One Grape Town That Earns It
Buellton · Santa Barbara · Steakhouse / Barbecue · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 4, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Hitching Post II’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
Twenty labels. That's it. In any other context, we'd call this a red flag — but at the Hitching Post II, it lands differently. This is a restaurant that built its entire identity around a single grape and a single region, and the list reflects exactly that confidence.
Seven expressions of Hitching Post Pinot Noir anchor the bottle list, ranging from the entry-level 'Hometown' at $41 all the way up to the Sanford & Benedict and 'Perfect Set' at $69 — single-vineyard pours that would cost you far more at a tasting room. Beyond the house wines, the supporting cast is genuinely well-curated for Santa Barbara County: Au Bon Climat Chardonnay, Stolpman Sangiovese, Margerum GSM, Ampelos Grenache, and Beckmen Cab round out a list that reads like a who's who of the region's indie producers. The outlier is Crown Point Cabernet 'Relevant' at $175 — a steep jump that feels more like an afterthought for the big spender than a considered addition. There are real gaps here — no aged bottles, no non-California options, virtually no whites to speak of — but within its lane, this list is tighter than most.
Twelve pours by the glass is genuinely impressive for a 20-label list, and running $12–$19 a glass means you can work through several Hitching Post expressions without committing to a bottle — which is exactly what you should do. The rosé, Chenin Blanc, Syrah, and multiple Pinots all appear available by the glass, making this one of the better by-the-glass programs for a single-producer focus we've seen.
Hitching Post Pinot Noir 'Hometown' 2020 — $41
An entry point into the Hitching Post lineup that drinks well above its station. Santa Barbara Pinot Noir from the producer that put this region on the map — for forty-one bucks at a restaurant — is a genuine steal.
Hitching Post Chenin Blanc 'Forerunner' 2019
Everyone comes here for Pinot, which means the Chenin Blanc sits largely ignored. At $45, it's an unusual and genuinely interesting choice from a house better known for red wine — worth ordering before the steaks arrive.
Crown Point Cabernet Sauvignon 'Relevant' 2020
At $175, this bottle sticks out like a tuxedo at a barbecue. It's a fine wine, but the price jump from everything else on this list is jarring, and you can drink extremely well here for a fraction of that.
Hitching Post Pinot Noir 'Highliner' 2020 + Santa Maria-style tri-tip
The 'Highliner' at $59 has enough structure and dark fruit to stand up to the smoke and char on the tri-tip without bulldozing it — this is the exact match the restaurant was basically built around.
The Bottom Line
If you want Pinot Noir from one of the Central Coast's most storied producers, in the actual restaurant attached to the winery, at prices that won't make you wince — this is your spot. It's not a deep list, but it's an honest one.
Los Alamos · Santa Barbara · Pizza / Farm-to-Table
Full of Life Flatbread is the kind of Wild Card that earns its badge by being genuinely unpretentious and locally rooted in a spot where most restaurants would just phone in the wine program. Come for the flatbreads, but don't sleep on whatever Central Coast bottle they have open.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Montecito · Santa Barbara · Italian
Tre Lune isn't trying to reinvent anything — it's a well-loved Montecito Italian with a wine list that earns its Wine Spectator nod and leans intelligently on Margerum's local chops. Send a friend here knowing the wine will be fairly priced and thoughtfully chosen, even if the excitement ceiling is comfortable rather than thrilling.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Santa Barbara · New American / California Cuisine
Finch & Fork is a reliable pour in a great wine region — the list champions its Santa Barbara backyard with real conviction, even if the markups occasionally make you wince. Send a friend here if they want to drink local and drink well; just steer them toward the Foxen and away from the M5.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Santa Barbara · Italian Pizzeria
Ca' Dario Pizzeria isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — the list does its job, the prices are fair, and the Santa Barbara rosé alone justifies looking past the cocktail menu. Send a friend here if they want solid Italian wine with their pizza and zero fuss.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waterfront / Cabrillo Blvd · Santa Barbara · Italian Steakhouse
Ca' Dario Steakhouse is a reliable wine destination for anyone who wants serious Italian bottles with their steak without having to navigate a 300-label monster list. The markups trend steep, especially on the celebrity bottles, but the Santa Barbara Syrah and Sicilian options give value-hunters a legitimate path.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waterfront / East Beach · Santa Barbara · Contemporary Oaxacan and Mexican
Flor De Maiz isn't a wine destination, but it's a Wild Card in the best sense — a waterfront Oaxacan spot that took the time to build a small, thoughtful list with local producers and a genuine Mexican anchor. Come for the mole, stay for the Barden Brut Rosé.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
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.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
