Montgomery's moody wine bar done right
· Montgomery · Tapas & Wine Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · October 9, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Taste’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walk into Taste and the vibe does a lot of the heavy lifting — low lighting, a romantic hum, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to order a second glass before you've finished your first. For Montgomery, this is about as close to a dedicated wine bar experience as you're going to find. The list leans California and Spain, which at least signals some intentionality.
The wine program draws from California and Spanish producers, which is a reasonable lane for a tapas-forward concept — Spain makes sense, California keeps the crowd happy. We don't have the full list in front of us, so we can't speak to specific labels or depth of selection, but reviewers consistently describe it as a solid, approachable program rather than a deep cellar situation. Don't come expecting a page of Rioja Gran Reservas or small-production natural wines — this is a crowd-pleaser list with enough range to cover a date night. The gaps are almost certainly in Old World depth beyond Spain and any real adventurous picks, but for the concept and the market, it holds up.
By-the-glass options are part of the offering here, though we can't confirm the count or current rotation from available sources. Given the tapas format, a solid glass program is essential — you want to be able to match pours to small plates without committing to a bottle every time. We'd expect the usual suspects from California and Spain to anchor the list.
The Bottom Line
Taste is doing something genuinely useful for Montgomery's dining scene — a moody, polished wine bar with tapas that invites you to slow down and order another round. We can't speak to specific bottles or pricing until we get the full list in hand, but the concept is right and the atmosphere earns it. If you're in the city for a date night or a special occasion, this is your best wine bar bet. Just go in with calibrated expectations: it's a reliable neighborhood gem, not a destination cellar.
EastChase · Montgomery · Seafood Bar
Bonefish Grill isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the three-label bar menu makes that abundantly clear. Order a cocktail, enjoy the fish, and save your wine curiosity for a restaurant that shares it.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Montgomery · Steakhouse
This is a wine list by legal obligation, not by passion. Order a cocktail, a beer, or just accept that Outback Taylor Road is not your wine night destination.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Cloverdale · Montgomery · French Wine Bar
Frenchie's is doing something genuinely rare for Montgomery — committing to a French wine bar identity in a city that mostly plays it safe — and that alone earns them the Wild Card. Come for the duck confit and the atmosphere; just go in ready to explore rather than expecting a deep, curated cellar.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Montgomery · New American
La Jolla isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it's putting in more effort than most restaurants in Montgomery. Fair prices, a surprising Loire pick hiding in plain sight, and enough glass options to keep the table happy all night.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Alley Entertainment District · Montgomery · Upscale American, Contemporary Southern
Central is the kind of place where the wine list supports the meal without stealing the spotlight — which is exactly what a restaurant like this needs. Send your friends here for dinner; just steer them toward the Rhône white or the Pinot Gris and away from the Rombauer markup.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hampstead · Montgomery · Casual American bar food and café fare
The Tipping Point is a solid neighborhood spot that happens to have wine, not a wine destination that also serves food — and that's okay. If you're here for the patio, the burgers, or a casual weeknight out, grab the rosé or the Malbec and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Brownsville · Tapas & Wine Bar
A sparkling-only wine bar in Brownsville is unexpected enough to qualify as genuinely exciting — and the list backs up the concept with real range and fair pricing. If you're in the mood to pop bottles and graze, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
The Vista · Columbia · Tapas & Wine Bar
Gervais & Vine is punching above its weight class for a tapas spot in a mid-size Southern city — the by-the-glass program is genuinely thoughtful, the pricing is fair, and that Vin Santo alone earns it a second visit. Send your wine-curious friends here; just steer them away from the Moscato.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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