Santana Row's Most Serious Wine Room
Santana Row · San Jose · Californian, Mediterranean · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 7, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Augustine’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list lands on the table with the kind of weight that tells you this place takes things seriously. Four hundred-plus selections across California, France, and Italy — this isn't a restaurant that added wine as an afterthought. Wine Spectator handed Augustine a Best of Award of Excellence in 2025, and a quick scan of the list tells you why.
California is the anchor here, and it holds strong — Kistler Chardonnay, Ridge Monte Bello, Caymus Special Selection, and Opus One all show up, covering everything from precision-driven whites to the kind of Napa Cabernet that closes deals. France gets proper attention too, with Louis Jadot Burgundy and Château Léoville-Barton flying the flag for Bordeaux. Italy earns its seat at the table with Antinori Tignanello and Gaja Barbaresco — two wines that could anchor any serious enoteca. The only gap worth noting: if you're hunting for natural wine or anything left-field, this list isn't your playground.
Twenty to thirty-five pours by the glass is a serious program — not just the usual Chardonnay-Cab-Pinot trio. The $12–$25 range gives you enough room to step up without committing to a bottle, which we appreciate on a weeknight. We'd love to see more rotation, but the selection depth here beats most Santana Row neighbors by a wide margin.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot — $45+
Duckhorn Merlot punches well above its category — this is the wine that made people fall back in love with Merlot post-Sideways, and at the entry point of Augustine's bottle range, it's the smart call for a table that wants something California and crowd-pleasing without blowing the budget on Opus One.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir
Everyone at this table is going to reach for the California reds or the Burgundy by reflex, which means Domaine Drouhin Oregon almost always gets skipped. That's a mistake — it's a Burgundian producer making Oregon Pinot with serious intention, and it tends to be priced more modestly than the French stuff it quietly outperforms.
Opus One
It's a landmark wine and there's nothing wrong with it — but Opus One is one of the most marked-up bottles in America, and you're paying a significant premium for the name recognition. The Ridge Monte Bello will give you a more interesting drinking experience at a lower price, full stop.
Antinori Tignanello + Braised Short Rib
Tignanello is a Sangiovese-Cabernet blend built for exactly this kind of situation — the acidity cuts through the richness of braised short rib while the dark fruit and structure match the depth of the dish. It's a classic pairing that works because both the wine and the food are operating at the same level.
The Bottom Line
Augustine is the real deal for San Jose — a deep, credentialed list with two sommeliers on staff and the bones to back up its Best of Award of Excellence. Markups aren't shy, but if you're coming here for a special occasion, the quality justifies the spend.
· San Jose · Italian
Palermo isn't a wine destination, but it's a genuinely solid neighborhood Italian with a list that respects the cuisine and won't punish your wallet. Send a friend here if they want a good bottle with dinner — just steer them toward the Italian side of the list.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Jose · Wine Bar / New American
At $10 a glass, you won't feel robbed — but a wine bar with eight unnamed house pours and zero depth isn't really a wine bar. Grab the Scharffenberger and lower your expectations accordingly.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Santana Row · San Jose · Japanese / Ramen
Momosan's wine list is perfectly adequate for a ramen dinner and perfectly forgettable in every other way. Order the Pinot Noir or the sparkling, enjoy your bowl, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Santana Row · San Jose · Wine bar
Vintage Wine Bar is a narrow, laser-focused list that will delight Champagne lovers and mildly frustrate anyone hoping for a glass of Pinot Gris. If sparkling wine is your thing, there are genuinely excellent bottles here at prices that don't insult you — send a friend who knows what Bereche et Fils is, and they'll be happy.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Jose · Portuguese
ADEGA is building one of the most focused and quietly serious Portuguese wine lists in California, and the fortified section alone is worth a visit. If you're willing to commit to a bottle and let the list take you somewhere unfamiliar, this is exactly the kind of place Raging Wine exists to tell you about.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Jose · Wine Bar
Little Wine House is doing something genuinely rare: a small list that actually required thought, priced like someone who wants you to come back. If you're in San Jose and want a glass of something interesting without a lecture attached, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Gaslamp Quarter · San Diego · Californian, Mediterranean
Callie is the rare San Diego restaurant where the wine list is a genuine destination, not an afterthought — the Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator is earned, not ceremonial. If you're in the Gaslamp and care about what's in your glass, this is where you go.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Redlands · Redlands · Californian, Mediterranean
Caprice Café is the kind of wine list that makes you reassess what a neighborhood bistro can be — a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence in downtown Redlands, with half-price Wednesdays, serious California depth, and bottles that reward a real drinker. Yes, we'd send a friend here.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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