Warm Houston Bistro That Gets Wine Right
Houston · Houston · American · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 28, 2026
RagingWine reviewed State of Grace’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
State of Grace hands you a list that feels like it was built by someone who actually drinks wine — not a committee trying to impress. The California-France-Italy trifecta is well-trodden territory, but the execution here earns its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence (held since 2016). Nothing flashy, but everything in its right place.
The 150-to-250-bottle list leans hard on California and the classic French and Italian benchmarks, and that focus shows — the hits are genuinely good ones. You've got Ridge Monte Bello sitting alongside Antinori Tignanello, which tells you someone with taste is doing the buying. Louis Jadot covers the Burgundy bases for the France corner, and the Italian and domestic sections feel cohesive rather than just random imports. The gaps show up in the Southern Hemisphere and anything remotely natural or off-the-beaten-path, so don't come here looking for orange wine or a Jura deep cut.
Twenty-plus glass pours across a $12–$22 range gives you real options without requiring a bottle commitment — that's a legitimately solid program for a Houston neighborhood bistro. The Kistler Chardonnay and Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir appearing in the glass lineup (if available) would make this one of the stronger by-the-glass programs in the area. Rotation frequency isn't confirmed, but with a sommelier on staff in Nick Gomez, there's someone accountable for keeping it relevant.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $12
At the low end of the glass range, this is a sharp, food-friendly pour that most tables overlook in favor of a Chardonnay. Ste. Michelle's Riesling punches well above its price point and works across half the menu.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir
Most guests here are gravitating toward the Caymus or the Kistler, but the Drouhin Oregon is the quietly confident choice — Old World sensibility grown in the Willamette Valley. It's the wine that makes you look like you know something the table doesn't.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is a perfectly fine wine, but it's one of the most aggressively marked-up bottles in American restaurants and you can find it anywhere. With Ridge Monte Bello on the same list, ordering Caymus is leaving money and experience on the table.
Antinori Tignanello + Grilled Steak
Tignanello's Sangiovese-Cabernet blend has the structure and dark fruit to stand up to a properly grilled steak without steamrolling it — the acidity cuts fat, the tannins grip the char. It's the kind of pairing that makes the meal feel like a decision you planned.
✔️ The Bottom Line
State of Grace is a reliable, well-run wine program anchored by a knowledgeable sommelier and a list that respects both the food and the guest's wallet. If you want a neighborhood spot in Houston where the wine won't let you down, this is a safe and satisfying call.
Montrose · Houston · French
The Marigold Club is Houston's most interesting new wine room for anyone who thinks Champagne is a food group and France is the only country that matters — in the best possible way. Go on a Sunday, order the Delamotte, eat the Duck Wellington, and tip generously.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Houston · Houston · American, Italian
Milton's is the kind of neighborhood trattoria that surprises you — the room says casual pasta night, the wine list quietly whispers Biondi-Santi. If you care about Italian wine and you're in Houston, it's worth a reservation just to explore the bottle list.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Montrose · Houston · Italian
Marmo is hiding a legitimately serious Italian wine program behind a piano bar and a plate of hand-rolled pasta — and that's exactly what makes it worth seeking out. Send a friend here if they think Houston Italian restaurants don't take wine seriously; this list will change their mind.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Houston · Houston · Mexican (Oaxacan)
Xochi is doing something genuinely rare: running a serious Mexican wine program inside a serious restaurant, with a sommelier who knows the material and a list that earns its Wine Spectator credential. Send your adventurous friends here and tell them to skip the Cab.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Houston · Houston · Steak house
Taste of Texas is a Houston institution that takes its California Cabernet seriously — 30 years of Wine Spectator recognition backs that up. It's not a destination wine list, but if you're here for a steak and want a proper bottle to go with it, you won't leave disappointed.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Montrose · Houston · European
Rosie Cannonball is punching well above its bistro weight class — the Wine Spectator nod since 2020 is deserved, and the Beaujolais and natural Italian depth make it the kind of list that rewards the curious. Send your friends here and tell them to skip the Cab.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront · Traverse City · American
Warehouse Kitchen + Cork won't win any awards for depth or ambition, but it plays its hand honestly — fair prices, solid local representation, and a full by-the-glass program that respects your wallet. If you're in Traverse City and want a glass of something local with a water view, this works.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Truckee · Truckee · American
Sunnyside is a casual lodge restaurant wearing a serious wine list under its flannel — the markup is steep and it won't win any awards for staff expertise, but the producer lineup is legitimately impressive for where you're sitting. If you're already at the lake, this is absolutely worth ordering a real bottle.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Chamblee · Atlanta · American
Lagarde's wine annex isn't going to show up on any must-visit wine destination lists, but it's doing the honest work of making good-enough wine accessible at fair prices with a few genuine bright spots buried in the lineup. Send a friend here who wants to try something a little off the beaten path without getting a lecture about it.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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