Anaheim's Smartest Wine Stop, No Pretense
Anaheim · Wine bar / small plates · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 16, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Colony Wine Merchant’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into a wine merchant in Anaheim — yes, Anaheim — and finding Zuccardi Cab Franc and a Côtes du Rhône from Domaine de Cristia on the same list as Duckhorn is a genuine surprise. This isn't a theme park gift shop wine list. Someone here actually cares.
Twenty labels isn't a lot, but Colony uses every slot with intent. The California contingent leans on recognizable names — Duckhorn, Oberon, GunBun — but there's real international texture here: a Lucci Lambrusco Secco from Italy, Broadbent Vinho Verde from Portugal, Zuccardi Q Cab Franc from Argentina's Mendoza, and a Château Grand-Jauga Sauternes that you almost never see at a casual wine bar. The Westhoff Pioneers FRA at $92 is the list's one big swing, and the Solar Fortun Petit Verdot signals that whoever built this list isn't just chasing crowd-pleasing varietals. Gaps exist — Burgundy and Barolo fans will come up empty — but for the size, the range earns respect.
All 20 bottles are available by the glass, which is an unusual and generous approach that makes Colony feel more like a tasting room than a bar. Prices run $12 to $28, with the Duckhorn trio anchoring the upper end and the Dow's Tawny Port and Château Grand-Jauga Sauternes rounding things out at the sweet and fortified end. That kind of range in a pour — bubbles to dessert wine — is exactly what a merchant-style concept should deliver.
Broadbent Vinho Verde — $44
Vinho Verde is one of the most food-friendly, sessionable whites on the planet, and at $44 a bottle it's hard to argue with. Clean, low-alcohol, goes with almost anything on a small plates menu. Don't overthink it.
Zuccardi Q Cabernet Franc
Most people walking into a wine bar in Orange County are reaching for Cabernet Sauvignon. Skip the line and grab this Mendoza Cab Franc from one of Argentina's most serious estates. It's structured and savory in a way that the Napa options on this list simply aren't.
GunBun Cabernet Sauvignon
Gundlach Bundschu makes solid wine, but at $60 a bottle you're paying a merchant premium for something you could find at a grocery store for $20. With Duckhorn Estate Cab on the list at $28 a glass, the GunBun bottle deal doesn't really hold up.
Domaine de Cristia Côtes du Rhône + Charcuterie board
A Grenache-forward Rhône blend is built for cured meats and aged cheeses — the earthy, peppery notes cut through fat and salt without overwhelming anything on the board. It's the most crowd-pleasing smart pick on this list.
The Bottom Line
Colony Wine Merchant is the Wild Card Anaheim didn't know it needed — a thoughtful, fairly priced list with genuine international reach tucked into a city better known for theme parks. If you're in the area and want a real glass of wine, this is the move.
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Marri's punches above its weight for a pizza spot — the Italian selections are genuine, the prices are honest, and the list doesn't insult you. We'd send a friend here without hesitation, especially if they order the Valpolicella.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Anaheim · Seafood / Steak
McCormick & Schmick's Anaheim won't impress anyone who thinks about wine for more than thirty seconds, but the prices are fair and the Wairau River is a legit pour. Order the Sauvignon Blanc, eat your seafood, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Anaheim · Southern / American
House of Blues Anaheim does a lot of things — live music, big crowds, Southern comfort food — and wine is clearly not one of them. Order the cocktail, enjoy the show, and save your serious bottle for somewhere that actually cares.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Anaheim · Wine Bistro / Californian
California Vintage is a genuinely fun concept — all-BTG everything, a solid California-forward list, and a format built for grazing and experimenting. Just watch the markups: the top half of this list gets expensive fast, and the value is almost entirely at the entry level.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Anaheim · Speakeasy / Gastropub
The Blind Rabbit has nailed the aesthetic and completely phoned in the wine program. Five flat-priced grocery-tier bottles is not a wine list — it's a placeholder. Order a cocktail; that's clearly where the care went.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Anaheim Packing House · Anaheim · Beer Bar / Gastropub
The Iron Press is genuinely great at what it does — creative waffle sandwiches, serious craft beer, a fun Packing House vibe — but wine is not part of that story. Order a flight, eat a Monte Cristo, and leave the wine order for another night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport · Wine bar / small plates
Bar 12 is a well-priced, no-drama wine stop in a city where wine lists can get away with being lazy and expensive. The selection is commercial and safe, but the Grüner and the Willamette Pinot Noir show someone made at least a couple of interesting calls. If you want a solid glass without a markup headache, it delivers — just don't come looking for discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Canton · Wine bar / small plates
The Barrel Room on Canal isn't trying to be a destination wine program and it doesn't pretend otherwise — short list, honest prices, no fuss. If you want to share a $28 Malbec without sticker shock, this is your spot.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Chandler · Chandler · Wine bar / small plates
BlackSheep is the kind of neighborhood wine bar that punches above its zip code — daily deals, a genuinely curious regional list, and a casual atmosphere that makes wine feel accessible rather than intimidating. If you're anywhere near downtown Chandler, this is the move for a weekday afternoon glass.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
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