California Dreaming in South Dakota's Unexpected Wine Room
Sioux Falls · Sioux Falls · Italian, Latin · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 24, 2026
RagingWine reviewed R Wine Bar & Kitchen’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Walking into R Wine Bar on Eighth Street, you don't expect Sioux Falls to be doing this. Live jazz, a thoughtful list of 150-plus bottles, and staff that can actually talk to you about what you're drinking — it earns your attention fast. This is a wine bar that takes itself seriously without taking the fun out of the room.
The list leans hard into California, which makes sense given the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence it picked up in 2024 — and the lineup delivers the classics: Caymus Cab, Jordan, Stag's Leap, Duckhorn Merlot, and Rombauer Chard all show up as expected anchors. Matanzas Creek adds a quieter, more interesting voice to the Sonoma side of things. The Italian and Latin cuisine angle opens a door for broader exploration, but the list stays mostly west of the Rockies rather than chasing the food's Mediterranean roots. Still, for a wine bar in South Dakota, the depth is genuinely impressive and the curation shows someone is paying attention.
Twenty to thirty-five options by the glass is a strong program — enough to build a full evening through pours without committing to a bottle. Prices run $10–$18, which is honest for this quality tier. The inclusion of La Marca Prosecco and Meiomi Pinot Noir keeps the accessible end covered without the list feeling dumbed down.
Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $40s (bottle)
Jordan is one of California's most consistent Cabs and consistently trades below its reputation. At this price point it drinks well above what you'd expect from a mid-tier bottle pick, and it's a crowd-pleaser that doesn't feel like a compromise.
Matanzas Creek Winery
Most people at this list reach straight for Caymus or Rombauer on autopilot. Matanzas Creek is the quieter Sonoma producer doing interesting, undersung work — worth asking staff about the specific bottling available and letting it surprise you.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
Meiomi is a grocery store Pinot dressed up in a wine bar setting. It's fine, it's recognizable, and you're paying restaurant markup on something that belongs on a supermarket shelf. The list has better options at a similar price — ask for them.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot + Charcuterie
Duckhorn Merlot has the weight and structure to stand up to cured meats without bullying them. The fruit-forward profile plays well against the salt and fat in a charcuterie spread, and it's an easy crowd choice that still feels intentional.
🎲 The Bottom Line
R Wine Bar is the kind of place that has no business being this good for its zip code — and that's a genuine compliment. We'd send a friend here without hesitation, especially if they think South Dakota and serious wine can't coexist.
Southwest Sioux Falls (Lake Lorraine area) · Sioux Falls · Casual American bar bites and light fare
This is a lobby bar wine list at a business hotel — it was never trying to be more than that, and it isn't. Grab a beer or a cocktail, save the wine for dinner somewhere in town.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Sioux Falls · Sioux Falls · Hotel Restaurant / American
This is a wine list for people who aren't thinking about wine, and that's fine — the Holiday Inn City Centre isn't trying to be a wine destination. Order the Ste. Michelle Riesling, skip everything else, and save the real drinking for somewhere else in Sioux Falls.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Southwest Sioux Falls (Empire Mall/85th & Western corridor) · Sioux Falls · Upscale American Steakhouse
Morrie's is a reliable steakhouse wine list in a city where that already puts it near the top of the pack — the Coravin program shows genuine ambition, but the core list plays it too safe to earn anything beyond a confident recommendation for a special-occasion dinner. Come for the Tomahawk, drink the Zinfandel, skip the house Chardonnay.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
South Sioux Falls · Sioux Falls · Italian · Steakhouse
Spezia is a reliable dinner option in Sioux Falls if you want a recognizable bottle with a nice steak and no surprises. Just don't expect the wine list to challenge you — it's here to comfort, not to excite.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown – Empire Mall area · Sioux Falls · American and Sushi
CRAVE is the rare hotel restaurant wine list that clears the bar rather than crawling under it — the by-the-glass selection is better than the room deserves, even if the markups could use some recalibration. Send a friend here for wine? Sure, as long as they're not expecting to geek out.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Sioux Falls · Mexican, Enchilada-Focused
Mama's Ladas is a great little spot for enchiladas — the wine list just isn't why you're here, and it doesn't try to be. Order the sangria, enjoy your meal, and save the serious wine for somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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