Sunshine Vibes, Solid Pours, Zero Pretense
Lincoln Park · Chicago · American Casual · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 25, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Summer House Santa Monica’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Summer House arrives feeling exactly like the restaurant: breezy, approachable, and built for people who want something good without wanting to think too hard about it. At 71 labels and 24 by-the-glass options, there's real range here — more than you'd expect from a place that leads with Giuliana Prosecco Mimosas and beach-club cocktails. It's not a serious wine destination, but it's trying harder than the vibes might suggest.
The white wine selection does most of the heavy lifting, anchored by a nice spread from Marlborough to Napa to the Loire — Selbach 'Incline' Riesling, Honig Sauvignon Blanc, and a proper Sancerre 'les renardières' 2024 all show up together, which isn't bad company. On the red side, it's Pinot Noir country: Matthew Fritz, Eden Rift 'Seabold,' and the house-label Summer House Sonoma Coast Pinot round out the reds alongside a few Grenache and Cinsault options for rosé crossover drinkers. The Cirelli Trebbiano d'Abruzzo Orange Wine is the one left-field pick that signals someone on the buying side has actual taste. Gaps are real though — no serious Cabernet, no Italian reds beyond the orange wine outlier, and the top of the bottle list climbs fast toward triple digits without a lot of justification.
Twenty-four by-the-glass options is a genuinely generous program, and the spread across white, pink, orange, and red means you're not stuck ordering a house Cab you've never heard of. The glass price range of $12–$32 is reasonable on the low end but gets steep in a hurry — that Sancerre and the Eden Rift Pinot are bottle-list prices in disguise. Rotation feels seasonal rather than constant, which is fine, but don't expect the list to surprise you on a return visit.
Côté Mas Grenache Blend, Languedoc 2023 — $57
Côté Mas punches consistently above its price tier — this is a well-made southern French Grenache blend at a bottle price that's actually fair for a Chicago restaurant. It drinks warmer and rounder than the rosés but works perfectly in the summer-casual context Summer House is going for.
Cirelli Trebbiano d'Abruzzo Orange Wine
Nobody comes to Summer House looking for an orange wine, and that's exactly why this Cirelli is worth ordering. It's a legitimately interesting natural producer from Abruzzo, and the Trebbiano has texture and grip that nothing else on this list can offer. It'll confuse your table in the best way.
Honig Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Honig is fine — but at $81 a bottle, you're paying a significant premium for a widely distributed Napa Sauv Blanc you can find at most wine shops for $20–$25 retail. The Mādi Sun Marlborough does a comparable job at $65, and the Sancerre does a better job at $105. Honig sits in a weird no-man's land of overpriced middle ground.
Selbach 'Incline' German Riesling 2022 + Wood Grilled Fish Tacos
Off-dry Riesling and grilled fish with citrus and char is a classic move for a reason — the residual sugar in the Selbach softens any heat from the salsa, and the acidity cuts through whatever's rich. It also costs $49, which is one of the fairer bottle prices on this list.
The Bottom Line
Summer House is not a wine destination, but it's a reliable place to drink well enough without getting gouged on the low end — just steer clear of the big-name bottles where the markup climbs. Send your friend here if they want something easy and good; don't send them here if they're chasing something serious.
River North · Chicago · Seafood
A seafood house with a long, mixed list: a Seafood Whites section, Burgundy and Napa depth, and 22 pours by the glass. Order the Marc Brédif "Royal Oyster" Muscadet with a half dozen oysters, or start with the $11/glass Charles de Fère, and confirm current prices. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
River North · Chicago · Mediterranean, Steakhouse
A Napa-heavy bottle list with a real Greek section and a short, priced glass board. Start with the $10 happy-hour Vermentino or, if you are staying for dinner, the AA Sigalas Assyrtiko at $75, and confirm prices and availability when you sit down. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Magnificent Mile · Chicago · Mediterranean
A 38-pour glass list with unpriced Champagne and Burgundy-heavy bottle pages behind it. Start with the $14 Tiberio Trebbiano or the $15 Thymiopoulos Assyrtiko, and ask for bottle prices because the posted bottle pages carry none. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks menu, not service, storage or markups.
Fulton Market · Chicago · Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
A Mediterranean list built around Greece and Lebanon, with 18 wines on the by-the-glass pages. Start with the Kalokaíri rosé (16 / 64) or the Chateau Musar "Jeune Rouge" (19 / 76), and confirm current vintages and prices. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
River North · Chicago · American
A short 14-wine list, with most price pairs between $13 and $15 and four single-price wines at $72 to $80. Order the Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling at $13 | 50, or the Provence rosé if you want the one French wine, and ask which number is the glass price. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
The Loop · Chicago · American Gastropub
A glass list that tags every pour by style, with 18 wines from $15 to $25 and a 128-line bottle list from $50 to $550. Start with The Gage Brut at $15 or the Troupis 'Ekato' orange Moschofilero at $16, and confirm prices because the menu is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
University Town Centre · Morgantown · American Casual
The only reason to order wine at Ruby Tuesday Morgantown is if it's Wednesday and you're splitting a bottle at half-price out of stubborn optimism. Otherwise, order a beer and save your wine money for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
I-10 / Shopping Corridor · Beaumont · American Casual
Cheddar's Beaumont is a perfectly decent place to eat comfort food, but the wine list is a corporate afterthought and everyone involved knows it. Order a cocktail or accept the $6 glass of red for what it is — fuel, not a feature.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Creekside / IH-35 Corridor · New Braunfels · American Casual
We wouldn't send anyone to BJ's Creekside specifically for the wine list — but if you're already there for the Pizookie and a Tuesday lands on your calendar, those half-price bottles are a legitimate deal. Come for the beer, and if you must drink wine, come on a Tuesday.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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