The Capital Grille - Salem
Big list, bigger steaks, familiar Napa playbook
Salem (near Manchester) · Manchester · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 17, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list lands on the table like a leather-bound declaration of intent — this place takes wine seriously, or at least wants you to think it does. The sheer volume (we're talking 350-500 bottles) signals ambition, and the room's clubby dark-wood energy matches it. First instinct: prepare your wallet.
Selection Deep Dive
The list is a greatest hits of Napa and Sonoma, anchored by the usual suspects — Stag's Leap, Jordan, Caymus Special Selection, Duckhorn, Far Niente — with supporting acts from Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Tuscany filling out the back pages. It's a confident, well-curated list that steakhouse regulars will navigate comfortably, though adventurous drinkers hunting for grower Champagne or skin-contact anything will come up empty. The depth within Napa Cabernet is genuinely impressive; the breadth outside California is less so. If you know what you want and that thing is red and Californian, you're in good hands.
By the Glass
With 20-30 by-the-glass options, this is one of the stronger BTG programs in the region for a steakhouse format. You're not just stuck choosing between a house Cab and a house Chardonnay — there are real names on this list by the pour. The trade-off is price; expect glass pours in the $18-$30 range, so a couple of rounds can quietly rival a bottle.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — null
Jordan is one of the most consistently over-delivered bottles in the Napa-adjacent world — Alexander Valley Cab with real structure and restraint. In a list heavy on cult pricing, it's the one that tends to land at a more defensible markup than its neighbors. Order it before you spot the Caymus.
Duckhorn Merlot
Everyone at the table is going straight for Cab, which means the Duckhorn Merlot gets slept on almost every night. This is a serious Napa Merlot from a producer who genuinely cares about the grape — structured, age-worthy, and a better match for the chops than people expect. Order it and look like you know something.
Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus Special Selection is the wine people order when they want to impress the table with a name they recognize. The markup at a place like this is predictably painful, and the wine itself — ripe, soft, crowd-pleasing — isn't doing anything the Jordan won't do at a friendlier price point. Save the splurge for something with less restaurant-menu ubiquity.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Dry-Aged Steak
Stag's Leap built its reputation on exactly this scenario. The wine's iron-tinged dark fruit and firm tannins cut through the fat of a dry-aged cut without overwhelming it — it's the textbook pairing for a reason, and Capital Grille executes both sides of it well.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Capital Grille Salem is a well-oiled machine for a specific kind of wine drinker: someone who knows they want California Cab, wants it served right, and is willing to pay for the room. If that's you, this list won't let you down — just go in with eyes open on the pricing.
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