Baja Bottles and Birria in La Jolla
La Jolla · San Diego · Modern Mexican, Tacos · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 21, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Puesto La Jolla’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You walk into Puesto expecting a margarita menu and instead find a wine list that actually has a point of view — Baja California, Mexican producers, a Rioja rosado, some Malbec. It's not deep, but it's not lazy either. For a taco spot in La Jolla, this is a genuine surprise.
The list leans on a smart regional logic: California and Mexico anchor it, with a nod to Spain and Argentina rounding things out. Casa Madero's 3V red blend from Coahuila and a Baja California Nebbiolo show real intent to highlight Latin wine culture rather than just defaulting to Napa Cab and Pinot. The gaps are real — no white wine depth is apparent from what we can see, and the list is short enough that you'll have made your decision in about 90 seconds. But the bottles that are here feel curated, not just filler.
Glass pours run $10–$16, which is reasonable for La Jolla real estate but tough to swallow when you know the bottles underneath. The Gruet Brut by the glass is a smart opener for a taco dinner, and the Muga Rosado is a crowd-pleaser that works well with the room's energy. We'd love to see more rotation here — this feels like a list that hasn't changed much since it launched.
Conundrum Red Blend, California — $56/bottle
At $25 retail it's a 124% markup — the lowest on the list. It's an easy-drinking, fruit-forward blend that holds up to Puesto's bold flavors without demanding your full attention. Best bottle math on the menu.
Baja California Nebbiolo
Most tables are ordering margaritas, which means this bottle just sits there waiting for someone to notice it. Nebbiolo from Baja is genuinely interesting — earthy, savory, with enough structure to cut through braised meats. Order it and feel like you know something the rest of the room doesn't.
Bodegas Muga Rosado, Rioja
A $16 retail bottle priced at $52 is a 225% markup — the worst value on the list. The Muga Rosado is a fine wine, but you're paying La Jolla tourist tax on every sip. Get it by the glass at $14 if you must, but don't commit to the bottle.
Casa Madero 3V Red Blend + Filet Mignon Tacos
Casa Madero's 3V is a Mexican red with enough body and dark fruit to stand up to seared beef without overwhelming the tortilla and salsa situation going on in those tacos. It's also a conversation starter — a Mexican wine with a Mexican dish feels intentional in a way that ordering Malbec does not.
The Bottom Line
Puesto La Jolla is a Wild Card in the best sense — a taco spot that actually thought about its wine list, even if the markups sting and the depth is limited. Send your friends here for the Baja Nebbiolo and the filet tacos, but tell them to skip the Muga by the bottle.
· San Diego · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão San Diego isn't trying to win a wine award, and it doesn't need to — the mission is keeping 300 people happy while gauchos walk around with swords of meat. What they've built is a functional, fairly priced by-the-glass program with enough South American character to feel intentional. If you're here for the churrasco, order the Catena Catena Malbec at $13/glass and call it a win.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Active Program
Acceptable
· San Diego · Steakhouse
Six wines at a chophouse is a wine program in name only. The Bordeaux-leaning selections suggest someone has taste, but with no pricing, no confirmed glass pours, and a list that could fit on a cocktail napkin, there's not enough here to send a friend for the wine experience. Order your steak, pick whatever red sounds least risky, and manage your expectations accordingly.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Italian
An 'enoteca' with five wines is a bit like a steakhouse with one cut. The Italian-focused selection is at least on-theme, and the Aglianico shows someone made at least one interesting call — but five bottles, no whites, and no visible by-the-glass program is hard to defend under any concept, let alone this one. If wine matters to your night out, look elsewhere in San Diego.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · New American
Grant Grill is hotel wine — competent, crowd-pleasing, and priced accordingly. The sparkling selection punches above its weight, and the Maury Rancio is a genuine curveball worth ordering if you see it. If you're a serious wine drinker, manage expectations; if you just want a solid glass with dinner in a beautiful room, you'll be fine.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Village · San Diego · Charcuterie and Wine Bar
Le Charcuterie Bar earns its Wild Card badge not because the wine list is a known quantity — it isn't, at least not to us yet — but because the concept is doing something right in a city that doesn't lack for wine options. A charcuterie-first wine bar with a genuine neighborhood feel and an events calendar is exactly the kind of place that can quietly become someone's favorite. Get in there, ask questions, and report back.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
San Diego · San Diego · Wine bar + global small plates
WetStone is doing something genuinely uncommon — building a short, globe-spanning list full of grapes and regions that most wine bars won't touch, and pricing it fairly enough that you can actually explore. Staff confidence is an unknown variable, and the lack of documented specials or events means you're mostly on your own to navigate it. But if you show up curious and willing to ask questions, this list will reward you.
Deep & Eclectic
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.
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