Little Italy's wine list that means business
Little Italy · San Diego · Californian · Visit Website ↗
Updated October 2026
Reviewed April 7, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Juniper and Ivy’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Juniper and Ivy lands with real authority — 400 to 600 bottles deep, covering California and France with the kind of focus that tells you someone on staff actually cares. Five named sommeliers on the floor means you're not getting shrugs when you ask about the difference between the two Chardonnays. This is a serious wine program wearing a lively, approachable restaurant as its outfit.
California and France are the twin pillars here, and both legs are strong. On the California side, you're looking at Kistler, Aubert, Kongsgaard, and Sine Qua Non — the kind of names that show up in cellars, not just on lists. France answers back with Domaine Dujac, Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet, Domaine Raveneau Chablis, and Giacomo Conterno Barolo sneaking in from Italy to remind you the list isn't totally parochial. Screaming Eagle and Ridge Monte Bello represent the trophy-bottle tier for those celebrating something worth celebrating. The gaps — broader European coverage, emerging regions — exist, but they barely register when the depth of what's here is this good.
Twenty to thirty options by the glass is a genuine commitment, with prices running $12 to $25. That range gives you flexibility whether you're doing a solo pour at the bar or building a multi-glass progression across courses. We'd expect the rotating selection to track the kitchen's seasonal farm-to-table direction — ask your sommelier what's freshest on the pour list that night.
Domaine Raveneau Chablis — $45–$300+ (bottle)
Raveneau is one of Chablis' great benchmark producers — if they're pouring this at an entry-level bottle price, it drinks well above its cost. Lean, mineral, and built for the kitchen's seafood and vegetable dishes.
Giacomo Conterno Barolo
In a list built around California and France, most tables will chase the Burgundy or the Napa Cab. That's your opportunity. Conterno is one of Barolo's founding legends — structured, complex, and the kind of bottle that rewards the curious diner who scrolls past the obvious picks.
Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon
The trophy bottle experience rarely justifies the restaurant markup on top of an already astronomical retail price. If it's on your bucket list, fine — but you're paying for the name, not the night.
Domaine Dujac Burgundy + Koji-cured beef tartare
Dujac's Pinot Noir has that earthy, red-fruited lift with enough structure to handle raw beef without overwhelming it. The umami depth of the koji cure pulls the wine's forest-floor character forward in a way that makes both taste more like themselves.
The Bottom Line
Juniper and Ivy's wine list earns its Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence — this is San Diego doing California-and-France with conviction, backed by a sommelier team that actually shows up. The markups will sting on the prestige bottles, but the depth and expertise make it worth every visit.
· San Diego · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão San Diego isn't trying to win a wine award, and it doesn't need to — the mission is keeping 300 people happy while gauchos walk around with swords of meat. What they've built is a functional, fairly priced by-the-glass program with enough South American character to feel intentional. If you're here for the churrasco, order the Catena Catena Malbec at $13/glass and call it a win.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Active Program
Acceptable
· San Diego · Steakhouse
Six wines at a chophouse is a wine program in name only. The Bordeaux-leaning selections suggest someone has taste, but with no pricing, no confirmed glass pours, and a list that could fit on a cocktail napkin, there's not enough here to send a friend for the wine experience. Order your steak, pick whatever red sounds least risky, and manage your expectations accordingly.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Italian
An 'enoteca' with five wines is a bit like a steakhouse with one cut. The Italian-focused selection is at least on-theme, and the Aglianico shows someone made at least one interesting call — but five bottles, no whites, and no visible by-the-glass program is hard to defend under any concept, let alone this one. If wine matters to your night out, look elsewhere in San Diego.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · New American
Grant Grill is hotel wine — competent, crowd-pleasing, and priced accordingly. The sparkling selection punches above its weight, and the Maury Rancio is a genuine curveball worth ordering if you see it. If you're a serious wine drinker, manage expectations; if you just want a solid glass with dinner in a beautiful room, you'll be fine.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Village · San Diego · Charcuterie and Wine Bar
Le Charcuterie Bar earns its Wild Card badge not because the wine list is a known quantity — it isn't, at least not to us yet — but because the concept is doing something right in a city that doesn't lack for wine options. A charcuterie-first wine bar with a genuine neighborhood feel and an events calendar is exactly the kind of place that can quietly become someone's favorite. Get in there, ask questions, and report back.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
San Diego · San Diego · Wine bar + global small plates
WetStone is doing something genuinely uncommon — building a short, globe-spanning list full of grapes and regions that most wine bars won't touch, and pricing it fairly enough that you can actually explore. Staff confidence is an unknown variable, and the lack of documented specials or events means you're mostly on your own to navigate it. But if you show up curious and willing to ask questions, this list will reward you.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Loop · Chicago · Californian
A California-only list with more than 1,000 bins and a short, clearly priced glass list. Start with the Avivo Vermentino or the Atelier Sauvignon Blanc by the glass, or try an orange wine from the dedicated section, and confirm current prices. This unrated guide covers the posted wine menu, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown Monterey · Carmel By The Sea · Californian
Montrio is the rare restaurant where the wine list earns the same respect as the kitchen — regionally focused, fairly priced, and backed by staff who can actually help you navigate it. Add Tuesday's half-price bottle promotion and you've got one of the better wine nights on the Central Coast.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Downtown Napa · Napa · Californian
Carpe Diem punches above its weight for a 12-bottle list, and Monday half-price night makes this one of the better deals in downtown Napa. Just watch the bottle markups on the bigger names — you're in wine country, not getting a discount for it.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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