Steam Restaurant & Bar
Hotel Wine That Actually Doesn't Hurt
Downtown · Wilmington · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 11, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
Walk into Steam expecting hotel wine at hotel prices and you'll be pleasantly surprised — the markups here are genuinely fair, sitting in that rare 30-35% range when the rest of the industry is gouging at 3-4x retail. It's a predictable list built for a broad audience, but at least it's not trying to rob you while you eat oysters.
Selection Deep Dive
The list leans heavily on approachable, widely distributed labels — Carletto, Matchbook, Maggio, Markstone — nothing that's going to make a wine nerd's heart race, but nothing embarrassing either. You've got California dominance with a nod to Italy via some Veneto bottlings, and a sparkling rosé from Mendocino that shows at least a little range. Don't come here looking for Burgundy, Rhône, or anything with real cellar depth — this list was curated for the conference attendee, not the cork dork. The gaps are real, but what's here is priced honestly.
By the Glass
The glass program appears to be the whole show — every wine we found in the markup data is priced in that $10-$12 range, which is nearly unheard of for a hotel restaurant at this level. Rotation seems minimal and the selection won't challenge anyone, but you can order a second glass without doing math in your head, and that's worth something.
Onward Sparkling Rosé, Hawk's Eye Ranch, Mendocino 2022 — $12
A California sparkling rosé from a single vineyard in Mendocino for $12 a glass is legitimately good value. This is the most interesting bottle on the list and it's priced like a house pour.
Matchbook Chardonnay, Dunnigan Hills 2023
Dunnigan Hills gets overlooked constantly — it's a warm inland California region that produces leaner, less buttery Chardonnay than Napa or Sonoma. At $12, most people will order something else, but this is the pick for anyone tired of the oaky California Chard cliché.
Markstone Pinot Noir, California
Generic California Pinot with no vintage, no sub-appellation, no story. When a label can't tell you where in California the grapes came from, that's a red flag. Spend your $11 on the sparkling rosé instead.
Carletto Pinot Grigio, Veneto 2022 + Blue Crab & Corn Chowder
Pinot Grigio's natural acidity and light body cut through the cream in the chowder without fighting the sweet crab flavor. It's a simple call, but it works — and at $11 a glass alongside a bowl of local chowder, it's a pretty good Tuesday night.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Steam isn't going to be anyone's wine destination, but the markups are shockingly fair for a hotel restaurant and the sparkling rosé alone is worth the stop. If you're in downtown Wilmington and want a decent glass without getting fleeced, this does the job.
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