Livermore Local Eats, Decent Pours to Match
Downtown Livermore · Livermore · Italian, Seafood, Grill · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 11, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Strizzi's Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Strizzi's is short, approachable, and leans into its Livermore Valley backyard — which we respect. It's not trying to be a wine bar, but it's not phoning it in either. Think neighborhood Italian joint that actually thought about what goes on the table.
The list clocks in at roughly 18-25 wines and covers the obvious bases: a Pinot Grigio for the pasta crowd, a Pinot Noir for the fish, a Cab for the grill folks. What saves it from being entirely generic is the inclusion of local Livermore Valley producers — L'Autre Côte's Cabernet Franc in particular shows some editorial intention. The broader California selections (Head High Chardonnay from Sonoma, Sea Sun Pinot Noir) are crowd-pleasers that are easy to drink but won't surprise anyone. Italy shows up mostly through Ruffino's Lumina Pinot Grigio, which is fine but feels more like a default than a deliberate choice.
Eight to twelve by-the-glass options cover the spread without overwhelming anyone, priced $8–$17 a pour. The top of that range — L'Autre Côte Cab Franc at $17 — is where you want to be if you're here for the wine. The lower end is serviceable house-pour territory.
L'Autre Côte Cabernet Franc, Livermore Valley — $17/glass, $51/bottle
Retail around $30, so the markup is reasonable at 70% — well below the restaurant industry norm. More importantly, it's a local Livermore Cab Franc that actually tastes like somewhere. Order the bottle.
L'Autre Côte Cabernet Franc, Livermore Valley
Most people at an Italian place are going to default to the Pinot Grigio or the Cab Sauv. The Cab Franc from a local Livermore producer is the move — it's got the structure for the grilled meats and the brightness for the pasta, and nobody at your table has ordered it before.
Ruffino 'Lumina' Pinot Grigio
It's a fine bottle of Pinot Grigio — at the grocery store. At a restaurant in the heart of Livermore wine country, ordering a mass-market Italian brand when there are local options on the same list is a missed opportunity.
L'Autre Côte Cabernet Franc, Livermore Valley + Wood-fired grilled specialties
Cab Franc's earthy, slightly herbaceous character and firm but not aggressive tannins are built for smoke and char. It won't fight the wood-fired flavors — it'll lean into them.
The Bottom Line
Strizzi's isn't a wine destination, but it does right by its neighborhood with local Livermore pours at fair prices. Send your friend here if they want a solid Italian dinner with a decent glass — just point them toward the Cab Franc.
· Livermore · Wine lounge / live music
Almost Famous is a genuinely local wine lounge with a genuinely short list, and that's not a criticism — it's a commitment. If you live in the Livermore Valley and want to drink local without a lot of fuss, this is your spot. The pricing is honest, the wines are real, and the Cab Franc alone is worth a visit.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Livermore · Italian
Pasta's Trattoria won't blow any wine nerds away, but it's a genuinely solid neighborhood Italian spot that takes its wine seriously enough to make dinner feel complete. If you're in Pleasanton and want a reliable glass with your risotto, you won't be disappointed.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Livermore · Italian / Sports Bar
Range Cafe isn't destination wine drinking, but it's a better list than a bocce club has any business running — just don't come looking for adventure outside the California Cabernet universe. Order the Zin, skip the trophy bottles, and focus on the game.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Livermore · Cocktail Bar / Small Plates
Le Nocturne is a genuinely fun room with a French menu that deserves a better wine list than what the concept seems to prioritize — the atmosphere earns it Wild Card status because the potential is real, but until the wine program matches the culinary ambition, order a cocktail and come back when they figure it out. If you're going for wine, go informed and go with a bottle.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Livermore · New American / Gastropub
Rebel Kitchen's wine list doesn't rebel against anything — it's eleven safe bottles with steep markups in a region that's literally surrounded by wineries. Order a cocktail, which is clearly what they actually care about.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Livermore · Cocktail Bar / New American
Black Cat is a Wild Card in the best way: it's a buzzy cocktail bar that actually thought about its wine program, sits in genuine wine country, and throws in a no-corkage Thursday deal that most full wine bars would never offer. We'd send a friend here — and we'd tell them to bring a bottle from down the road.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.