Carmel's Crown Jewel Earns Every Bottle
Carmel By The Sea · American, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 5, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Grasing's’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Grasing's arrives with the kind of weight that makes you sit up straighter. Four hundred to six hundred selections spanning California cult producers to old-world royalty — this is not a list assembled by accident. Wine Spectator handed them a Grand Award in 2024, and honestly, one pass through the pages tells you why.
California is the obvious backbone here, and it's stacked: Kosta Browne, Sea Smoke, Aubert, Peter Michael, Opus One, Caymus Special Selection, and — yes — Harlan and Screaming Eagle for those willing to drop serious cash. The European depth is equally serious, with Domaine de la Romanée-Conti representing Burgundy at the absolute summit, Château Lafite anchoring Bordeaux, and Italy covered by Gaja Barbaresco and Sassicaia from Piedmont and Tuscany respectively. Spain gets a nod, though it feels like the weakest corner of an otherwise exceptional list. The range from approachable weeknight bottles up through trophy wine territory is genuinely impressive for a restaurant this size in a town this small.
Twenty to thirty-five pours by the glass is a generous program, and for Carmel that's practically a wine bar situation. We'd expect the glass list to rotate through some of the California heavy-hitters the cellar is built around, giving casual diners a real shot at quality without committing to a full bottle. The upside of a list this deep is that even the by-the-glass options likely outperform what you'd find at most comparable restaurants up and down Highway 1.
Sea Smoke Pinot Noir — $50
Sea Smoke is legitimately hard to get and commands premium prices at retail. Finding it on a restaurant list at an entry-level price point — if you can catch it before the steakhouse crowd does — is a genuine win for anyone who loves Santa Barbara Pinot.
Gaja Barbaresco
Most people at a California-focused steakhouse head straight for the Napa Cabs and Pinots. Gaja Barbaresco is one of Italy's most age-worthy and complex wines, and it's criminally underordered in rooms like this. With the rack of lamb on the table, it's a different level.
Caymus Vineyards Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon
Look, Caymus Special Selection is a fine wine. It's also one of the most marked-up bottles in American restaurants because the name sells itself. In a list that has Harlan Estate and Peter Michael, spending big on Caymus feels like ordering the safe option at a place that's begging you not to.
Peter Michael Winery Chardonnay + Pan-roasted local fish
Peter Michael's Chardonnay — rich, precise, with enough acidity to stay alive on the palate — is made for exactly this moment. Local fish from the Monterey coast, roasted until the skin crisps up, against a wine built in the hills above Sonoma. This is the Carmel experience done right.
The Bottom Line
Grasing's is the real deal — a Grand Award wine list in a genuinely beautiful setting, with the kind of cellar depth that justifies the drive to Carmel all on its own. Go with a budget, go with someone who loves wine, and don't order the Caymus.
Monte Verde / 7th Ave · Carmel By The Sea · Contemporary Californian tasting menu with European influences
Aubergine is the rare California restaurant where the wine list is as serious as the tasting menu it supports — deep in the right places, staffed by people who can actually navigate it with you. The markup is real, but so is everything else about this experience.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
7th Ave / Dolores · Carmel By The Sea · New American
Seventh & Dolores isn't a destination wine list, but it's a respectable one that at least knows where it is geographically. Come for the steak, order the Wrath, and don't expect to go down any rabbit holes.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Carmel · Carmel By The Sea · Traditional Italian Trattoria
Il Fornaio Carmel is a reliable Italian night out with a wine list that does the job without embarrassing anyone — but if you're looking to be surprised, you're in the wrong dining room. Send a friend here when they want comfort and a decent Brunello, not when they want adventure.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Monte Verde / 7th Ave · Carmel By The Sea · Contemporary Californian Fine Dining
Aubergine is the real deal — a Michelin-starred room with a list that earns the badge rather than coasting on it. The prices are steep, but if you're already committing to a $200+ tasting menu, the wine program is worth leaning into.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Fisherman's Wharf · Carmel By The Sea · Seafood and Classic American
Old Fisherman's Grotto isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — it's a well-run wharf institution that stocks approachable California bottles at slightly inflated prices and lets the bay views do the heavy lifting. Send a friend here for the clam chowder and the sunset; just go in with calibrated expectations on the wine.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Cannery Row · Carmel By The Sea · Seafood and Steak
Fish Hopper is a reliable waterfront pour — not a destination for wine lovers, but not an embarrassment either. Go for the view, drink the Bernardus or the Roar, and save the deep cellar hunting for somewhere down the coast.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
National Park Corridor / Parkway · Gatlinburg · American, Steakhouse
The Park Grill is a reliable dinner stop if you're winding down after a day in the Smokies and want a solid glass of California wine with your steak — just don't expect the list to reward curiosity or spare your wallet. Send your friends here for the food and the vibe; tell them to drink the Sonoma-Cutrer and not overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Stowe Village · Stowe · American, Steakhouse
Harrison's is the kind of reliable neighborhood anchor that Stowe regulars and ski-weekend visitors can count on — the wine list won't blow your mind, but it won't let you down either. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink fine; just don't send them expecting a deep dive.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Denver · Denver · American, Steakhouse
Range is a confident, well-kept steakhouse list that won't surprise you but absolutely won't let you down — especially if California Cabs are your language. Just come in with your eyes open on pricing, and let Dan steer you toward the Jordan.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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