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 →
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.
Funk Zone · Santa Barbara · Mediterranean-Influenced New American
Blackbird has the bones of a wine program worth your attention — sommelier-led, regionally grounded in Santa Barbara County, and sitting inside a hotel that clearly invested in the dining experience. The catch is that hotel adjacency typically means markups that outpace the neighborhood, so go in with your eyes open and ask your server to point you toward the local producers. We'd send a friend here for a polished night out, with the caveat to let the staff guide you rather than defaulting to the familiar names on the list.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Santa Barbara · Wine Bar / Small Plates
Villa Wine Bar runs a focused, well-priced list built around Santa Barbara County producers who actually deserve the spotlight — Beckmen, Babcock, Storm, and Alma Rosa are all doing real work. The by-the-glass program is nearly comprehensive, the bottle prices are fair, and the regional identity is clear. If you're in Santa Barbara and want to drink local without getting gouged, this is a reliable call.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Funk Zone · Santa Barbara · Wine Bar / Tasting Room with Food Options
If you're passing through the Funk Zone and want to actually understand what Santa Barbara wine country is about, this is a better use of an hour than most tasting rooms you'll pay more to visit. It's not a deep-list destination, but as a regional introduction it punches well above its square footage.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Santa Maria Valley · Santa Barbara · Winery Tasting Room / Charcuterie
Presqu'ile is the rare tasting room that feels like a destination rather than a sales pitch — the Aligoté and Gamay alone tell you this team is thinking beyond the obvious, and the pricing won't make you wince. If you're driving through Santa Maria Valley and you skip this, you made a mistake.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara · Wine Bar / Tasting Room
This is a focused, confident single-producer tasting room that earns its Wild Card badge by going deep on Rhône varieties and aromatic whites in a market that usually just wants Pinot and Chardonnay. If you're staying at Hotel Californian or exploring downtown Santa Barbara, skipping this would be a mistake.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Santa Barbara · Seafood / Coastal Californian
SeaVenture's wine list won't blow any minds, but it's priced fairly, leans into the right regional story, and gives you everything by the glass — which is exactly what a seafood spot on the California coast should do. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink well without getting gouged.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Scottsdale · Scottsdale · Italian
An Italian list dated 06.17.26 with 18 glass pours at 15 to 19 and full bottles from 60 to 970. Start with the Barbera d’Alba La Gemella at 15 a glass, or the Fontanavecchia Aglianico del Taburno from the chef’s Campania hometown at 17, and confirm prices because the list says they are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
West Hollywood · Los Angeles · Italian
A big-ticket Italian and Napa list with a genuine glass section: 14 wines by the glass from $15 to $85, then 89 bottles from $55 to $3,000. Start with the Prunotto Barolo at $30 a glass, or the Guidalberto at $145 if you want a Bolgheri bottle, and confirm prices because the page is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks page, not service, storage or markups.
Coral Gables · Miami · Italian
An Italy-first list built around Piedmont and Tuscany, with a four-vintage Burlotto Barolo vertical, three vintages of Sassicaia and a 16-bottle Brunello section plus special-vintage Brunellos. Start with a Coravin pour or a quartino, then ask for bottle prices, because this version of the list posts none and carries no printed date. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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