California-forward fine dining, markup-heavy execution
La Jolla · Chula Vista · Contemporary American · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 26, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Nine-Ten Restaurant & Bar’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Nine-Ten inside the Grande Colonial Hotel, the wine list feels exactly like you'd expect from a La Jolla fine-dining institution — polished, California-centric, and heavy on crowd-pleasing producers. It signals ambition without a ton of surprise. The list is well-organized and the sommelier presence is real, which immediately earns some trust.
The list leans hard into California, with Burgundy and Rhône appearances that add some French credibility to the proceedings. You'll find marquee names like Kistler Chardonnay and Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir alongside cult-adjacent bottles from Sine Qua Non — the kind of list that rewards guests who know what they're looking for. Pacific Northwest gets a seat at the table too, with Domaine Serene representing Oregon's case for Chardonnay. The gaps show up in the adventurous category: if you're hunting natural wine, skin-contact, or anything left-field, this isn't your list.
Estimates put the by-the-glass program at 15-25 options, which is respectable for this format — enough range to navigate without a bottle commitment. Expect solid California representation in the pours. Rotation feels more seasonal than dynamic, so don't bank on the list evolving week to week.
Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County — $14-$20/glass
Au Bon Climat is a Santa Barbara legend that consistently punches above its weight — nuanced, food-friendly Pinot from one of California's most respected producers. In a list full of four-digit markups, this one is likely your most honest pour.
Domaine Serene 'Evenstad Reserve' Chardonnay 2018
At $95, it's priced at roughly 73% above retail — actually one of the more restrained markups on the list. Oregon Chardonnay still flies under the radar for most diners conditioned to reach for Napa or Burgundy, but Evenstad Reserve is the real deal: structured, mineral-driven, and worth ordering with intention.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019
At $195 on the list against a $90 retail price, you're paying a 117% markup for a wine that's already priced on brand recognition rather than terroir. Caymus is fine, but it's also at every steakhouse in America. You can do better on this list.
Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County + Dry-aged duck
Santa Barbara Pinot has the fruit weight to stand up to duck's richness and enough acidity to cut through the fat without going to war with it. Au Bon Climat's earthy edge plays right into the savory depth of dry-aged preparation.
The Bottom Line
Nine-Ten is a genuinely good restaurant with a competent wine program — the sommelier is present, the list is legitimate, and the setting earns the price of admission. But the markups are aggressive enough that you'll want to be selective, because this list can eat your wallet if you reach for the obvious names.
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
· Chula Vista · Italian Chain
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
· Evanston · Contemporary American
Chef's Station earns its Reliable badge the honest way: a sommelier who cares, a list with actual regional perspective, and a room where drinking something good feels like the obvious move. It's not a destination wine list, but it's a trustworthy one.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Beaver Creek Plaza · Vail · Contemporary American
Golden Eagle Inn is the kind of reliable mountain wine list that won't embarrass you on a date or a client dinner, but it'll charge you for the altitude at every turn. The Brunello and the Bouchard Beaune are genuine bright spots — find those, skip the Veuve, and you'll have a good night.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Vail Village · Vail · Contemporary American
Sweet Basil is the best wine list in Vail by a wide margin — 400 bottles, a real Cruvinet program, and a sommelier who put actual thought into the selections. The markups sting, but that's mountain dining; the quality justifies the trip.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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