Solid Sips to Match Your Spicy Tuna
Downtown / State Street · Santa Barbara · Japanese Sushi · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 11, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Arigato Sushi’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Arigato isn't why you're here — the fish is — but it does the job without embarrassing itself. It's a short, California-leaning card that skews toward bottles that work with raw fish without asking too much of anyone. Nothing adventurous, nothing offensive.
The list leans heavily on light whites, sparkling, and rosé, which is actually the right instinct for a sushi bar. You'll spot familiar California names like Chateau St. Jean and Domaine Chandon doing the heavy lifting. The Kessler-Haak Pinot Rosé is a genuine nod to the local Santa Barbara wine scene and the one sign that someone gave this list a moment of real thought. Don't come looking for Burgundy or Riesling — this isn't that place.
By-the-glass specifics weren't fully available when we visited, but the list appears to center around the same small roster of bottles available by the bottle. Options are limited enough that you won't be overwhelmed — or particularly excited.
Kessler-Haak Pinot Rosé — null
A Santa Barbara County producer showing up on a sushi menu is a pleasant surprise. This rosé has the acidity and freshness to cut through rich rolls without stomping on delicate fish — and it's the most locally relevant bottle on the list.
Kessler-Haak Pinot Rosé
Most people will grab whatever sparkling is in front of them, but this local Santa Barbara rosé is the sleeper pick. Kessler-Haak is a small, well-regarded SBC producer and seeing them here is the one genuinely smart wine call on an otherwise safe list.
Domaine Chandon Brut (1/4 Bottle)
The mini-bottle format is convenient, but you're paying a premium per ounce for the packaging novelty. Chandon Brut is fine, but the math on quarter bottles at restaurant markup rarely adds up in your favor.
Chateau St. Jean Fume Blanc + Yellowtail Sashimi
The citrus and grassy edge of a Fume Blanc plays well against clean, buttery yellowtail. It's a classic California white doing exactly what it's supposed to do — nothing more, nothing less.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Arigato is a destination for sushi, not wine — but the list is sensibly built around what actually works with raw fish. Order the Kessler-Haak, eat well, and don't overthink it.
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Tre Lune isn't trying to reinvent anything — it's a well-loved Montecito Italian with a wine list that earns its Wine Spectator nod and leans intelligently on Margerum's local chops. Send a friend here knowing the wine will be fairly priced and thoughtfully chosen, even if the excitement ceiling is comfortable rather than thrilling.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Santa Barbara · New American / California Cuisine
Finch & Fork is a reliable pour in a great wine region — the list champions its Santa Barbara backyard with real conviction, even if the markups occasionally make you wince. Send a friend here if they want to drink local and drink well; just steer them toward the Foxen and away from the M5.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Santa Barbara · Italian Pizzeria
Ca' Dario Pizzeria isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — the list does its job, the prices are fair, and the Santa Barbara rosé alone justifies looking past the cocktail menu. Send a friend here if they want solid Italian wine with their pizza and zero fuss.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waterfront / Cabrillo Blvd · Santa Barbara · Italian Steakhouse
Ca' Dario Steakhouse is a reliable wine destination for anyone who wants serious Italian bottles with their steak without having to navigate a 300-label monster list. The markups trend steep, especially on the celebrity bottles, but the Santa Barbara Syrah and Sicilian options give value-hunters a legitimate path.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waterfront / East Beach · Santa Barbara · Contemporary Oaxacan and Mexican
Flor De Maiz isn't a wine destination, but it's a Wild Card in the best sense — a waterfront Oaxacan spot that took the time to build a small, thoughtful list with local producers and a genuine Mexican anchor. Come for the mole, stay for the Barden Brut Rosé.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Public Market / Downtown · Santa Barbara · Thai and Taiwanese-inspired noodle bar
Empty Bowl is a genuinely excellent noodle bar that deserves a better wine program than this — come for the Khao Soi, grab a sake, and don't let the wine list talk you into a $36 Chardonnay. The kitchen is working hard; the wine list is not.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Old Town Scottsdale · Scottsdale · Japanese Sushi
Sushi Roku is a great place to eat and a fine place to drink wine, so long as you're not there for the wine. The list is safe, the markups are real, and the energy of the room will distract you from caring too much — which is probably the intent.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Unknown · Atlanta · Japanese Sushi
O-Ku is doing more with wine than almost any sushi restaurant in Atlanta, and the Pacific Northwest whites alone are worth your attention. Markups keep it from being a true destination for wine, but as sushi-and-wine combinations go, this one actually tries.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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