Sullivan's Steakhouse
California Muscle, Steakhouse Swagger, Zero Surprises
Raleigh · Durham · Steakhouse, Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 6, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Sullivan's announces itself the way a power broker walks into a room — confident, expensive, and not particularly interested in your opinion. It's a big book, 300-500 bottles deep, California-forward, and built for expense accounts. If you came here hoping to find a funky Jura Savagnin or a grower Champagne hiding in the back pages, you're going to be disappointed.
Selection Deep Dive
Napa Valley and Sonoma dominate this list the way the Cowboys dominate NFL media coverage — loudly and without apology. Duckhorn is practically the house wine program unto itself, with the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and the flagship Goldeneye Pinot Noir all making appearances. Bordeaux gets a respectable supporting role, which makes sense for a steakhouse crowd that wants a left-bank Cab-heavy blend with their ribeye. What's missing is any meaningful exploration of Burgundy, Italy, Spain, or really anything that doesn't have a Napa Valley zip code — this list was built for guests who already know what they want and want a lot of it.
By the Glass
With 20-30 by-the-glass options, Sullivan's actually gives you room to maneuver without committing to a bottle — that's more range than most steakhouses bother with. Expect the Duckhorn portfolio to anchor the program here too, which is fine if predictable. Rotation appears limited; this reads more as a fixed program than something the team refreshes with any urgency.
Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc — null
In a list this California-heavy and this steak-focused, a crisp Duckhorn Sauv Blanc is the move if you're starting with the lobster bisque or crab cakes. It's the lighter-touch option on a list that otherwise wants you to go big, and Duckhorn's Napa Valley version has enough weight to hold its own without steamrolling the seafood.
Goldeneye Pinot Noir
Most people sitting in a steakhouse reach for Cabernet on autopilot, which means the Goldeneye Pinot Noir from Duckhorn's Anderson Valley label gets slept on here. Anderson Valley Pinot is genuinely cool-climate and structured — it's not the thin, jammy stuff that gives California Pinot a bad name. Order it with the filet and you'll look like you know something other people don't.
Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon
Duckhorn Cab is a perfectly fine wine. It's also on every steakhouse list from here to Scottsdale, and at steakhouse markup prices you're paying a significant premium for the comfort of familiarity. The wine isn't the problem — the price-to-discovery ratio is. You can find this bottle at a wine shop for a fraction of what Sullivan's will charge you for it.
Duckhorn Merlot + Bone-in New York strip
Duckhorn's Napa Merlot was doing the big, structured, cellar-worthy thing long before everyone forgot Merlot was allowed to be serious again. The bone-in New York strip has enough fat and char to match the wine's plummy depth and firm tannins without either one bullying the other. It's the less obvious call compared to the Cab, and it's better for it.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Sullivan's is a reliable, well-run steakhouse wine program with a sommelier on staff and a list that delivers exactly what it promises — which is a lot of California, executed well, at prices that assume you're not paying the bill yourself. Send your friend here if they want a sure thing; send them somewhere else if they want to be surprised.
Comments
Get the Weekly Wingman
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.