Livermore's coolest surprise pours wine too
· Livermore · Cocktail Bar / New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed September 5, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Black Cat Bar & Grill’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Black Cat, you're immediately hit by the vinyl-spins-and-dim-lighting energy of a place that clearly cares more about the room than the list — and that's not entirely a bad thing. The wine program here reads as a supporting act, not the headliner, but it's a supporting act that actually shows up. For a cocktail-forward neighborhood bar on First Street, the fact that there's a California-and-France focus rather than a random grab-bag of mass-market labels tells you someone made a few intentional choices.
The list leans into California and French wines, which is a logical pairing for a spot sitting in the middle of the Livermore Valley — wine country that doesn't always get its due. We don't have the full list in hand, but the regional anchoring suggests they're not just running Kendall-Jackson and calling it a day. The selection skews small, which at a place like this is probably a feature rather than a bug: a tight, rotating list beats a bloated one that hasn't been touched since 2019. Gaps likely exist in depth — don't come expecting a deep Burgundy bench or an esoteric orange wine moment — but the bones seem right for what this place is.
Glass pour options are unconfirmed in detail, but given the bar-forward format and price points in the $15–$25 entree range, expect a handful of by-the-glass options rather than an extensive flight program. A Thursday no-corkage wine night when you order a small plate is genuinely cool and worth knowing about — that's a real perk for anyone who wants to bring a bottle from one of the local Livermore producers down the road.
Thursday — No corkage fee on wine when ordering a small plate on Thursday nights. Sunday features Cycle Sunday with happy hour pricing for cyclists.
The Bottom Line
Black Cat is a Wild Card in the best way: it's a buzzy cocktail bar that actually thought about its wine program, sits in genuine wine country, and throws in a no-corkage Thursday deal that most full wine bars would never offer. We'd send a friend here — and we'd tell them to bring a bottle from down the road.
· Livermore · California winery restaurant
If you're already making the drive to Livermore wine country, The Restaurant at Murrieta's Well earns its stop — not because the list is long, but because it's honest. Fair prices, genuine variety within the estate, and a few genuinely unusual bottles like the Counoise and Orange Muscat make this more than a gift shop with table service. Come with curiosity, ask questions, and let the Counoise surprise you.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Livermore · Wine lounge / live music
Almost Famous is a genuinely local wine lounge with a genuinely short list, and that's not a criticism — it's a commitment. If you live in the Livermore Valley and want to drink local without a lot of fuss, this is your spot. The pricing is honest, the wines are real, and the Cab Franc alone is worth a visit.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Livermore · Italian
Pasta's Trattoria won't blow any wine nerds away, but it's a genuinely solid neighborhood Italian spot that takes its wine seriously enough to make dinner feel complete. If you're in Pleasanton and want a reliable glass with your risotto, you won't be disappointed.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Livermore · Italian / Sports Bar
Range Cafe isn't destination wine drinking, but it's a better list than a bocce club has any business running — just don't come looking for adventure outside the California Cabernet universe. Order the Zin, skip the trophy bottles, and focus on the game.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Livermore · Cocktail Bar / Small Plates
Le Nocturne is a genuinely fun room with a French menu that deserves a better wine list than what the concept seems to prioritize — the atmosphere earns it Wild Card status because the potential is real, but until the wine program matches the culinary ambition, order a cocktail and come back when they figure it out. If you're going for wine, go informed and go with a bottle.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Livermore · New American / Gastropub
Rebel Kitchen's wine list doesn't rebel against anything — it's eleven safe bottles with steep markups in a region that's literally surrounded by wineries. Order a cocktail, which is clearly what they actually care about.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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