State Street Italian With a California Wine Backbone
Downtown / State Street · Santa Barbara · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 11, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Chase Restaurant and Lounge’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
The Chase wine list reads like a greatest-hits album from the Napa fan club — Caymus, Rombauer, Stag's Leap, Far Niente. It's comfortable and crowd-pleasing, which is exactly the point for a warm, romantic Italian spot on State Street. There's a California-forward identity here, with a nod to local Santa Barbara producers that keeps it from feeling completely generic.
The list leans heavily on recognizable California names — the kind of bottles your parents ordered at a steakhouse in 2008 and haven't stopped ordering since. That said, the Santa Barbara County representation gives it some regional soul, and there are a few European curveballs like the Chablisienne 'Le Finage' Chablis and Marchesi di Barolo Arneis that signal someone at least glanced at a map beyond the Central Coast. Gaps are real: natural wine is nowhere to be found, Burgundy is thin, and the red side of the list is almost entirely Cabernet. If you want a Pinot or a Grenache with your pasta, you're going to have to ask nicely.
Fifteen options by the glass is a respectable number for a restaurant this size, and Veuve Clicquot at $25 a glass is a reasonable anchor for the sparkling category. The pour selections skew toward the same crowd-pleasing profile as the bottle list — don't expect anything adventurous or rotating. What you see is what you get, and it stays that way.
Marchesi di Barolo Arneis — Not listed
This is the one wine on the list that doesn't look like it was chosen by committee. Arneis is a crisp, aromatic white from Piedmont that most tables will walk right past — which means you can quietly enjoy it while everyone else argues over whether to get the Rombauer again.
Chablisienne 'Le Finage' Chablis
Chablis rarely gets its moment in California-centric wine programs, and this cooperative-produced bottle from one of Chablis' most respected names is a genuine find. Crisp, mineral, zero oak — everything the Rombauer crowd isn't ordering, and probably the most versatile white on the menu.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc
Forty-eight dollars for Kim Crawford is the wine list equivalent of a cover charge at a bar with no band. This is a $12 grocery store bottle on a good day. The markup here is hard to justify when better options exist on the same list.
Chablisienne 'Le Finage' Chablis + Calamari Steak
Lean, mineral Chablis and a calamari steak are a natural match — the wine's bracing acidity cuts through the richness of the preparation without overwhelming the delicate seafood. It's the kind of pairing that makes you look smart without trying.
The Bottom Line
The Chase is a solid neighborhood Italian with a wine list that plays it very safe — you'll find what you're looking for if what you're looking for is Caymus, but check the markups before you order on autopilot. Stick to the European wildcards and the local Santa Barbara pours for the best value on the table.
Montecito · Santa Barbara · Italian
Tre Lune isn't trying to reinvent anything — it's a well-loved Montecito Italian with a wine list that earns its Wine Spectator nod and leans intelligently on Margerum's local chops. Send a friend here knowing the wine will be fairly priced and thoughtfully chosen, even if the excitement ceiling is comfortable rather than thrilling.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Santa Barbara · New American / California Cuisine
Finch & Fork is a reliable pour in a great wine region — the list champions its Santa Barbara backyard with real conviction, even if the markups occasionally make you wince. Send a friend here if they want to drink local and drink well; just steer them toward the Foxen and away from the M5.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Santa Barbara · Italian Pizzeria
Ca' Dario Pizzeria isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — the list does its job, the prices are fair, and the Santa Barbara rosé alone justifies looking past the cocktail menu. Send a friend here if they want solid Italian wine with their pizza and zero fuss.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waterfront / Cabrillo Blvd · Santa Barbara · Italian Steakhouse
Ca' Dario Steakhouse is a reliable wine destination for anyone who wants serious Italian bottles with their steak without having to navigate a 300-label monster list. The markups trend steep, especially on the celebrity bottles, but the Santa Barbara Syrah and Sicilian options give value-hunters a legitimate path.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waterfront / East Beach · Santa Barbara · Contemporary Oaxacan and Mexican
Flor De Maiz isn't a wine destination, but it's a Wild Card in the best sense — a waterfront Oaxacan spot that took the time to build a small, thoughtful list with local producers and a genuine Mexican anchor. Come for the mole, stay for the Barden Brut Rosé.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Public Market / Downtown · Santa Barbara · Thai and Taiwanese-inspired noodle bar
Empty Bowl is a genuinely excellent noodle bar that deserves a better wine program than this — come for the Khao Soi, grab a sake, and don't let the wine list talk you into a $36 Chardonnay. The kitchen is working hard; the wine list is not.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bridgeport · Italian
This is a sleeper hit of a wine list — a neighborhood Italian spot that clearly cares about where its bottles come from and keeps the prices honest. If you have even a passing curiosity about southern Italian reds, 'A Vucchella is worth the trip.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Naperville · Italian
Francesca's Passaggio is a dependable suburban Italian wine list — white-wine-heavy, Italian-accented, and priced on the steeper side, but with enough interesting bottles to reward a little menu exploration. Send a friend here if they want a pleasant, fuss-free dinner with a solid glass of something Italian; send a serious wine person elsewhere.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· McKinney · Italian
Taverna Rossa's wine list gets the job done for a casual dinner out, but the markups on familiar bottles make it hard to recommend going beyond a glass or two. Stick with the Barbera or the Guigal and save the splurge for the food.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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