Glamorous Room, California-Heavy List, Steep Pours
Downtown / Marina District · San Diego · Asian-inspired steakhouse / contemporary Asian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 21, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Animae, the wine list feels like it was dressed for the occasion — sleek, curated, and very aware of how good-looking it is. California dominates, which makes sense for a San Diego room this polished, but the price tags arrive before the food and they don't apologize for it. This is a place where the wine program is an extension of the vibe, not a standalone reason to come.
The list leans hard into California, with premium selections anchoring the bottle section — think Opus One territory, not your neighborhood wine shop. European representation exists but plays second fiddle, and the overall range lands in that frustrating zone where there's enough to look impressive but not enough depth to get genuinely excited. There's no real dig-around-and-find-something-weird energy here; it's a greatest hits collection aimed squarely at a crowd ordering A5 wagyu. The sake program running alongside wine is a smart call for the kitchen's flavor profile, but it means wine doesn't get the full real estate it deserves.
Twelve to sixteen options by the glass is a respectable spread, covering sparkling, white, rosé, and red without leaving any category stranded. Prices run $16–$28 a pour, which is the going rate for Downtown San Diego at this tier but still stings when you're three rounds in. The Loring Wine Co. Pinot Noir showing up on the by-the-glass list is the most interesting move here — it's a name that signals someone on staff actually thought about what goes in the glass.
Loring Wine Co. Pinot Noir — $22
Loring makes genuinely expressive, fruit-forward Pinot from some of California's better coastal sites. Getting it by the glass at a steakhouse that could easily be pushing something forgettable is a small win — it's the pour that earns its price rather than just justifying it.
Loring Wine Co. Pinot Noir
Most tables here are ordering Cabernet or going straight to the Opus One showpiece. The Loring Pinot is the quiet overachiever on this list — lighter, more versatile with the Asian-influenced small plates, and not priced like it has something to prove.
Dom Pérignon
At $450 on the list against a retail of around $230, you're paying nearly double just for the privilege of drinking it here. Dom is never a bad time, but a 95% markup is a hard sell when you could walk out with two bottles for the same money. Order the Loring and pocket the difference.
Loring Wine Co. Pinot Noir + Robata-grilled skewers
The smoke and char from the robata grill need something with enough fruit to stand up but enough acidity to cut through the fat. Loring's Pinot hits that balance — it doesn't fight the seasoning the way a heavy Cab would, and it actually makes the skewers taste like more.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Animae delivers a polished, well-maintained wine program that does its job in a room this expensive — but the markups on prestige bottles are aggressive enough that you'll want to stay strategic. Stick to the by-the-glass program and let the kitchen take center stage.
Rancho Santa Fe · San Diego · French-Californian Fine Dining
Mille Fleurs is the real thing — a serious cellar, a knowledgeable sommelier, and a room that earns the prices it charges. The markup is steep, but you're not paying for a wine list; you're paying for the whole production, and that production is very good.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Del Mar · San Diego · Seasonal New American with Sushi Lounge
Market is a well-run, sommelier-backed program that earns its stripes on quality and presentation — but if you're expecting fair markups or any sense of vinous adventure, adjust expectations before you sit down. Send a friend here for a special occasion, not a bargain hunt.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
La Jolla · San Diego · Steakhouse
Rare Society La Jolla is a reliable steakhouse wine list that nails the fundamentals without ever taking a swing. Send your friends here for a great steak and a well-known Napa Cab; send them somewhere else if they want to be surprised.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Carlsbad Village · San Diego · Modern French
Jeune et Jolie is the best wine list in North San Diego County and it's not particularly close. Yes, the markups reflect the fine dining ambition, but the depth, the staff knowledge, and the sheer thoughtfulness of the French selection make this worth the drive from anywhere in the region.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Carlsbad Village · San Diego · Contemporary American with live-fire cooking
Campfire is exactly the kind of restaurant wine nerds drive out of their way for — a focused, producer-driven list inside a wood-smoke-soaked room where the kitchen and the cellar are clearly in conversation. Send your friends here and tell them to ask what's open.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Bay Park · San Diego · Seasonal California and Italian Gastropub
Luce isn't a wine bar, but it's a neighborhood spot that respects wine enough to make it worth ordering — and that alone puts it ahead of most places in its category. Fair prices, a focused list, and enough variety to find something you'll actually enjoy.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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