Great Sushi, Forgotten Wine List
Eastlake · Chula Vista · Japanese, Sushi · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 26, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Love Boat Sushi’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Love Boat Sushi is clearly an afterthought — six labels deep, heavy on house-branded bottles, and the kind of thing you glance at once before ordering a Sapporo instead. Nobody came here to drink Merlot with their Dragon Roll, and the list doesn't try to convince you otherwise.
Six wines. That's the whole program. Three of them are Love Boat house labels — a Chardonnay, a Merlot, and a Cabernet Sauvignon — which tells you everything about the ambition level here. The one bright spot is the Seaglass Sauvignon Blanc, a coastal California producer that at least gestures toward pairing logic with seafood. The Takara Premium Plum Wine is a nod to Japanese tradition and the only bottle on the list that feels intentional. There are no bubbles, no Riesling, no Grüner Veltliner — you know, the wines that actually love sushi.
All six bottles pour by the glass, which sounds generous until you realize the list is only six bottles. Rotation appears nonexistent — this list looks like it hasn't changed since the restaurant opened. If you're drinking wine here, your entire universe is these six options.
Seaglass Sauvignon Blanc — Unknown
The only wine on the list with any real affinity for seafood. Bright, citrus-driven Sauvignon Blanc and a plate of sashimi is a respectable combo — and Seaglass is a legit producer, not a house label. It's the only pick we'd make without hesitation.
Takara Premium Plum Wine
Most people at a sushi restaurant walk right past plum wine like it's a joke, but Takara is the real deal — a sweet, slightly tart pour that actually bridges the gap between soy-glazed fish and dessert. Order it cold, lean into it, and stop pretending you're above it.
Love Boat Cabernet Sauvignon
A house-label Cab at a sushi restaurant is the wine equivalent of ordering a well bourbon at a craft cocktail bar. Bold tannins, big red fruit — none of which plays nicely with delicate fish. You're not doing yourself any favors here.
Seaglass Sauvignon Blanc + Baked Mussels
The citrus and grassy snap of the Sauvignon Blanc cuts through the richness of the baked mussels and holds up to whatever garlic-butter situation is going on. It's not a revelation, but it's the closest thing to a smart pairing this list can offer.
The Bottom Line
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.
Chula Vista · Chula Vista · Hotel Lounge
The Den is a hotel bar doing the bare minimum on wine, and it shows. Order a cocktail, grab a beer, or pick up a bottle from the grocery store down the street before you check in.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chula Vista · Steakhouse Chain
The prices are fair but there's almost nothing to choose from — four labels is not a wine program, it's a placeholder. If wine matters to your dinner, this isn't your spot.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chula Vista · Steakhouse
Skip the wine list and order a cocktail or a beer — the wine program here is an afterthought dressed up in a long menu. If someone insists on a bottle, reach for the Rodney Strong and don't look too hard at the markup.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Romano's Macaroni Grill isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list makes no attempt to pretend otherwise. Order a $4 house red, enjoy the pasta, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that earned it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Jolla / Torrey Pines · Chula Vista · Regional California Cuisine / American Fine Dining
A.R. Valentien is doing something rare for a hotel restaurant: it's built a wine program that would stand on its own even without the Pacific Ocean views. Send your people here — just book ahead and don't skip the wine list.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
La Jolla · Chula Vista · Italian
Marisi is a reliable Italian wine list with genuine ambition hiding behind a steep markup structure — the producers are right, the regions are right, but you'll pay for the privilege. Go for the Produttori Barbaresco and the Pre-Phylloxera Barbera, and you'll leave satisfied.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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
Northwest Chandler · Chandler · Japanese, Sushi
Shimogamo isn't a wine destination, but it's a sushi restaurant that quietly did its homework on wine — and that's rarer than it should be. If you're coming for the omakase or the A5 Wagyu, the Picpoul or the Koshu will take care of you without drama.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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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