Spain meets Mexico, one pour at a time
Bonita · Chula Vista · Mediterranean / Mexican · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 26, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Romesco Mexiterranean Bistro’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Romesco does something most San Diego-area restaurants won't bother with: it actually matches the food concept. Spanish Albariño, Mexican producers, California staples — the list reads like a passport that makes sense with the kitchen. It's not long, but it's intentional, and that counts for a lot.
The regional focus — Spain, California, and Mexico — is tight and coherent, which is rare and refreshing. Spanish bottles anchor the list with Tempranillo and Albariño doing the heavy lifting, while Mexican producers like Monte Xanic and L.A. Cetto give the list genuine personality. L.A. Cetto in particular is a name most diners in the US have never encountered, and the fact that it's here at all is worth something. California fills in the gaps without overwhelming the other two regions, keeping the list from feeling like a fallback.
Somewhere between 8 and 14 pours by the glass at $10–$16 a pop, which is honest pricing for this part of San Diego. The Spanish and Mexican options are likely where you want to be — that's the point of the list. We'd expect the Albariño and at least one of the Mexican reds to be available by the glass, which would make this a strong by-the-glass program relative to the restaurant's size.
Spanish Albariño — $13
Crisp, coastal, and exactly right with the seafood-heavy menu. At this price point for a proper Spanish Albariño, it's the easiest call on the list.
L.A. Cetto
A Baja California producer that most tables will walk past without a second look. Don't. L.A. Cetto makes honest, food-friendly wine from one of Mexico's most established wine regions, and seeing it on a San Diego restaurant list is the kind of nod to local-adjacent wine culture that deserves your curiosity.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
If they've got one, it's almost certainly the safe generic option the list didn't need. The whole point of Romesco's wine program is Spain and Mexico — order from there instead.
Spanish Tempranillo + Lamb tapas
Tempranillo and lamb is a classic Iberian combination for a reason. The earthiness in the wine pulls against the richness of the lamb, and in a tapas format you can keep the pours and the plates coming in equal measure.
The Bottom Line
Romesco is a Wild Card in the best sense — a Bonita bistro with a wine list that actually thinks about where it is and what it's serving. If you're anywhere near Chula Vista and you want something genuinely different from the usual California Cab-and-Chardonnay routine, this is your spot.
Chula Vista · Chula Vista · Hotel Lounge
The Den is a hotel bar doing the bare minimum on wine, and it shows. Order a cocktail, grab a beer, or pick up a bottle from the grocery store down the street before you check in.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chula Vista · Steakhouse Chain
The prices are fair but there's almost nothing to choose from — four labels is not a wine program, it's a placeholder. If wine matters to your dinner, this isn't your spot.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chula Vista · Steakhouse
Skip the wine list and order a cocktail or a beer — the wine program here is an afterthought dressed up in a long menu. If someone insists on a bottle, reach for the Rodney Strong and don't look too hard at the markup.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chula Vista · Italian Chain
Romano's Macaroni Grill isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list makes no attempt to pretend otherwise. Order a $4 house red, enjoy the pasta, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that earned it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Jolla / Torrey Pines · Chula Vista · Regional California Cuisine / American Fine Dining
A.R. Valentien is doing something rare for a hotel restaurant: it's built a wine program that would stand on its own even without the Pacific Ocean views. Send your people here — just book ahead and don't skip the wine list.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
La Jolla · Chula Vista · Italian
Marisi is a reliable Italian wine list with genuine ambition hiding behind a steep markup structure — the producers are right, the regions are right, but you'll pay for the privilege. Go for the Produttori Barbaresco and the Pre-Phylloxera Barbera, and you'll leave satisfied.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
