Short List, Big Markups, Nothing to Rebel For
· Livermore · New American / Gastropub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed September 6, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Rebel Kitchen & Libations’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Eleven bottles. That's the whole list. For a place billing itself as a libations destination, the wine program is almost an afterthought — a short stack of broadly recognizable names that reads more like a grocery store endcap than a curated selection. The cocktail menu is clearly where the energy lives here.
The list leans heavily California, which makes sense for a Livermore spot, but doesn't lean into Livermore's own wine country identity at all — no local producers, no nods to the Tri-Valley AVA. You've got two Cabernets, a Red Blend, a Barbera, a couple of Chardonnays, a Sauvignon Blanc, a Rosé, and three sparklers. The La Folia Barbera 2019 is the only bottle that shows any personality; everything else skews toward grocery-familiar. The Skyside Red Blend and Plowboy Reserve Cab are the kind of wines you see on every gastropub list that didn't try very hard.
Nine of eleven bottles are available by the glass, which is a generous ratio for a list this small — practically the whole cellar is pourable. Glass pours run $9–$14, which is reasonable on the low end, but the bottle pricing tells a different story. There's no evidence of any rotation or seasonal refresh here.
Korbel Brut California Champagne — $12
At $12 a glass, Korbel is Korbel — nobody's pretending it's Champagne — but as a straightforward sparkling option at a gastropub, it's the most honestly priced thing on the list and won't make you wince when the check comes.
La Folia Barbera 2019
In a list full of safe California Cabs and Chardonnays, the La Folia Barbera is the only bottle that took a left turn. Barbera is food-friendly, higher acid, and interesting — most people at this kind of spot will scroll right past it and order the Cab. Don't be most people.
Wente Riva Ranch Chardonnay 2021
Wente is a perfectly fine, widely distributed wine — you can find it at most California grocery stores for around $18-$22 retail. At $49 on this list, you're paying more than double for a wine that does nothing you couldn't get elsewhere for a lot less. Pass.
La Folia Barbera 2019 + Burger
Without confirmed menu specifics we're working with gastropub logic here: Barbera's bright acidity and lower tannins cut through fatty, umami-rich pub fare better than the Cabs on this list. A burger with the works is exactly where this bottle finds its purpose.
The Bottom Line
Rebel Kitchen's wine list doesn't rebel against anything — it's eleven safe bottles with steep markups in a region that's literally surrounded by wineries. Order a cocktail, which is clearly what they actually care about.
· Livermore · California winery restaurant
If you're already making the drive to Livermore wine country, The Restaurant at Murrieta's Well earns its stop — not because the list is long, but because it's honest. Fair prices, genuine variety within the estate, and a few genuinely unusual bottles like the Counoise and Orange Muscat make this more than a gift shop with table service. Come with curiosity, ask questions, and let the Counoise surprise you.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Livermore · Wine lounge / live music
Almost Famous is a genuinely local wine lounge with a genuinely short list, and that's not a criticism — it's a commitment. If you live in the Livermore Valley and want to drink local without a lot of fuss, this is your spot. The pricing is honest, the wines are real, and the Cab Franc alone is worth a visit.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Livermore · Italian
Pasta's Trattoria won't blow any wine nerds away, but it's a genuinely solid neighborhood Italian spot that takes its wine seriously enough to make dinner feel complete. If you're in Pleasanton and want a reliable glass with your risotto, you won't be disappointed.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Livermore · Italian / Sports Bar
Range Cafe isn't destination wine drinking, but it's a better list than a bocce club has any business running — just don't come looking for adventure outside the California Cabernet universe. Order the Zin, skip the trophy bottles, and focus on the game.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Livermore · Cocktail Bar / Small Plates
Le Nocturne is a genuinely fun room with a French menu that deserves a better wine list than what the concept seems to prioritize — the atmosphere earns it Wild Card status because the potential is real, but until the wine program matches the culinary ambition, order a cocktail and come back when they figure it out. If you're going for wine, go informed and go with a bottle.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Livermore · Cocktail Bar / New American
Black Cat is a Wild Card in the best way: it's a buzzy cocktail bar that actually thought about its wine program, sits in genuine wine country, and throws in a no-corkage Thursday deal that most full wine bars would never offer. We'd send a friend here — and we'd tell them to bring a bottle from down the road.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Johns Creek · New American / Gastropub
Citizen Soul's wine program is a solid suburban effort — it won't embarrass you on a date night, and the all-glass-pour format makes grazing through the list genuinely easy. The markups lean steep and the list plays it safe, but the Muga and Chenin Blanc alone prove someone put at least a little thought into this. If you're eating in Johns Creek and want a decent glass without a lecture, you could do a lot worse.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Abilene · New American / Gastropub
Cork & Pig Tavern is doing more with wine than Abilene probably demands, and we respect the effort — the by-the-glass program alone is worth the stop. If you're passing through West Texas and need a legit glass of something interesting, this is your place.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Irvine · New American / Gastropub
Bosscat is a solid spot for craft cocktails and a good time — the wine list just isn't the reason to come. If you're committed to wine, go Emmolo or Austin Hope and call it a night; everything else is paying a premium for the familiar.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
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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