Safe Harbor for the Seafood and Cab Crowd
Oceanfront Myrtle Beach · Myrtle Beach · Upscale American and Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 21, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed The Cypress Room at Island Vista’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at The Cypress Room reads like a greatest hits album you've heard a hundred times — Rombauer, Santa Margherita, Kim Crawford, all present and accounted for. It's not an adventurous list, but it's competent, and the oceanfront setting makes even a familiar Chardonnay feel like a better decision than it probably is. Walk in expecting comfort, not discovery.
The 50–80 bottle list leans hard on Napa and Sonoma for reds and Northern Italy plus Marlborough for whites — a formula that plays well with the resort crowd but leaves serious wine drinkers wanting. Stags' Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon anchors the red side with some genuine credibility, while Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio and Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc do the heavy lifting for white wine drinkers who just want something recognizable. There's no meaningful exploration of Rhône, Burgundy, Spain, or domestic producers outside of California, which at this price point feels like a missed opportunity. The list does its job — it just doesn't try very hard beyond that.
The by-the-glass program runs 8–14 options, which is a reasonable spread for a resort dining room. Expect the usual suspects: something Californian, something Italian, something from New Zealand. There's no evidence of regular rotation or a thoughtful pour program, so what you see is likely what's been on the list since last season.
Stags' Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — null
No price confirmed, but Stags' Leap Winery is a legitimately good Napa producer — not the flashiest name on the block, which means it sometimes sneaks through at a relatively saner markup than the celebrity bottles. If you're ordering red, this is where to land.
Stags' Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon
Often overshadowed by its more famous neighbor STAG'S LEAP WINE CELLARS (yes, different winery), Stags' Leap Winery quietly delivers solid, structured Napa Cab without the name-brand premium most diners don't know to avoid. Worth ordering with confidence.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
Santa Margherita is the Pinot Grigio that taught America what Pinot Grigio was — in 1979. It's fine, but it's been coasting on that reputation ever since, and resort wine lists charge a premium for the name recognition. You can do better for less almost anywhere.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc + Shrimp and Grits
Kim Crawford's bright acidity and citrus-forward profile cut right through the richness of a butter-heavy Lowcountry shrimp and grits. It's not a surprising pairing, but it's a correct one — and sometimes that's exactly what you want with an ocean view.
The Bottom Line
The Cypress Room is a perfectly acceptable place to drink wine if you're already staying at Island Vista and don't feel like going anywhere else. We wouldn't drive across town for this list, but we wouldn't send a friend away thirsty either.
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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