Spain's Greatest Hits with Potomac River Views
The Wharf · Washington · Spanish Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 7, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Del Mar’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Del Mar's wine list reads like a love letter to the Iberian Peninsula, with 150-200 bottles that show serious curation and regional depth. You're not just getting Rioja and Albariño on repeat—this is Txakoli from Basque Country, Xarel-lo from Cangas, and Garnacha from Calatayud. They know what they're doing.
The Spanish focus is encyclopedic without being pretentious: you'll find both the crowd-pleasing Pazo Señoráns Albariño and the nerdy Monasterio de Corias Xarel-lo. Priorat gets proper respect with Clos Figueras and Ferrer Bobet, while bubbly lovers can choose between proper Champagne (Voirin-Jumel, Henriot) and Spanish sparklers like Ramon Canals Gran Reserva Cava. The Napa contingent—Quintessa, Duckhorn, Antica—feels like an afterthought, but honestly, why are you ordering California Cab at a Spanish seafood spot? Burgundy representation is slim but smart: Brocard's Montée de Tonnerre Chablis is the right white for this context.
With 18-24 options by the glass, Del Mar gives you room to explore without committing to a full bottle. The glass program mirrors the bottle list's Spanish focus, and with a sommelier on staff, you can trust the pours are fresh and the recommendations are solid. No lazy house wine program here—they're rotating through enough to keep regulars interested.
Gañeta Txakoli, Basque Country — $52
Crisp, saline, barely-there spritz—made for shellfish and costs what it should
Monasterio de Corias Vina Grandiella Xarel-lo, Cangas
Most people skip Xarel-lo thinking it's just Cava filler, but this still version has minerality and weight that demolishes the grilled octopus
Duckhorn Merlot, Napa Valley
Not bad wine, but wildly out of place at a Spanish seafood restaurant and priced like it's doing you a favor
Pazo Señoráns Albariño, Rías Baixas + Signature Paella
This is the pairing that launched a thousand Spanish beach vacations—Albariño's citrus and salinity cuts through saffron-rich rice and amplifies sweet shellfish
The Bottom Line
Del Mar is what happens when a restaurant actually cares about matching its wine program to its cuisine. If you're eating Spanish seafood on the Wharf, this is where you want to be drinking.
Georgetown · Washington · French
Start with the $64 Aphillantes bottle if you want Southern Rhône red within a firm budget. For a smaller order, ask about the drinks-menu choices and pour sizes. This is a source-based menu guide, not an onsite tasting; allow for the posted 20% service charge.
Washington · Washington · Seafood
Oceanaire is a safe, well-executed wine destination for California Chardonnay lovers who want reliable bottles with their seafood without too many surprises. Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence since 2017 is well-earned for what it is — just know this list was built for comfort, not adventure.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Washington, DC · Washington · Steakhouse
STK DC is a vibe restaurant that treats wine as an accessory, not a feature. If you're here for the scene, the cocktails will serve you better than the list ever will.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Washington · Middle Eastern / North African
Maydan's wine list is one of the most geographically coherent and genuinely adventurous in Washington, DC — it matches the kitchen's ambition and then some. If you're willing to let go of the familiar, this is one of the best by-the-glass programs in the city for opening your eyes to what the wine world looks like beyond Europe.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Washington · Restaurant
Moon Rabbit's wine list is doing something rare: it's short enough to read in two minutes and interesting enough to talk about for twenty. If you care about well-chosen, adventurous bottles at prices that won't wreck your dinner bill, send your people here.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Washington · Washington · Spanish
Xiquet is doing something genuinely rare in D.C. — a tightly edited, Spain-first wine program inside a room that actually earns it. Four sommeliers and a Wood Spectator Award of Excellence since 2023 confirm this isn't an accident; just know you're paying for the setting as much as the bottle.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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