Hollywood's Most Serious Wine List, Full Stop
Hollywood · Los Angeles · Seasonal Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Gwen lands like a thud — in the best possible way. We're talking 400-600 selections anchored by California, France, and Italy, with names like Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Harlan Estate sharing real estate on the same pages. Curtis Stone built a restaurant where the meat program gets all the press, but the wine list quietly earns equal billing.
California is the clear star here — Kistler, Aubert, Ridge Monte Bello, Screaming Eagle, Caymus Special Selection, and Opus One all make appearances, covering the full spectrum from serious Chardonnay to cult Cab. France punches hard with Domaine Leroy Burgundy, Domaine Ramonet Chassagne-Montrachet, Château Latour, and DRC in the cellar for those with deep enough pockets. Italy rounds out the list with Giacomo Conterno Barolo and Gaja Barbaresco — both serious producers that signal someone actually cares about what goes beyond the Alps. The only gripe is that coverage gets thinner outside these three regions; if you want Ribera del Duero or Alsace, you're mostly out of luck.
Twenty to thirty pours by the glass is a genuine commitment for a restaurant this size, and Gwen doesn't use the program as a dumping ground for whatever needs to move. Expect rotations that track the California and French strengths of the bottle list — this isn't a house-pour-and-one-Chardonnay situation. Wednesday's half-price wine night turns the BTG program into one of the better deals in Hollywood, full stop.
Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 — $180
At a restaurant where Screaming Eagle and Harlan set the ceiling, Far Niente at $180 is the sensible power move. It's a proper Napa Cab from a house that's been doing this for decades — and it doesn't require a second mortgage to enjoy with your dry-aged ribeye.
Giacomo Conterno Barolo
Most tables here are reaching for a California Cab, which means Conterno often gets overlooked. That's a mistake. This is one of the most important Barolo producers in Piedmont, full stop — and in a steakhouse context, Nebbiolo's high acid and firm tannins do serious work against rich, fatty cuts.
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Vosne-Romanée 2018
At $1,200 a bottle in a loud, bustling Hollywood dining room, you're not getting the contemplative experience this wine deserves. DRC is a cellar wine, not a vibe wine. Save it for somewhere quieter — or for your own table at home.
Ridge Monte Bello + Dry-aged ribeye
Monte Bello is Cabernet-dominant but built on complexity and restraint rather than raw power — it has the structure to stand up to a well-marbled dry-aged ribeye without bulldozing it. It's the pairing a serious wine drinker orders while everyone else reaches for Caymus.
Wednesday — Half-price wine night on Wednesdays — applies to bottle selections and makes an already strong list significantly more accessible.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Gwen has earned its Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence since 2018 and the list backs it up — this is one of the most serious wine programs attached to a steakhouse in Los Angeles. Markups are steep, but Wednesday half-price night and specific bottle picks make it worth the trip.
Downtown Los Angeles · Los Angeles · French-inspired, New American
Perch is a place people go for the view, the scene, and the Instagram moment — the wine list knows this and doesn't try very hard. Order something simple, enjoy the skyline, and save your serious wine drinking for a restaurant that wants to earn it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hollywood · Los Angeles · Upscale Italian, Seafood
Marino is a reliable, well-curated Italian wine list that earns its stripes on selection and staff knowledge, even if the pricing makes you wince on the everyday bottles. Send a friend here for the Guidalberto and the Franciacorta — just steer them away from anything under $60.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Hollywood · Los Angeles · Neapolitan Italian, Pizza
Da Michele's wine list is narrow by design and better for it — a focused, fairly priced tour through Southern Italy that most pizza spots in LA wouldn't dare attempt. If you're even mildly curious about Campanian wine, this is one of the better excuses in the city to start learning.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Los Angeles · Los Angeles · Seafood
Water Grill is a reliable choice for serious wine with serious seafood — the list is deep enough to reward exploration, and the sommelier presence means you can actually ask for help. The markups sting, but this is Downtown LA and you knew that walking in.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Bel-Air · Los Angeles · Modern Californian with European/Mediterranean influences
This is a serious wine list dressed in a garden party — the depth is real, the sommelier is engaged, and if you're willing to pay the Bel-Air premium, the experience delivers. Just go in knowing the bill will reflect the hedge-lined address.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Beverly Grove / West Hollywood · Los Angeles · Greek / Mediterranean
Kassi Club is a party restaurant with a wine list that punches above its vibe — if you ignore the markup and order Greek, you're going to drink well. Send a friend here specifically to work through the indigenous varietals; just tell them to skip the Chablis.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.