Spain in a Glass, Funk Zone Edition
Funk Zone · Santa Barbara · Spanish, tapas and paella · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 11, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Loquita’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Loquita does exactly what it should — it stays in its lane and owns it. You're not here to hunt for Burgundy; you're here for Spain, and Spain is what you get, front to back. It's focused, it's intentional, and it makes the food menu feel even more coherent.
The list runs a tight but well-constructed Spanish circuit: Albariño from Rías Baixas, Tempranillo-driven bottles out of Ribera del Duero, and Rioja in both Crianza and Reserva expressions. Cava rounds out the sparkling end without any pretense. What's missing is depth beyond the Iberian Peninsula — there's no European wildcard, no token New World option — but honestly that's a feature, not a bug. The price ceiling hovers around $120, which means you're not getting access to serious aged Reservas or Gran Reservas, but the entry and mid-tier selections punch above their weight.
Ten to fourteen pours by the glass is a genuinely solid program for a tapas spot, with prices landing between $13 and $20 — reasonable by Santa Barbara standards where even casual spots stretch toward $18 for anything interesting. The glass selection mirrors the bottle list: Albariño, Tempranillo, Cava, and a few rotating Spanish expressions. Don't expect a Palo Cortado sherry or anything offbeat, but for drinking through the tapas menu without committing to a bottle, you're covered.
Albariño, Rías Baixas — $14
Albariño at this price point is almost always a win with Spanish food, and at Loquita it's the obvious anchor pour — crisp, saline, and built for the seafood-forward tapas menu. At $14 a glass you're not being asked to overpay for the privilege.
Cava
Most people walk past the Cava and order a cocktail or go straight to red, which is a mistake. Spanish sparkling wine is criminally undervalued at the table, and Loquita's Cava pour is the right move from the first bite of pan con tomate to the last olive. It flies under the radar here and it shouldn't.
Rioja Reserva (top-end bottle)
The Rioja Reserva bottles push toward the higher end of the list without the producer transparency to justify the spend. If you're going to drop $100-plus on Rioja, you want to know exactly whose wine you're drinking — and that information isn't always easy to get here. Save the big Rioja splurge for a wine bar where you can vet the label.
Albariño, Rías Baixas + Paella de Mariscos
Albariño and seafood paella is almost too obvious, but obvious exists for a reason. The wine's natural acidity cuts through the richness of the saffron broth, and its coastal salinity echoes the shellfish in the pan. Order both, don't overthink it.
The Bottom Line
Loquita isn't trying to be a wine destination — it's trying to be a great Spanish restaurant, and the wine list supports that goal without getting in the way. If you want Spain on the plate and Spain in the glass at prices that won't wreck your night, this is a reliable and genuinely fun pick.
Montecito · Santa Barbara · Italian
Tre Lune isn't trying to reinvent anything — it's a well-loved Montecito Italian with a wine list that earns its Wine Spectator nod and leans intelligently on Margerum's local chops. Send a friend here knowing the wine will be fairly priced and thoughtfully chosen, even if the excitement ceiling is comfortable rather than thrilling.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Santa Barbara · New American / California Cuisine
Finch & Fork is a reliable pour in a great wine region — the list champions its Santa Barbara backyard with real conviction, even if the markups occasionally make you wince. Send a friend here if they want to drink local and drink well; just steer them toward the Foxen and away from the M5.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Santa Barbara · Italian Pizzeria
Ca' Dario Pizzeria isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — the list does its job, the prices are fair, and the Santa Barbara rosé alone justifies looking past the cocktail menu. Send a friend here if they want solid Italian wine with their pizza and zero fuss.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waterfront / Cabrillo Blvd · Santa Barbara · Italian Steakhouse
Ca' Dario Steakhouse is a reliable wine destination for anyone who wants serious Italian bottles with their steak without having to navigate a 300-label monster list. The markups trend steep, especially on the celebrity bottles, but the Santa Barbara Syrah and Sicilian options give value-hunters a legitimate path.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waterfront / East Beach · Santa Barbara · Contemporary Oaxacan and Mexican
Flor De Maiz isn't a wine destination, but it's a Wild Card in the best sense — a waterfront Oaxacan spot that took the time to build a small, thoughtful list with local producers and a genuine Mexican anchor. Come for the mole, stay for the Barden Brut Rosé.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Public Market / Downtown · Santa Barbara · Thai and Taiwanese-inspired noodle bar
Empty Bowl is a genuinely excellent noodle bar that deserves a better wine program than this — come for the Khao Soi, grab a sake, and don't let the wine list talk you into a $36 Chardonnay. The kitchen is working hard; the wine list is not.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
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
