California Classics on the Colorado River
Lake Havasu City · American
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 10, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Shugrue's Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Shugrue's — waterfront views, dark wood, the smell of prime rib in the air — the wine list feels exactly right for the room. It's not trying to be Napa Valley; it's trying to be the best wine list in Lake Havasu City, and it mostly succeeds. The California focus is unapologetic and well-executed for the crowd it's serving.
This is a 100-150 bottle list that plays to its audience: Napa and Sonoma heavyweights that people actually recognize and want to order on a special night out. Jordan Cab, Stag's Leap Artemis, Duckhorn Merlot, Cakebread, Sonoma-Cutrer — these aren't adventurous choices, but they're reliable names executed without embarrassment. What's missing is any real depth outside California; if you're hunting for Burgundy, Rioja, or even a solid Oregon Pinot, you're largely out of luck. Wine Spectator has recognized this list with an Award of Excellence since 2020, which tracks — it's a focused, competent California program that delivers consistency over discovery.
Twelve to eighteen pours by the glass at $8–$14 is a solid range for a restaurant at this price point and in this market. The pricing on glass pours is reasonable enough that you won't feel penalized for not committing to a bottle. We'd love to see more rotation here — the list reads like it doesn't change much season to season.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Canoe Ridge Merlot 2021 — $48
The most overlooked bottle on the list. Canoe Ridge is a serious Columbia Valley estate, and at $48 it's the only bottle here that punches above its price tag in a room full of California names. Order it before someone figures this out.
Sterling Vintner's Collection Chardonnay 2022
At $42 it's the most approachable price on the list and gets dismissed as a filler bottle — but for casual sipping on a warm Havasu evening, it does the job without drama. Don't overthink it.
Stag's Leap Artemis Cabernet 2020
At $110 you're paying a meaningful premium for a wine that retails around $55–$60. The wine itself is good, but the markup here is the steepest on the list. Save this one for when you're buying it at the winery.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 + Prime Rib
Jordan Cab is built for exactly this moment — it's plush, structured, and has the fruit weight to stand up to a big slab of prime rib without overwhelming it. Classic for a reason.
Tuesday — Half-price wine night on Tuesdays — the single best reason to adjust your dinner reservation schedule.
The Bottom Line
Shugrue's isn't going to surprise any wine nerds, but it's the best California-focused list you'll find on the Colorado River, and Tuesday's half-price wine night is genuinely worth planning around. Send your friends here when they want something familiar done right.
· Las Vegas · American
DJT is a fine place to eat a filet mignon or a well-executed lamb dish in a comfortable room. But if wine is the reason you're sitting down, this isn't the stop. The list appears to serve the hotel, not the guest — and in Las Vegas, where genuinely great wine programs are closer than you think, that's a hard sell.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chula Vista · American
Yard House Chula Vista's wine list is what happens when wine is an afterthought at a beer-forward chain — familiar labels, steep markups, and zero sense of discovery. If you're here for the 130+ beers on draft, you're in the right place; if you came for the wine, grab the Jean-Luc Colombo rosé and manage expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Yountville · American
RH Yountville is a genuinely beautiful place to drink wine — the room earns that much on atmosphere alone, and the California-forward list will keep most guests happy without any friction. But in Yountville, where the competition includes some of the most serious wine programs in the country, 'happy without friction' isn't the same as memorable. Go for the experience, order confidently by region, and don't expect the list to surprise you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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