Beer's the Point. Wine Knows It.
Eastlake · Chula Vista · Brewpub / Latin American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 26, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Novo Brazil Brewing Co. - Chula Vista’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You open the menu here and the wine list is essentially a footnote — four options, all California, all priced flat at $10 a glass or $30 a decanter. This is a brewery that tolerates wine drinkers, not one that courts them.
Four labels is not a wine program — it's a concession to whoever shows up with a non-beer-drinking friend. William Hill Chardonnay, J. Lohr Sauvignon Blanc, OZV Red Blend, and Old Soul Cab Sauv are all perfectly drinkable, grocery-aisle-familiar California wines with zero ambition. The regional spread technically covers Napa, Monterey, and Lodi, but that reads more like a coincidence than a curation strategy. If you're looking for discovery or depth, you are in the wrong building.
All four wines are available by the glass at $10 flat, or as a decanter for $30 — which at least gives you a rough bottle equivalent without committing to a full bottle format. There's no rotation, no seasonal swap, no guest pour. What's listed is what's listed, full stop.
J. Lohr 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, Monterey County — $10/glass
J. Lohr's Sauvignon Blanc punches above its casual-restaurant weight — crisp, citrus-forward, and genuinely refreshing alongside lighter Latin-inflected dishes. At $10 a glass it's the most purposeful pour on a short list.
Old Soul 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi CA
Old Soul is a Lodi label that tends to fly under the radar, but the region produces warm, full-bodied Cab at fair prices. Most people here are ordering IPAs — the Cab is quietly decent and usually undersold by staff.
OZV 2021 Red Blend, Lodi CA
OZV is a grocery store brand built for name recognition, not quality. It's sweet, simple, and uninspiring — basically a Costco endcap in a glass. With only four options, you can do better than this one.
J. Lohr 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, Monterey County + Wings
The SB's bright acidity and citrus snap cut through the fat and heat of sauced wings better than anything else on this list. It's not a sommelier's pick — it's just the right call when your other options are a sweet red blend or a Chardonnay.
The Bottom Line
Novo Brazil is a great brewery with a wine list that exists out of obligation. Order the beer, but if your table needs wine, the $10 flat pricing at least keeps the damage minimal.
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
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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