Ten Bottles, Zero Surprises, Move Along
· San Jose · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 15, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Poppy & Claro’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
Ten labels. That's the whole list. We've seen more selection at airport wine bars, and at least those have the excuse of square footage. Poppy & Claro is leaning hard on name recognition — Cakebread, Flowers, Daou — and hoping nobody asks too many questions.
The bottle list reads like a greatest hits compilation someone pulled from a grocery store end-cap: Chandon Brut, Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc, Flowers Chardonnay, a Convene Pinot Noir, Leviathan Red Blend, and Daou Cab. All recognizable, all inoffensive, all priced at a premium that assumes you're not paying attention. There's no regional curiosity here, no esoteric producer sneaking in through a side door, no real personality. If you came hoping for something to talk about at the table, the wine list won't help you.
All ten options are available by the glass, which sounds generous until you realize the bottle list IS the glass list — same ten wines. Glass pours run $9 to $21, with the house pours anchoring the low end and the Sangria Rosé (yes, sangria) holding down the casual middle. A $9 Glasshouse non-alcoholic sparkling option is a thoughtful inclusion for non-drinkers, but it can't rescue a by-the-glass program this thin.
Flowers Chardonnay 2023 — $68
Flowers is a legitimate Sonoma Coast producer and the Chardonnay is the most interesting bottle on the list. At $68, the markup is still real, but at least you're getting quality wine with actual character behind it — more than can be said for most of what's here.
Convene Admire Pinot Noir 2023
Convene is a lesser-known label compared to the Cakebread and Daou names anchoring this list, so most tables will skip right past it. If you're in a red mood, it's the most interesting pour in that direction.
Daou Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
Daou Cab is everywhere, and at $74 a bottle here you're paying a steep premium for a wine that retails around $20-25. There's nothing wrong with Daou — it's just not worth this markup when you can grab it practically anywhere for a fraction of the price.
Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc 2024 + Unknown — dish data unavailable
Menu data wasn't available at time of review, but the Cakebread Sauv Blanc is the most food-friendly white on the list — bright acidity, citrus-forward, works well across lighter New American fare.
The Bottom Line
Poppy & Claro's wine program exists to check a box, not to excite you. Unless Flowers Chardonnay by the bottle is exactly what you came for, the cocktail menu might be a better bet.
· San Jose · Wine bar / bottle shop
Ancora Vino is the kind of small, focused bottle shop that makes you realize how much dead weight most wine lists carry. If you're anywhere near San Jose and curious about natural wine, obscure Italian reds, or just want something genuinely weird and good for under $25, this place deserves your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Jose · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão San Jose is a meat destination, full stop — the wine list exists as a formality, not a feature. Order the Salton sparkling to start, grab the Malbec for the meat parade, and don't expect anything more than that.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Campbell · San Jose · Steakhouse with Italian influences
Be.Steak.A is doing more with its wine list than most South Bay steakhouses bother to attempt — the sommelier is real, the selections have personality, and the Massican pick alone earns genuine respect. The markups are on the steeper side, which is expected at this level, but the list has enough character that you're paying for something worth the splurge.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Downtown San Jose · San Jose · Steakhouse and Classic American
GrandView is doing exactly what a mountaintop steakhouse with jaw-dropping views over Santa Clara Valley is supposed to do — it's feeding the occasion, not the curiosity. Bring someone you want to impress, order the Mt. Brave, and enjoy the sunset.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Saratoga · San Jose · Modern Californian/New American
Plumed Horse is one of the most serious wine destinations in the South Bay, full stop. The markup will make your eyes water in places, but if you're willing to explore the list with help from the sommelier team, there's genuinely exceptional drinking to be done here.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Los Gatos · San Jose · Contemporary Californian tasting menu
Manresa is as serious a wine destination as you'll find in the South Bay, and the list earns every bit of that reputation. Just go in knowing the bottle prices climb fast, and strongly consider letting the sommelier drive with the pairing menu.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Honolulu · New American
Fête is quietly running one of the most interesting wine programs in the state of Hawaii, and most people eating there probably have no idea. If you care at all about what's in your glass, this is worth the trip.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Tucson · New American
The Monica is a reliable neighborhood brunch spot with a wine list that gets the job done without ever trying to be anything more. Send a friend here for a casual Saturday — just steer them toward the Cava and the Rioja.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Newark · Newark · New American
Nico is a pre-show pitstop, not a wine destination — the list exists to get a glass in your hand before you head into the auditorium, and it does exactly that and nothing more. Order the Chapoutier Rosé, enjoy the show, and don't expect the wine program to be part of the evening's highlight reel.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.