Wine resolutions and some excellent steak houses

I’m Back! That self-serving declaration has a double meaning for me since I’ve been absent from these Style pages for a couple of months due to that same word – Back- as in that fragile rear side of the human body. And while I was recuperating from surgery, I had a lot of free time to cogitate on that liquid we all love to consume- even though I was not allowed to let that elixir I pass into my body.

I was all set to regale you with my wine appreciation version of New year’s resolutions when I had to back off. Anyway, today, I’ll reveal my vinous promises and then tell you about a few of my favorite steakhouses around the state –that have particularly deep and excellent wine lists that pair exceptionally well with your favorite cut of beef. So, let’s start with my 2026 wine resolutions.

– Try unfamiliar appellations and wines like: pinot noir from Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand (great with grilled salmon); or the other white wine from Burgundy – Aligoté (especially good with scallops); or Aglianico, the spicy red from the Campania region of southern Italy that is a lovely match with rack of lamb.

– Explore the wines of our sister state. The wine regions around Charlottesville and up the spine of the Blue Ridge mountains in Virginia have emerged as the best appellations on the east coast. I especially enjoy the cabernet franc, viognier and chardonnay produced there. Local Virginia oysters, cheeses, country ham and smoked tomato grits pair nicely with Old Dominion wines.

– Drink more sweet wines as aperitifs and with dessert. Some folks have the misconception that sweet wines are for beginning wine drinkers or the unsophisticated. I think that is a largely an American myth since a lot of us associate sweet wines with the unpleasant experiences we might have had in our youth with sugary, high alcohol products. You might try Sauternes or Barzac from France, late harvest riesling from Germany or California or Vin Santo and Moscato di Asti from Italy.

Now on to some of my favorite steakhouses. If you’ve read this column for any length of time, you know that I never mention a special wine without suggesting an appropriate food with which to pair it. For steak or meat lovers that is especially important and we are fortunate to have several eateries around West-By-Golly that are exceptional. Perhaps the most accomplished of these is the Wonder Bar Steaklhouse in Clarksburg. This Wine Spectator award winning restaurant features not only wonderful steak entrees, but also an extensive and well-priced wine list. One of the most notable wines on their list is Sassicaia- that Super Tuscan blend of predominately cabernet sauvignon. You’ll find this wine and many other superb selections at the WonderBar and also an exceptionally delicious assortment of Italian entrees.

If you’re a food and wine lover living in the Kanawha Valley, you simply must visit Laury’s. While the restaurant is known for truly exceptional continental cuisine, the wine list there may be the most extensive- outside of the Greenbrier’s Main Dining Room- and certainly the most reasonably priced one in the state.

If you happen to reside in the eastern panhandle of our state, You must visit and have a meal at The Final Cut Steakhouse. While the name says it all, this is another perennially Wine Spectator awarded restaurant. The restaurant is located at the Charles Town Race Track and Casino and you can bet on its tasty steaks and great selection of wines from around the world.

Wine and food lovers won’t go wrong with a visit to Huntington’s 21 at the Frederick either. The wine list is extensive and fairly price and the steak is the headliner here. There are also a number of other excellent steakhouses featuring good wine lists, but the ones mentioned above truly stand out.
Bon Appetit!

John Brown is also a novelist. His latest book – Augie’s Wine –is now available to order online or at his website wordsbyjohnbrown.com. His first two books– Augie’s War and Augie’s World – are also available online and at bookstores around the state. You can find out more about his novels, and review all his archived Vines & Vittles columns at wordsbyjohnbrown.com