Olivella
Ojai's Quiet Valley Hiding a Serious Cellar
Ojai · Ojai · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
You don't expect to find Domaine Dujac and Giacomo Conterno on a wine list in Ojai, California — and yet here we are. Olivella's list lands with quiet confidence, the kind that doesn't need to shout. Pull up a chair, because this is going to take a minute to read through.
Selection Deep Dive
The list clocks in somewhere between 200 and 350 bottles, and whoever built it clearly has strong opinions about Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Piedmont — in the best possible way. You've got Louis Jadot anchoring the more accessible end of the French section, with Domaine Dujac representing the serious stuff. Bordeaux reaches into Pauillac and St-Émilion, and the Italian shelf features Barolo and Barbaresco from Giacomo Conterno, which is not a name you expect to stumble across at a farm-to-table spot in the Ojai Valley. The local angle comes through too: Ojai Vineyard's Rhône-style wines make an appearance, which feels exactly right given where you're sitting, and California gets a solid nod from Au Bon Climat and Sine Qua Non.
By the Glass
Somewhere between 12 and 20 pours by the glass, priced in the $14–$22 range — reasonable for the caliber of wine this kitchen is trying to match. We'd love to see more rotation and a few bolder by-the-glass choices, but the basics are covered and you won't feel like you're stuck sipping house wine while the bottle list does all the interesting work.
Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara Chardonnay — $50
Au Bon Climat is a benchmark Santa Barbara producer that consistently punches above its price class. On a list that goes deep into triple-digit Burgundy territory, finding ABC at the lower end of the price range is the smart move — classic California Chardonnay without the ego or the markup.
Ojai Vineyard Rhône-style wines
Most people come here and head straight for the French and Italian heavy-hitters, which is understandable. But Ojai Vineyard makes compelling Syrah and Viognier right in this valley, and drinking local in a farm-to-table setting this connected to its surroundings just makes sense. These bottles tend to get overlooked next to the Conterno and Dujac names — don't let them.
Sine Qua Non
We love what Manfred Krankl does, but Sine Qua Non bottles are cult-priced everywhere they appear, and a restaurant markup on top of already elevated secondary-market pricing is a tough sell. This is a wine to buy at the winery or at auction — not to pay a restaurant premium for when there's a Giacomo Conterno Barolo on the same list.
Giacomo Conterno Barbera d'Asti + Wood-fired protein with local ingredients
Conterno's Barbera brings bright acidity and dark fruit without the full tannin weight of their Barolo — it cuts through wood-fired char beautifully and keeps the local ingredient flavors in the conversation rather than drowning them out.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Olivella has held a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence since 2006, and the list earns it — serious producers, fair pricing, and a local sensibility that doesn't feel forced. It's the kind of wine program you don't expect to find tucked into a quiet California valley, which is exactly what makes it worth the drive.
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