California wines done right on the coast
Huntington Beach · Huntington Beach · American, French
Updated June 2026
Reviewed May 18, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Sitting on Pacific Coast Highway with a wine list that leans hard into California, Henry's makes its intentions clear from the jump — this is a place that takes its home state seriously. The list clocks in somewhere between 150 and 250 bottles, which is a real commitment for a coastal bistro, and sommelier Tony McCarthy's fingerprints are all over it. It's not trying to be a wine bar; it's trying to be the best version of itself, and mostly it succeeds.
The California focus here isn't lazy — it's curated. Napa Cab gets the spotlight treatment with Stag's Leap, Jordan, and Caymus all showing up, which covers everything from the restrained end to the fruit-forward crowd-pleaser side of the spectrum. Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir gets proper representation through Merry Edwards and Sea Smoke, two producers who actually earn their prices. The Chardonnay section — Rombauer, Far Niente, Sonoma-Cutrer — reads like a greatest hits of California whites, and the Central Coast entries from Dierberg and Au Bon Climat add some welcome nuance. If you're hunting for Burgundy or Barolo, you're going to be disappointed; this is a California list and it owns that lane completely.
With 12 to 20 options by the glass running $12 to $18, there's enough range to build a real meal around pours rather than committing to a bottle. That price band is reasonable for an upscale PCH address — you're not getting gouged just because the ocean is nearby. We'd love to see more rotation, but what's here is solid.
Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir — $40
Au Bon Climat punches well above its price in most restaurant contexts, and at the lower end of this list's range, it's the move if you want something with actual personality over pure brand recognition.
Dierberg Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay
Most tables go straight for Rombauer by name, but Dierberg's Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay is the more interesting pour — cooler climate, better acid, and the kind of restraint that actually works with food.
Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is everywhere, marked up everywhere, and you're paying a brand tax here. The Stag's Leap or Jordan will give you a more interesting glass for the same or less money.
Merry Edwards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir + Grilled salmon
Merry Edwards' Pinot has enough structure to stand up to rich, fatty fish without overwhelming it — exactly what you want when the menu skews coastal French-American.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Henry's is a reliable, well-tended California wine program with a genuine expert behind it — not flashy, but consistently good. If you're eating on PCH and want a bottle that was actually chosen with care, this is your spot.
Huntington Beach · Huntington Beach · American
Watertable is a reliable, well-staffed wine program that leans on California's biggest names and does so without apology. Send a friend here who wants a great glass of Silver Oak with a prime ribeye — just remind them to skip the Opus One and let the sommelier steer them toward the Drouhin.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Huntington Beach · Huntington Beach · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Huntington Beach isn't a destination wine list, but it's more thoughtful than you'd expect from a national chain — especially in the Argentine and Chilean sections. Send your steak-loving friend here, point them toward the South American reds, and let the meat do the rest.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Huntly · Huntly · American, French
Houndstooth is the kind of place you'd never stumble across, which is exactly why we're telling you about it. Drive out, let someone else drive back, and let the list do the work.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
West Fargo · West Fargo · American, French
Maxwells is the kind of wine program that earns real respect in context — a thoughtfully stocked, sommelier-guided list in a city where 'wine program' often means a Merlot and a Pinot Grigio. If you're passing through West Fargo or lucky enough to live there, this is where you drink.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Reston · Reston · American, French
Heirloom is doing something genuinely interesting for the Northern Virginia suburbs — a speakeasy setup with a Wine Spectator-credentialed list that has real bones to it. It's not perfect, but it's absolutely worth sending a friend here for a bottle.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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