Thirty-Three Pours Deep and Still Swinging
· Los Angeles · Wine Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Augustine Wine Bar’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Thirty-three wines by the glass at a single wine bar is either a logistical nightmare or a genuine commitment to letting people explore — and at Augustine, it reads as the latter. The range runs from a $12 Greek Agiorgitiko to a $36 Billecart-Salmon rosé Champagne, which tells you something: this is a place that wants both the casual sipper and the person who knows exactly what they came for. We're immediately curious.
The list is legitimately eclectic in a way that doesn't feel like showing off. You get Etna on both sides of the color line (Murgo's Nerello Mascalese sparkler and Graci's Etna Rosato), a Corsican Vermentino from Clos Venturi that most LA wine lists would never think to stock, and a Greek Assyrtiko sitting quietly next to a Sancerre. California is represented with purpose — Hartford Court Russian River Chardonnay, Red Car Sonoma Coast Pinot, and the Gaja Ca'Marcanda Vistamare Viognier give the domestic section serious credibility without turning into a regional homework assignment. The gaps are minor: Burgundy proper is thin on the bottle list and we'd love to see more Southern Rhône representation, but honestly those are quibbles given what's here across 66 labels.
Thirty-three by-the-glass pours is the whole point of Augustine, and they execute it without padding the list with filler. The range covers sparkling, white, rosé, red, and a Reserve tier that tops out at $75 — so there's a real on-ramp no matter where you're starting. Rotation data isn't confirmed, but the presence of 2025 vintages across multiple producers suggests the list moves and gets refreshed.
Hartford Court Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2024 — $16/glass
Hartford Court is a serious Russian River producer making age-worthy Chardonnay that typically retails around $35-40 a bottle. At $16 a glass you're drinking well above your pay grade — this is the move if you want California Chardonnay done right without the Sonoma Coast premium.
Cantina Valle Isarco Pinot Noir Alto Adige 2023
Most people pass right by Alto Adige Pinot Noir in favor of something French or Californian, which is a mistake. Valle Isarco works some of the highest-altitude vineyards in Italy's far north, and the Pinots coming out of there are nervy, perfumed, and unlike anything from Burgundy or Sonoma. At $14 a glass, this is the sleeper on the entire list.
Gemstone Facets Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2023
At $28 a glass you're paying a significant premium over the Hartford Court just a few lines up — and while Gemstone is a fine producer, the value math doesn't hold up when the comparison is sitting right there on the same list. Unless you specifically want to spend more, the Hartford Court wins every time.
Graci Etna Rosato Nerello Mascalese 2025 + Charcuterie board
Etna Rosato has that volcanic-mineral backbone and bright red-fruit tension that cuts through cured meat fat without overwhelming delicate cheese. It's the kind of wine that makes a cheese board feel like a serious decision rather than a default order — and at $18 a glass, it's not going to hurt.
The Bottom Line
Augustine is doing the work: a genuinely eclectic 66-bottle list, half of it available by the glass, with pricing that respects what it's selling. If you like exploring wine without having to commit to a full bottle, this is exactly where you want to be.
· Los Angeles · California small plates
If this four-wine snapshot is the full extent of AOC's current public-facing wine program, it doesn't come close to living up to the restaurant's wine bar billing. The pricing is fair and the Vinho Verde earns its spot, but four uniform options with no dish context and no visible deeper list is not what you go to a place called AOC expecting. Come for the reputation — just hope the full list is hiding somewhere.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Beverly Hills · Los Angeles · Italian Seafood
Marea Beverly Hills brings genuine depth and regional curiosity to a wine list that could have easily coasted on crowd-pleasing Pinot Grigio and overpriced Super Tuscans — and it didn't. The markups are high, as expected for this zip code, and without clearer intel on staff knowledge or specials programming, the full experience is harder to guarantee. But the list itself earns serious respect, and if you navigate it well — start with the Strasserhof, finish with the Rossese — you'll drink far better than most tables around you.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Proper
Beverly Hills · Los Angeles · Prime rib and steakhouse
Lawry's is a Los Angeles institution and the prime rib is genuinely the point — the wine list exists to support that experience, not steal the show. If you hit the weekday happy hour window between 5 and 6 PM, you might find the value equation improves considerably. Come for the beef, enjoy whatever Cab they pour, and don't expect the list to surprise you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
West Hollywood · Los Angeles · Italian and French Café
Bottega Louie West Hollywood is a solid, reliable choice when you want wine that doesn't distract from the occasion — the room, the company, the cannoli. The Sunday half-price glass program is the single most compelling reason to choose this spot specifically for wine, and we'd encourage you to use it. Just don't expect the list to surprise you; this is a place that knows its audience and plays to them without apology.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
West Adams · Los Angeles · Italian pasta
Cento is a destination for the pasta first, and the wine list seems to know its supporting role without phoning it in. We'd want a verified menu in hand before steering you toward specific bottles, but the regional focus and the evident care in the room give us real confidence this isn't a place that treats wine as an afterthought. Go for the spicy pomodoro, ask what's pouring by the glass, and let the night unfold.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Los Angeles · French tasting menu
Mélisse is a destination for Champagne completists willing to pay fine dining prices for the privilege of choosing between four Philipponnat vintages or three Krug editions in a single sitting. But if you're hoping for a wine list that matches the ambition of a French tasting menu — with depth across regions and styles — the narrowness here will leave you wanting. Come for the bubbles, manage your expectations for everything else.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· San Jose · Wine Bar
Rootstock is doing something genuinely uncommon for San Jose: building a wine list with a real perspective, fair prices, and enough depth to reward repeat visits. The pét-nat and multi-vintage Reeve presence alone put it ahead of most dedicated wine bars in the Bay. If you care about what's in your glass, this place deserves your attention.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Telluride · Wine Bar
Communion is a focused, deliberate wine bar that built a short list with real intention — anchored on Leitz, punctuated by a standout Chave Selections white, and thoughtful enough to include non-alcoholic options alongside the serious stuff. We don't have pricing data to confirm value, and the list is compact enough that adventurous drinkers may want more range — but what's here is chosen with care. If you're in Telluride and want wine that someone actually thought about, this is your stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown St. Helena · St. Helena · Wine Bar
Elsewhere is doing something genuinely useful in St. Helena: giving people a place to drink well after dinner without the pageantry of a tasting room or the markup theater of a hotel bar. We can't confirm every bottle or price point from here, but a sommelier-driven list with Napa, Burgundy, and Bordeaux range plus honest small plates earns a look. Go in, talk to the staff, and let them guide you — that's exactly what this kind of place is built for.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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