Iberian Soul Hiding in South Broadway
Los Angeles · Californian
Updated June 2026
Reviewed April 21, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Caldo Verde’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walk into Caldo Verde and the wine list feels like a deliberate edit — not a sprawling tome, but a focused card that knows exactly what it wants to be. Spain and France anchor the whole thing, and there's a confident thread running through the selections that signals someone actually thought this through. Wine Spectator handed them an Award of Excellence starting in 2023, and the list earns that nod.
The Iberian backbone here is real: Alvaro Palacios' Les Terrasses from Priorat at $112 sits alongside the crowd-pleasing Bodegas Roda I Roda 2019 from Rioja at $95, giving you both the wild and the polished side of Spanish wine. France shows up with some serious credentials too — Domaine Jamet's Côte Rôtie 2021 at $185 is a proper Northern Rhône pick, and the Domaine Huet Vouvray at $88 covers the Loire with real authority. The list isn't wide, but the hits-to-misses ratio is high, which matters more anyway. Gaps exist — no deep dive into Burgundy beyond the Château de Pommard Bourgogne entry point, and Italy and the New World are mostly absent — but what's here has a point of view.
We don't have a full BTG count from the data, but the Txakoli Ameztoi Rubentis 2022 at $58 a bottle suggests there are at least a few pours worth ordering. Wednesday's half-price wine night changes the calculus entirely — coming mid-week when those pours are cut in half is the move. Rotation cadence is unclear, but the list's focus on Spain and France means the glass options likely follow the same logic.
Château de Pommard Bourgogne 2020 — $72
A legitimate Bourgogne Rouge entry point from a storied Pommard estate — drinking a tier above its appellation, and at $72 it's the kind of bottle that makes the table feel fancy without the splurge.
Txakoli Ameztoi Rubentis 2022
Most tables walk past rosé Txakoli without a second look, but Ameztoi's Rubentis is one of the best things coming out of Getaria — lightly effervescent, briny, almost saline, and absolutely alive. Nobody orders it, which means more for you.
Domaine Jamet Côte Rôtie 2021
Jamet is a legend and the wine is worth it in the right context, but at $185 on a list with no retail comparison to anchor it, you're paying a lot on faith. Save this one for a wine bar where you can geek out properly — here it's a bit out of place.
Alvaro Palacios Les Terrasses 2020 + Grilled octopus with romesco
Les Terrasses is mostly Garnacha and Cariñena from Priorat's rocky slate soils — earthy, a little wild, with dark fruit and mineral grip. That profile locks in perfectly with the char on grilled octopus and the smoky depth of romesco. Classic Iberian logic applied to a California kitchen.
Wednesday — Half-price wine night every Wednesday — the best reason to make a mid-week reservation.
The Bottom Line
Caldo Verde isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it's quietly one of the better-curated lists in South Broadway — focused, Iberian-leaning, and priced without malice. Come on a Wednesday and it's one of the better wine deals in the neighborhood.
Beverly Hills · Los Angeles · Italian
Il Cielo punches above its list size with some genuinely smart Italian picks and pricing that — especially on the Barolo — borders on generous. It's not a destination wine list, but it's a thoughtful one, and in Beverly Hills that's worth something. If you're going for a special occasion bottle, head straight to the Piedmont and Montalcino section and don't look back.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Hollywood · Los Angeles · Italian
A big-ticket Italian and Napa list with a genuine glass section: 14 wines by the glass from $15 to $85, then 89 bottles from $55 to $3,000. Start with the Prunotto Barolo at $30 a glass, or the Guidalberto at $145 if you want a Bolgheri bottle, and confirm prices because the page is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks page, not service, storage or markups.
Westwood · Los Angeles · American, Steakhouse
A Cabernet-first list with 30 glasses and a long bottle book, but no wine prices posted online. If you want a known price, the $9 happy hour Bonanza Cabernet by Caymus is the one posted figure, and if you want to step away from Cabernet, try the Il Bruciato Super Tuscan by the glass. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Hollywood · Los Angeles · Neapolitan Italian, Pizza
An all-Italian list that runs from a $50 Bardolino to a $300 Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, with 15 wines poured by the glass. Start with the 18 / 72 Rocca del Principe Fiano di Avellino next to the $25 Margherita, or the 16 / 64 Primo Monte orange Trebbiano if you want something off the Chianti track, and confirm prices. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown Los Angeles · Los Angeles · French-inspired, New American
A 19-wine glass list where 17 pours land between $14 and $18. Start with the $13 Noble Vines Pinot Grigio or the $14 Intercept Pinot Noir, and put the $17 French onion soup next to a $52 bottle of Whispering Angel; confirm prices, since the list is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Venice · Los Angeles · California/New American with Italian and Mediterranean influences
A European-leaning list with extra brut Champagne, skin-contact whites and a 1997 Loire dessert wine, so plan to ask questions. Start with the Yura Jurançon at $75, or order the Moulin Touchais by the glass at $25 with the cheese selection, and ask what the unlabeled prices mean. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
West Loop · Chicago · Californian
A California-only list with more than 1,000 bins and a short, clearly priced glass list. Start with the Avivo Vermentino or the Atelier Sauvignon Blanc by the glass, or try an orange wine from the dedicated section, and confirm current prices. This unrated guide covers the posted wine menu, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown Monterey · Carmel By The Sea · Californian
Montrio is the rare restaurant where the wine list earns the same respect as the kitchen — regionally focused, fairly priced, and backed by staff who can actually help you navigate it. Add Tuesday's half-price bottle promotion and you've got one of the better wine nights on the Central Coast.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Downtown Napa · Napa · Californian
Carpe Diem punches above its weight for a 12-bottle list, and Monday half-price night makes this one of the better deals in downtown Napa. Just watch the bottle markups on the bigger names — you're in wine country, not getting a discount for it.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
