Napa's backyard table, wine list included
Napa · Napa · American, Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 10, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Olive & Hay’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
You're sitting inside a resort in Napa Valley — the Meritage Resort, specifically — and the wine list arrives feeling exactly like that: polished, California-forward, and playing to expectations. It's not trying to surprise you, but it's not embarrassing itself either. The casual-meets-refined room sets the tone for a list that lands somewhere between hotel convenience and genuine regional effort.
The list runs 150-250 bottles and leans hard into its zip code, which makes sense when your backyard is Napa Valley Cabernet country. You'll find the expected California heavyweights — Napa Cab, Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, California Chardonnay — alongside a thoughtful nod to the Italian-American menu with Sangiovese and Nebbiolo making appearances. The Italian varietal inclusion is a smart move that elevates this above a straight resort wine list, showing at least some intention behind the curation. Gaps show up when you push beyond California and Italy — don't come here expecting a serious Burgundy or Rhône hunt.
With 12-20 glass pours available, there's enough to work with across a meal without feeling boxed in. The by-the-glass program skews predictably California, which honestly isn't a complaint when you're physically in Napa. What we'd want to see is more rotation and a glass-pour entry point into the Italian side of the list — if Sangiovese is on the bottle list, it should be on the glass list too.
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir — $60
In a list that could easily overprice its way through Napa Cab all night, a well-sourced Sonoma Coast Pinot sitting in the $40-$70 range gives you genuine terroir-driven drinking without the Napa tax. It's the move if you're not committed to going full Cabernet.
Nebbiolo
Most tables here will never look past the Cabernet section, which means the Nebbiolo is sitting quietly on this list waiting for someone to find it. In a room full of Napa weight, an Italian Nebbiolo brings structure and grip that actually works with the food — and it's not priced like it has a Barolo pedigree.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
The marquee Napa Cabs are going to command top dollar here, and resort markup in wine country is a real phenomenon. You're paying for the address as much as what's in the glass. If you're splurging on Napa Cab, you're better off at a producer tasting room down the road where your money actually goes somewhere interesting.
Sangiovese + House-made pasta with tomato and herb
Sangiovese and tomato-based Italian-American dishes are one of the most reliable combinations in the book — the wine's natural acidity cuts through the richness and mirrors the herbaceous notes in the sauce. It's the kind of pairing that makes the Italian section of this wine list feel intentional rather than decorative.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Olive & Hay is a solid resort wine list that earns its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence without doing anything flashy — California coverage is strong, the Italian varietal nods add character, and the pricing stays within reason on the right picks. Send a friend here if they want to drink well in Napa without doing homework first.
Calistoga · Napa · Seasonal Modern American
TRUSS is a competent, well-staffed wine program that plays to its audience and its address — if you're here for deep cuts or value hunting, lower your expectations and enjoy the views. But if you want a reliable, properly stored Napa-focused list with real sommelier guidance and a solid glass pour selection, this is exactly what it's supposed to be.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Napa · Napa · Italian with California Influence
Ristorante Allegria is a solid, honest wine destination for a downtown Napa dinner — not a list that'll make you gasp, but one that respects the room and the food. Watch the markups on the commodity bottles and lean toward the producers that actually earned their spots on the list.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Yountville · Napa · American comfort food / family-style
Ad Hoc's wine list is exactly what you'd expect from a Thomas Keller casual concept: well-curated, California-centric, and priced for people who didn't blink at the reservation. It won't blow your mind, but it'll hold its own against the fried chicken.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Napa · Napa · Contemporary American and Mediterranean-inspired
The CIA at Copia is the rare Napa restaurant where the wine list isn't trying to take your wallet hostage. If you're in downtown Napa and want serious producers at prices that don't require a second mortgage, this is the move.
Solid Range
Steal
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Yountville · Napa · New American
Lucy is a well-run hotel wine program that takes itself seriously — proper glassware, a sommelier who shows up, and a California list with genuine depth. The markups are Napa-level steep, but you're in Yountville; nobody's coming here expecting Brooklyn prices.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Downtown Napa · Napa · Contemporary New American
Torc earns its place at the top of Downtown Napa's wine scene — deep list, smart producers, a sommelier who presumably earned the title. Bring your appetite and a card that can handle a Napa markup, because the wine here is worth the conversation.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Austin · Austin · American, Italian
Sammie's is a genuinely fun room with a wine list that's earned its Wine Spectator hardware — the Italian depth is real, the sommelier knows her stuff, and Monday half-price bottles might be the best deal in Austin. Just go in knowing the markups lean steep, and let Jenny point you toward the plays that aren't on the tourist track.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Las Vegas Strip · Las Vegas · American, Italian
Alexxa's is a Strip restaurant doing Strip things — great location, recognizable bottles, pricing that reflects the real estate. If you're here for fountain views and a glass of Cakebread, you'll be genuinely happy; if you're hunting for value or adventure, look elsewhere.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Houston · Houston · American, Italian
Milton's is the kind of neighborhood trattoria that surprises you — the room says casual pasta night, the wine list quietly whispers Biondi-Santi. If you care about Italian wine and you're in Houston, it's worth a reservation just to explore the bottle list.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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