Harbor Views, Honest Pours, No Surprises
Old Fisherman's Wharf · Monterey · Casual Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 23, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Riva Fish House’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Riva Fish House is exactly what you'd expect from a lively wharf spot where the real star is the view and the clam chowder. It's short, approachable, and built for people who want a glass of something cold and coastal without overthinking it. No one's coming here for a deep-dive into Burgundy, and that's fine.
The list leans hard into California and the Pacific Northwest, which makes geographic sense when you're sitting on Monterey Bay. You'll find names like Mer Soleil Chardonnay and Meiomi Pinot Noir — crowd-tested labels that move quickly in a tourist-heavy environment. There's no real adventurousness here: no skin-contact wines, no small producers, no regional deep cuts from Sta. Rita Hills or Willamette's lesser-known appellations. What you get is a tightly curated hits parade that keeps things moving during a busy dinner rush.
The by-the-glass program runs roughly 8–14 options in the $10–$16 range, which is reasonable for a waterfront spot where rent isn't cheap. Expect the usual suspects — a Chardonnay, a Pinot Grigio, a Pinot Noir — rotated at a pace that suggests the list hasn't changed much since the last menu reprint. Don't expect anything on the glass list to surprise you, but the pricing is fair enough that you won't feel robbed.
Mer Soleil Chardonnay — $13
Mer Soleil is a legitimately good Central Coast Chardonnay — richer than you'd expect at this price point, with enough weight to hold up alongside a bowl of clam chowder without getting lost. At mid-tier glass pricing for a wharf location, it's the smart order.
Coppola Pinot Grigio
It gets overlooked because the Coppola brand feels more movie memorabilia than serious wine, but this Pinot Grigio is crisp, clean, and genuinely refreshing with fried seafood. Most people reach past it for the Chardonnay without giving it a shot.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
Meiomi is a perfectly fine grocery store Pinot, but at restaurant markup it's hard to justify when you can buy it at Safeway for $15. Save the red wine budget for somewhere with a more interesting bottle.
Mer Soleil Chardonnay + Clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl
The Chardonnay's buttery weight and subtle oak echo the richness of the chowder without fighting it, and the wine's acidity cuts through the cream just enough to keep things from feeling heavy. It's a simple match, but it works.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Riva Fish House is a reliable pour for what it is — a casual, tourist-friendly wharf spot that keeps the wine list simple and the prices honest. Send a friend here for a glass of Chardonnay and the chowder; don't send them here expecting anything that'll make them rethink their relationship with wine.
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Chart House's happy hour wine program exists to keep your glass full while you stare at the Pacific — and on that level, at $8–$10 a pour, it succeeds. But if wine is actually why you're here, Cannery Row can do better.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pacific Grove · Monterey · Mediterranean / European
Fandango is punching well above its coastal casual-fine-dining weight class with a list that has real depth, genuine age, and some legitimately exciting outliers. The markups keep it from true Rager status, but if you're in Pacific Grove and want to drink seriously, this is your spot.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
North Fremont / Beachfront · Monterey · American, Seafood
The Lantern Room is what happens when a hotel restaurant actually tries — a locally anchored wine list, a sommelier in the building, and enough interesting producers to make the steep markup sting a little less. Send a friend here if they love Central Coast wine; warn them to skip the Cab and lean into what this coast actually grows.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
North Fremont / Beachfront · Monterey · Seafood / Beachfront
Tidewater is riding entirely on its beachfront location, and the wine list makes no effort to be anything more than a functional afterthought. Stick to the glass pours, pick the most credible name you can find, and keep your eyes on the water.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Cannery Row · Monterey · New American with seafood, house-made pasta, and flatbread pizza
Lalla Oceanside isn't a wine destination, but it's a genuinely fair deal for what it is — a lively Cannery Row spot where the list supports the food without gouging you. If you stick to the Bernardus or the Albariño and grab a window seat, you'll leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown Monterey · Monterey · Breakfast / Brunch
The Club Room won't blow your mind, but it won't embarrass you either — it's a hotel wine list that at least has the sense to lean into its regional backyard. If you're already staying at the Portola, it's an easy yes; if you're driving across town just for the wine, keep driving.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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