Sonoma's Backyard, Poured Into 120 Labels
· Sonoma · California and Mediterranean · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · October 9, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Sante Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Sante's wine list is like getting a very good map of Northern California wine country — 120 labels, 25 by-the-glass options, and a clear editorial point of view anchored in Sonoma and Napa. This is a hotel restaurant that actually takes its wine program seriously, which puts it in a smaller club than you'd expect.
The list leans hard into California, as it should given the address, and it earns the right to do so with producers like Failla, Patz & Hall, Tablas Creek, Denner, Twomey, and Lasseter sharing space alongside trophy bottles like Silver Oak and Quintessa's Illumination. There's genuine depth here — the sparkling section alone offers three distinct by-the-glass options from J Vineyards, Roederer Estate, and Veuve Clicquot. The Rhône-leaning picks (Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas, Denner Nightshade, D66 Pharaon Grenache) show someone with range beyond the standard Cab-Chard hotel playbook. Gaps are minor: international representation is thin, and if you want Old World depth you'll need to dig into the bottle list.
Twenty-five by-the-glass options is a serious commitment, and the range holds up — you can drink bubbles, Albariño, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet all by the glass without touching a bottle. Prices climb steeply at the top end, with Silver Oak, BV Rutherford Reserve, and D66 Pharaon all landing at $50/glass, which is a number that demands a moment of reflection before you order the second pour.
The Bottom Line
Sante is doing more with its wine list than the average hotel restaurant bothers to — 120 labels anchored in Northern California producers, 25 by-the-glass options with real range, and picks like Failla Sonoma Coast Pinot and Denner Nightshade that signal genuine curation. The steep markup at the top end is real, and the lack of any structured specials program means you're paying full freight every time — but if you order thoughtfully, there's genuinely good wine to be found here.
· Sonoma · French bistro
Bistro Ralph is exactly what a wine-country neighborhood bistro should be: unpretentious, locally rooted, and honest about what it is. We can't call out specific bottles from what's available, but the Sonoma-forward identity and relaxed room make this a solid stop for a glass or two alongside the chicken paillard or pot de crème. Come for the setting, stay for the wine.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Sonoma · California and Mediterranean
Sunflower Caffe isn't trying to compete with the big resort wine lists down the road, and that's exactly why it works. The list is small, local, fairly priced, and built around bubbles — which, in Sonoma, is actually a smart and honest choice. If you want a deep cellar or a Burgundy rabbit hole, go elsewhere; if you want a glass of Scribe Nouveau Pinot Noir on what is presumably a lovely patio, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Sonoma · California and New American
Sonoma Valley Farmhouse runs a tight, thoughtful list that punches above its size. The all-by-the-glass format and fair pricing make it easy to drink well without a game plan, and the producer selection — Bedrock, Lasseter, Talisman, Albini — reflects someone who actually cares about what ends up in your glass. If you're in Sonoma and want to drink local without getting gouged, this is a genuinely solid stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Sonoma · Food Truck / New American
The Fig Rig is the kind of place that should not have a wine list this good, and that's exactly what makes it worth seeking out. Fair prices, genuine range, and a clear Rhône-forward point of view — if you're in Sonoma and skeptical of the usual tourist-trap markups, this is where we'd send you first.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Sonoma · French and California
Cafe La Haye has assembled a 63-bottle list that punches well above its count — thoughtful French-California crossover, honest pricing on most of the list, and enough unusual picks (Gaudron Chenin Blanc, Pangloss White Rhone, grower Champagne from Pierre Paillard) to suggest real curation rather than default distributor choices. If you're in Sonoma and want a wine list that respects both the region and your intelligence, this is a reliable stop — with enough Wild Card energy to keep it interesting.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Sonoma · Japanese-inspired tasting menu
SingleThread is operating one of the most ambitious by-the-glass programs in California wine country — 36 options that span grower Champagne, first-cru Burgundy, South African Chenin, and their own estate Grenache is not something you stumble into accidentally. The pricing is unambiguously steep across the board, and you should go in knowing that, but the quality and intentionality of the selection justifies the badge. If you're going for the tasting menu, budget to drink through the glass list rather than anchoring to a single bottle — that's what this program is built for.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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