Short List, Big Markups, Nothing to Rebel For
· Livermore · New American / Gastropub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 6, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Rebel Kitchen & Libations’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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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 · 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
Downtown Livermore · Livermore · Greek & Mediterranean
Demitri's isn't a destination wine bar, but it's doing something genuine — pairing Greek imports with award-winning local Livermore producers in a setting that actually makes the wine feel connected to what's on your plate. Send a friend here if they think Livermore is just suburban sprawl; the wine list will surprise them.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown Livermore · Livermore · Italian, Seafood, Grill
Strizzi's isn't a wine destination, but it does right by its neighborhood with local Livermore pours at fair prices. Send your friend here if they want a solid Italian dinner with a decent glass — just point them toward the Cab Franc.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Livermore · Livermore · Mexican
Blue Agave Club is first and foremost a tequila destination, but the wine list earns its place by betting on local Livermore producers and sneaking in a wild card or two. If you're eating here and skipping the wine entirely, you're missing a cheap way to drink well in wine country.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Livermore / Airport Area · Livermore · Hotel Bar
If you are already staying here and do not feel like driving, the Caposaldo Prosecco or Mirabelle will get the job done without too much damage. But this is Livermore — there are actual wine destinations within ten minutes that make this lobby bar look like it is not even trying.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Livermore / Airport Area · Livermore · Hotel Restaurant
If you're staying at the hotel and can't make it out to an actual Livermore Valley winery, show up on Wine Wednesday, grab a half-price bottle, and keep your expectations calibrated accordingly. For anything resembling a real wine experience, get in the car.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
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
West Lodi / Lincoln Center area · Lodi · New American / Gastropub
Market Tavern isn't a wine destination, but it earns its place as the kind of reliable neighborhood spot where you won't feel bad about ordering a second glass. If you're in Lodi and skipping the local bottles, you're doing it wrong.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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