Caprice Café
Redlands' Best-Kept Wine Secret, Full Stop
Redlands · Redlands · Californian, Mediterranean · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
Walking into a cozy exposed-brick bistro in downtown Redlands and finding a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence list is a genuine surprise — the good kind. The list runs 200-plus bottles deep with real California and French firepower, not just the usual suspects. This is a neighborhood restaurant that takes wine seriously, and it shows from page one.
Selection Deep Dive
California is the anchor here, and it earns that position — Ridge Monte Bello, Stag's Leap Cask 23, Opus One, Far Niente, and Duckhorn all make appearances, covering everything from cult Cabernet to polished Merlot. France holds its own with Louis Jadot Burgundy selections and a bottle of Château Margaux for when someone at the table is celebrating something real. The list skews toward established names rather than adventurous producers, which won't excite the natural wine crowd but will absolutely satisfy anyone who wants a serious, well-curated California-and-France-focused bottle. Gaps exist in Southern Hemisphere and Iberian selections, but for a neighborhood bistro in the Inland Empire, this list punches well above its zip code.
By the Glass
Twelve to twenty options by the glass is a generous program for a restaurant this size, and it gives guests real room to explore without committing to a full bottle. We'd expect the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling and Jordan Cabernet to anchor the pours, offering crowd-pleasing approachability at the accessible end. Rotation details aren't fully documented, but a list this size with an active Wednesday half-price night suggests the program gets real attention.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley — $95 (estimated by-glass program range)
Jordan is a reliable, polished Cabernet that retails around $55-60, and at a restaurant that clearly respects its wine program, it's likely the most approachable entry into serious California Cab on this list — great QPR for the quality level.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir
Everyone here is reaching for the Napa Cabs, and that's fine — but Domaine Drouhin brings Burgundian DNA to Oregon with a pedigree most tables will overlook. It's quieter and more elegant than the heavyweights on this list, and it's almost certainly the most interesting bottle for anyone who actually likes nuance.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is on every wine list in America, and its retail price doesn't justify what restaurants charge for it. It's bold and jammy and completely unobjectionable, which is exactly the problem — there are more interesting Cabernets right here on this same list for the same or less money.
Duckhorn Merlot Napa Valley + Short Rib
Duckhorn Merlot is plush and fruit-forward with enough structure to stand up to braised short rib without overpowering it. The richness in both the wine and the dish play off each other, and the soft tannins won't fight the fat. It's a classic match that works every time.
Wednesday — Half-price wine night every Wednesday — one of the better deals in the Inland Empire for drinking seriously without the full-price hit.
🔥 The Bottom Line
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.
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