The Capital Grille - Fort Myers
Big list, safe bets, California all day
Bell Tower Shops · Fort Myers · American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 12, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list arrives like the room itself — heavy, deliberate, and very sure of itself. Over 350 selections signals serious intent, and the sommelier on staff means someone actually thought about what goes on these pages. The mahogany-and-chandelier setting sets expectations high, and the list mostly meets them.
Selection Deep Dive
This is a California-forward list with a strong lean toward the usual suspects — Napa Cabernet, buttery Chardonnay, Pinot Noir from the coast. The Dave Phinney portfolio appearances and Orin Swift Merlot show someone has taste beyond the grocery store aisle, but don't expect a deep dive into Jura or the Canary Islands. It's a list built to impress a table of expense-account diners, not to challenge anyone. Gaps in old-world depth are real, but what's here is executed well.
By the Glass
By-the-glass specifics weren't pinned down from available data, but the Generous Pour wine tasting event — which cycles through wines like Rombauer Chardonnay, J Pinot Noir, and Rosé by Randall Grahm — gives a good window into what they consider pour-worthy. If the glass program mirrors those event selections, you're looking at crowd-pleasing California standards done competently. Expect solid pours, not revelations.
Rosé by Randall Grahm — null
Randall Grahm built his reputation on doing things differently, and this rosé punches above its price point in a room where most bottles are priced for the corporate card. It's the most interesting option on the accessible end of the list and a genuine change of pace from the Napa parade.
Orin Swift Merlot
Merlot is the wine everyone forgot they liked, and in a steakhouse this Cab-obsessed, ordering it feels almost rebellious. Orin Swift makes it plush and serious — dark fruit, structure, none of the watery reputation that sank the grape's image. Most tables will walk right past it.
Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay
Look, Rombauer Chardonnay is perfectly fine wine — it's also everywhere, and steakhouses mark it up like it's rare. At a restaurant in this price tier, you're almost certainly paying a significant premium for a bottle you could grab at any wine shop for far less. Save the spend for something you can't find on every list in America.
Jason Born Cabernet Sauvignon from Palmer + Porcini Rubbed Bone-In Dry Aged Ribeye
A structured California Cab with the kind of dark fruit and tannin backbone that can go toe-to-toe with aged beef without blinking. The porcini rub on the ribeye pulls earthy notes out of the wine and the wine pulls richness out of the meat. This is the combination the list was built around.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Capital Grille Fort Myers is a reliable play if you want a serious wine experience without much adventure — the sommelier knows the list, the storage is right, and the Generous Pour events are genuinely worth catching. Just know you're paying steakhouse prices for a California-heavy list that rarely surprises.
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