Familiar Pours, Fresh Fish, No Complaints
South Chandler · Chandler · Japanese, Sushi · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 25, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Kodo Sushi Sake’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Kodo reads like a greatest-hits compilation from the grocery store wine aisle — every label is one you've seen before, and that's exactly the point. It's not trying to impress you; it's trying to get out of the way of the omakase. At $9–$12 a glass across the board, the pricing is honest enough that you won't feel burned ordering a second pour.
Fourteen labels, all available by the glass, covering California, Washington State, Italy, New Zealand, and a token French showing from Gérard Bertrand's Côte des Roses. The California contingent leans heavily on Josh Cellars, Kendall Jackson, and Meiomi — reliable producers that move volume precisely because nobody argues with them. Washington gets a small nod via Chateau Ste. Michelle's Riesling and Merlot, which are actually the most interesting bottles on the list. There are no deep-cut regions, no grower Champagne, no skin-contact anything — this is a list built for people who want wine to be easy, and it succeeds entirely on those terms.
All 14 wines on the list are poured by the glass, which keeps things simple even if it doesn't exactly reward the curious drinker. The range spans sparkling (Ruffino Prosecco), white, rosé, and red, so you can work through a meal without repeating yourself. Rotation appears nonexistent — this list looks like it hasn't changed since opening day, and probably won't.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $9
Washington Riesling at $9 a glass is the smartest order on this list — it's genuinely food-friendly with sushi, cuts through rich rolls, and Ste. Michelle makes a clean, off-dry style that holds up well in a restaurant setting. Most people walk past it. Don't.
Gérard Bertrand Côte des Roses Rosé
It's the only French wine on the list and it tends to get overlooked next to the Californians. Bertrand's Côte des Roses is a proper Languedoc rosé — dry, structured, with enough acidity to handle a spicy tuna roll without flinching. Worth a second look.
Dreaming Tree Cabernet Sauvignon
Dave Matthews' wine brand is perfectly drinkable, but ordering a California Cab at a sushi restaurant is working against yourself. The tannins and oak don't do your nigiri any favors, and you can do better for the same $11 elsewhere on this list.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling + Specialty Sushi Rolls
The slight residual sweetness in the Riesling tames heat from spicy sauces while the crisp acidity refreshes the palate between bites of rich, creamy rolls. It's the classic sushi-and-Riesling match for a reason — and at $9 a glass here, it's a no-brainer.
The Bottom Line
Kodo's wine list won't win any awards, but at these prices and with this much sushi to distract you, it doesn't need to. Order the Riesling, eat the rolls, be happy.
Downtown Chandler · Chandler · Wine bar / small plates
BlackSheep is the kind of neighborhood wine bar that punches above its zip code — daily deals, a genuinely curious regional list, and a casual atmosphere that makes wine feel accessible rather than intimidating. If you're anywhere near downtown Chandler, this is the move for a weekday afternoon glass.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
· Chandler · Steakhouse
Perry's Chandler is a reliable wine stop for a steakhouse night — 37 by-the-glass options and a solid sparkling section save it from being boring, but the markups and crowd-pleaser roster keep it from being great. Order the Tempranillo or Crémant and you'll drink well; chase the familiar California labels and you'll pay for the brand name, not the wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chandler · Japanese teppanyaki
Benihana Chandler's wine list won't blow your mind, but it's functional and has a few genuine bright spots buried under the crowd-pleasers. If you're here for the show, grab the Rochioli or the Balland Sancerre and enjoy the flying shrimp.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chandler · Wine Bar / American Small Plates
The Wild Vine Uncorked has the aesthetic of a wine bar and the wine list of a casual chain restaurant — if you're coming specifically for the wine program, there's not enough here to justify the trip. Order the Craggy Range, enjoy your company, and recalibrate expectations.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Desert Ridge · Chandler · Hawaiian Fusion / Seafood
Roy's punches above its chain-restaurant weight with a wine list that has real picks across sparkling, white, and international categories — but steep markups on recognizable bottles mean you need to know where to look. Send your wine-curious friends here with a cheat sheet and they'll do just fine.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chandler · French steakhouse / bistro
A sparkling-only list in a French steakhouse sounds like a gimmick until you see Egly-Ouriet, Selosse, and Contratto sharing space with a $29 Moët. This is a genuinely unusual, thoughtfully assembled program that rewards curious drinkers — just know what you're walking into.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Vail Village · Vail · Japanese, Sushi
Osaki's is a genuinely good sushi spot that happens to have a wine list — not the other way around. Come for the fish, drink the sake, and don't expect the wine program to match the quality on the plate.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
St Andrews · Columbia · Japanese, Sushi
Inakaya Watanabe is clearly a solid neighborhood sushi spot, and the food likely earns its loyal following — but the wine program is an afterthought that nobody has revisited in years. Come for the fish, order sake if they have it, and treat the wine list as a last resort.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Eastlake · Chula Vista · Japanese, Sushi
Love Boat Sushi is a genuinely fun spot, but the wine list is purely functional — six bottles, no clear vision, and no reason to pick wine over beer or sake. Come for the combo platters, skip the Cab, and maybe grab a Sapporo.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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