Sky-high views, earthbound markups on the big names
Downtown LA · Los Angeles · Contemporary American
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 21, 2026
RagingWine reviewed 71Above’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
When a restaurant sits on the 71st floor of a Downtown LA skyscraper, you expect the wine list to match the altitude — and at roughly 1,350 labels, it does. The sheer scale is immediately impressive, and a dedicated sommelier on staff signals this isn't just a list padded out to look good. The room is special-occasion serious, and the wine program mostly keeps pace.
Dig in and the list earns its heft. There's genuine international breadth here, but the most interesting moves are closer to home — Santa Barbara County and the Central Coast get meaningful representation, which is exactly the kind of regional pride a Los Angeles restaurant should be showing. Champagne selections are plentiful and specific, with grower producers like J-M Sélèque appearing alongside the standard prestige cuvées. The depth is real, though the list skews heavily toward crowd-pleasing California Cabernet territory when you get to the higher price points.
Twenty to twenty-five options by the glass is a genuinely strong program, and the $18–$35 range reflects the upscale room without feeling punitive at the lower end. The inclusion of J-M Sélèque Extra Brut Soliste 1er Cru Champagne as a pairing pour shows the glass program has some real thought behind it — that's not a wine most restaurants bother stocking, let alone pouring by the glass. Rotation details aren't well-documented publicly, but the sommelier presence suggests it's curated rather than static.
J-M Sélèque Extra Brut Soliste 1er Cru Champagne — $35/glass
A grower Champagne from a serious Épernay producer by the glass at a fine dining spot in the sky — this is the move. Sélèque doesn't show up everywhere, and getting it as a glass pour while watching the LA basin light up at dusk is hard to beat dollar-for-experience.
Santa Barbara County selections (Central Coast producers)
Most people at a place like this reach straight for the Napa Cab or the Burgundy, but the Central Coast picks are where 71Above actually has a point of view. Local, thoughtful, and almost certainly priced more reasonably than the prestige bottles. Ask the sommelier what they're pouring from Santa Barbara — that's the real list inside the list.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
At $285 against a $90 retail price, this is a 216% markup on a wine that's already everywhere. Caymus is a fine bottle at your local shop; at 71Above it's a trophy pour for people who don't know what else to order. The sommelier will steer you somewhere better if you ask.
J-M Sélèque Extra Brut Soliste 1er Cru Champagne + Rotating seafood entrée (halibut or similar)
The Extra Brut dosage keeps this lean and mineral, and it cuts right through whatever butter or cream situation the kitchen puts on the halibut. Champagne and white fish is never wrong, but a grower Champagne with actual texture makes it something worth remembering.
The Bottom Line
71Above has the list, the staff, and the setting to be something truly special — what holds it back is predictable fine-dining markup that punishes you for reaching toward the recognizable names. Come with a budget, lean on the sommelier, and stay away from the trophy bottles.
Downtown Los Angeles · Los Angeles · French-inspired, New American
Perch is a place people go for the view, the scene, and the Instagram moment — the wine list knows this and doesn't try very hard. Order something simple, enjoy the skyline, and save your serious wine drinking for a restaurant that wants to earn it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hollywood · Los Angeles · Upscale Italian, Seafood
Marino is a reliable, well-curated Italian wine list that earns its stripes on selection and staff knowledge, even if the pricing makes you wince on the everyday bottles. Send a friend here for the Guidalberto and the Franciacorta — just steer them away from anything under $60.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Hollywood · Los Angeles · Neapolitan Italian, Pizza
Da Michele's wine list is narrow by design and better for it — a focused, fairly priced tour through Southern Italy that most pizza spots in LA wouldn't dare attempt. If you're even mildly curious about Campanian wine, this is one of the better excuses in the city to start learning.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Los Angeles · Los Angeles · Seafood
Water Grill is a reliable choice for serious wine with serious seafood — the list is deep enough to reward exploration, and the sommelier presence means you can actually ask for help. The markups sting, but this is Downtown LA and you knew that walking in.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Bel-Air · Los Angeles · Modern Californian with European/Mediterranean influences
This is a serious wine list dressed in a garden party — the depth is real, the sommelier is engaged, and if you're willing to pay the Bel-Air premium, the experience delivers. Just go in knowing the bill will reflect the hedge-lined address.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Beverly Grove / West Hollywood · Los Angeles · Greek / Mediterranean
Kassi Club is a party restaurant with a wine list that punches above its vibe — if you ignore the markup and order Greek, you're going to drink well. Send a friend here specifically to work through the indigenous varietals; just tell them to skip the Chablis.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Beaver Creek Plaza · Vail · Contemporary American
Golden Eagle Inn is the kind of reliable mountain wine list that won't embarrass you on a date or a client dinner, but it'll charge you for the altitude at every turn. The Brunello and the Bouchard Beaune are genuine bright spots — find those, skip the Veuve, and you'll have a good night.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Vail Village · Vail · Contemporary American
Sweet Basil is the best wine list in Vail by a wide margin — 400 bottles, a real Cruvinet program, and a sommelier who put actual thought into the selections. The markups sting, but that's mountain dining; the quality justifies the trip.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
West Sedona · Sedona · Contemporary American
The Hudson isn't going to make any wine lists for its wine list, but it's a solid, competent program for what this place is — a lively upscale-casual spot where the views are doing a lot of the work. Send your friends here for dinner and tell them to stick to the bottles under $70.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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