Burgers, whiskey, and wine that actually fits
Uptown · Oakland · American / Japanese-influenced · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 23, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Hopscotch’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Hopscotch leads with cocktails and whiskey — that's clear the moment you sit down. The wine list is a short sidebar, not the main event, but it doesn't feel like an afterthought. Someone made deliberate choices here, and that counts for something.
The list is tight: California anchors everything, with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir pulling the most weight, plus a domestic sparkling and a Rosé that splits time between California and Provence depending on the season. There's a gesture toward Old World bottles if you dig in, but this isn't a list built for wine geeks hunting obscure appellations. What it is built for is the food — rich, fatty, umami-forward plates that need something bright and food-friendly, and on that front the list mostly delivers. Gaps are real: no skin-contact wines, no real depth by the bottle, and producers rotate without warning.
Four to six pours on any given visit, landing between $11 and $15 a glass — reasonable for Oakland's current market. Expect a California Chardonnay, a Willamette Valley or Sonoma Pinot Noir, something sparkling, and a Rosé. The rotation keeps things from going stale, but it also means you can't plan around a specific pour.
Willamette Valley / Sonoma Pinot Noir (by the glass) — $13
At the midpoint of their glass range, a well-chosen Pinot Noir cuts through the richness of the burger or fried chicken without bullying the food. It's the right wine for the room at a price that doesn't make you wince.
Domestic Brut Sparkling (by the glass)
Everyone at Hopscotch orders a cocktail or a beer — which means the sparkling by the glass is basically sitting there undisturbed. Order it. The acidity and bubbles do more work against bone marrow or fried chicken than anything else on this list.
California Cabernet Sauvignon (by the bottle)
If there's a Cab on the bottle list pushing toward the $80-$90 ceiling, it's the least interesting choice for this kitchen. Heavy, tannic, and fighting the food rather than complementing it — spend that money on multiple glasses of something more nimble.
California or Provence Rosé (by the glass) + Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Dry Rosé with fried chicken is one of the most reliable moves in the book, and Hopscotch's version earns it. The wine's acidity cuts the fat, its fruit doesn't compete with the seasoning, and the whole combination makes the chicken taste better than it already does — which is saying something.
The Bottom Line
Hopscotch is a cocktail bar that happens to have a wine list worth respecting — small, smart, and priced fairly for what it is. Send a friend here for the burger and tell them to skip the whiskey just once and order the Rosé.
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