structured, and built for a dry-aged strip. Most people skip right past it chasing the big Cab names, which means the value conversation is easier here.
Opus One
Opus One is a beautiful wine. It's also one of the most marked-up bottles on any restaurant list in America. You're paying a significant premium for the label recognition at a price that makes the actual drinking experience hard to justify. Save it for a special occasion somewhere with better pricing leverage.
Chateau Lynch-Bages + USDA Prime dry-aged New York strip
Lynch-Bages brings that classic Pauillac structure — dark fruit, cedar, firm tannins — that has been made for aged beef since before most of us were born. The dry-aged strip has the fat and intensity to hold up to it, and neither one blinks.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Smith & Wollensky Wellesley delivers a reliable, well-stocked steakhouse wine list that earns its Wine Spectator credentials without doing anything especially daring. If you want a great California Cab with your ribeye and don't need to be surprised, this is your room.
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