Ceviche and Txakoli Walk Into a Bar
Embarcadero · San Francisco · Peruvian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 10, 2026
RagingWine reviewed La Mar Cebicheria Peruana’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're sitting on the bay at Pier 1½ with the water literally outside the window, and the wine list lands with more ambition than you'd expect from a seafood-forward Peruvian spot. The California-Spain-Argentina trifecta makes immediate sense here — citrus-driven whites for the ceviche, structured reds for the anticuchos. It's not a deep-cellar situation, but it's clearly not an afterthought either.
The list earns its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence by threading a smart needle: Rías Baixas Albariño and Basque Txakoli do the heavy lifting for the raw fish courses, while Catena Zapata and Vega Sicilia Único anchor the serious end for guests who want to spend up. Kistler Chardonnay rounds out the California representation with real credibility, and the Don Melchor Cabernet from Chile sneaks in as a Latin American bonus beyond the Argentina anchor. The gaps are in European diversity outside Iberia — if you're looking for Burgundy or Champagne, you're mostly on your own. But for what this kitchen actually serves, the list is honestly better calibrated than most.
With 12 to 18 options running $12–$18 a glass, the by-the-glass program is functional and reasonably priced for San Francisco. We'd expect the Albariño to be a permanent fixture here given how hard it works against the Cebiche Clásico — and it should be. The rotation doesn't appear to move much, which is a missed opportunity given how seasonally the kitchen operates.
Albariño from Rías Baixas — $14
Atlantic salinity, bright citrus, and enough acid to cut through leche de tigre without flinching. At this price point on the Embarcadero, it's the obvious move and one of the best food-wine alignments on the list.
Txakoli from Basque Country
Most people at this table will default to the Albariño and miss this — the Txakoli brings a sharper, more electric acidity and a slight spritz that makes it almost tailor-made for raw seafood. It's the kind of weird-good choice that regulars know and first-timers overlook.
Vega Sicilia Único
Iconic wine, no argument there — but it's a bold, tannic Ribera del Duero at a restaurant built around ceviches and tiraditos. The markup on a bottle this prestigious in a dining room this casual rarely makes sense, and the food match is genuinely awkward. Save it for a different night.
Clos de la Tech Pinot Noir + Anticuchos de Corazón
The char and iron-rich intensity of grilled beef heart needs something with structure but not aggression — this Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot threads that needle. The earthiness in the wine mirrors the smoke on the skewers without steamrolling the subtle aji panca marinade.
The Bottom Line
La Mar is a genuinely fun Wild Card: a lively Peruvian seafood destination on the water with a wine list that actually thought about the food. The Iberian and Argentine angle is smart, not gimmicky, and the prices are reasonable enough that you'll order a second bottle without hating yourself.
Embarcadero · San Francisco · Peruvian Seafood
La Mar is a great dinner — the ceviche alone is worth the trip — but the wine list is along for the ride rather than driving it. Order something crisp and cold, enjoy the view, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Union Square · San Francisco · American
The Rotunda is a lunch experience first and a wine destination a distant second — the list is safe, the markup is real, and you're largely paying for the address and the atmosphere. Come for the crab salad and the occasion, order something bubbly, and don't go in expecting a serious wine program.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
San Francisco · San Francisco · Wine bar & bottle shop
Bodega SF is what happens when someone actually gives a damn about the list instead of just checking a box. Twenty-six bottles, almost all pourable by the glass, priced fairly, and built around grapes most wine bars wouldn't dare touch — send your adventurous friends here and tell them to skip the safe picks.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
San Francisco · San Francisco · Wine bar
Fig & Thistle is for people who trust a short menu built by someone with a point of view — thirteen bottles, all pouring, all worth talking about. If you need a fallback Cab or a recognizable label to feel safe, this isn't your spot. If you don't, this absolutely is.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
San Francisco · San Francisco · Steakhouse
STK San Francisco has the bones of a wine program and the ambition of a hotel minibar. With only three by-the-glass pours, a list built entirely around safe brand names, and steep markups baked into the concept, this is a place to order a cocktail or splurge on a specific bottle you already know you want.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Francisco · Wine Tavern
Big Finish is doing something genuinely different — an all-glass list built around obscure varietals, serious fortified wine, and pricing that doesn't punish curiosity. Send anyone here who wants to drink something they've never tried before and walk away feeling like they learned something.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Stamford · Peruvian
Fiesta on Main puts real effort into its Peruvian kitchen, which makes the wine list feel like an afterthought someone assembled in fifteen minutes using a Sysco catalog. Stick to pisco sours — the wine program isn't the reason to come here.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Westview / Buckeystown Pike · Frederick · Peruvian
Mayta's isn't a wine destination, but Wine Down Wednesday makes it a genuinely fun, affordable place to eat and drink well enough. Come for the Lomo Saltado, grab the Malbec at half price, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
North Fresno · Fresno · Peruvian
Limón isn't a wine destination, but it's not pretending to be one either — the list is lean, South American, and built to work with the food, which is more than most restaurants at this price point bother to do. Go for the Jalea and the Sauvignon Blanc, skip the Malbec autopilot, and enjoy the ride.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
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.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
