Napa-Forward Steakhouse That Earns Its Stars
Gaslamp Quarter · San Diego · Californian, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 10, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Huntress hits the same notes as the room — dark, polished, and built for people who know what they want before they sit down. It's a California Cab-forward book with enough French backbone to feel legitimate, not just decorative. Wine Spectator handed them an Award of Excellence in 2024, and honestly, it checks out.
The list leans hard into Napa and the broader California canon — Caymus, Silver Oak, Opus One, Far Niente, Jordan — these are the greatest hits, and Huntress plays them well. France gets a respectable seat at the table with Louis Jadot's Puligny-Montrachet and Domaine Drouhin Oregon representing the Burgundy-leaning crowd (technically Oregon, but the Drouhin DNA is unmistakably French). At 150-250 bottles, the depth is real, though adventurous drinkers hunting for grower Champagne or esoteric Italian will come up empty. This is a list built to satisfy, not to challenge.
Sixteen to twenty-four options by the glass is a generous pour program for a steakhouse of this scale — enough to drink well across multiple courses without committing to a full bottle. The selections predictably skew toward big reds and crowd-pleasing whites, which is exactly what the room needs. We'd love to see more rotation, but what's here is well-chosen.
Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — null
Jordan consistently overdelivers for its tier — structured, food-friendly, and far less theatrical than the Opus Ones of the world. In a list full of trophy bottles, it's the smart order.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir
Most people in a steakhouse are scanning for the biggest Cab they can afford. Skip the crowd and grab this — Drouhin's Oregon Pinot punches well above its weight, and it's quietly one of the better calls on a list dominated by Napa muscle.
Opus One Napa Valley
Look, it's a great wine. But you're paying a steakhouse markup on a bottle that already commands a premium everywhere. Unless someone else is signing the check, there are better values on this list that drink nearly as well.
Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon + Prime dry-aged ribeye
Silver Oak's Alexander Valley is softer and more approachable than its Napa counterpart, which makes it a better match for a dry-aged ribeye — the wine's vanilla and dark fruit don't compete with the beef's funk, they complement it.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Huntress is a confident, well-stocked steakhouse wine list that earns its Wine Spectator badge without reinventing anything. If you're coming for a serious steak and want a serious bottle to match, this room delivers — just don't expect bargains.
Rancho Santa Fe · San Diego · French-Californian Fine Dining
Mille Fleurs is the real thing — a serious cellar, a knowledgeable sommelier, and a room that earns the prices it charges. The markup is steep, but you're not paying for a wine list; you're paying for the whole production, and that production is very good.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Del Mar · San Diego · Seasonal New American with Sushi Lounge
Market is a well-run, sommelier-backed program that earns its stripes on quality and presentation — but if you're expecting fair markups or any sense of vinous adventure, adjust expectations before you sit down. Send a friend here for a special occasion, not a bargain hunt.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
La Jolla · San Diego · Steakhouse
Rare Society La Jolla is a reliable steakhouse wine list that nails the fundamentals without ever taking a swing. Send your friends here for a great steak and a well-known Napa Cab; send them somewhere else if they want to be surprised.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Carlsbad Village · San Diego · Modern French
Jeune et Jolie is the best wine list in North San Diego County and it's not particularly close. Yes, the markups reflect the fine dining ambition, but the depth, the staff knowledge, and the sheer thoughtfulness of the French selection make this worth the drive from anywhere in the region.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Carlsbad Village · San Diego · Contemporary American with live-fire cooking
Campfire is exactly the kind of restaurant wine nerds drive out of their way for — a focused, producer-driven list inside a wood-smoke-soaked room where the kitchen and the cellar are clearly in conversation. Send your friends here and tell them to ask what's open.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Bay Park · San Diego · Seasonal California and Italian Gastropub
Luce isn't a wine bar, but it's a neighborhood spot that respects wine enough to make it worth ordering — and that alone puts it ahead of most places in its category. Fair prices, a focused list, and enough variety to find something you'll actually enjoy.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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