Five Wines, Zero Filler, Maximum Intrigue
· Irvine · Tasting Menu · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · October 4, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Hobbit’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Five wines on a list sounds like a cop-out until you actually read the five wines. The Hobbit isn't trying to impress you with volume — it's curating a pairing program where every bottle has a reason to be there. That kind of restraint is either very smart or very lazy, and this list lands firmly in the former camp.
The range here punches well above its size: a Chenin Blanc from Haarmeyer in California's Central Valley, a proper Barolo from Damilano's 'Lecinquevigne', Mount Eden's age-worthy Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet, Fritz Haag's renowned Juffer Sonnenuhr Spätlese from the Mosel, and Disznókő's Tokaji to close things out. That's four countries, multiple climates, and a through-line of genuine seriousness. There are no obvious filler bottles, no Meiomi or Josh Cellars lurking in the wings. The gap, of course, is that five bottles is five bottles — if none of them speak to you, you're out of options.
By-the-glass details aren't confirmed from available sources, so we can't say with confidence which — if any — of these wines are available by the pour. Given the tasting menu format, these selections likely function as pairing wines rather than a traditional glass list. Confirm with the restaurant before you arrive if pours are a priority.
The Bottom Line
The Hobbit's wine program is a tight five-bottle statement — no dead weight, no crowd-pleaser nonsense, just a considered selection that spans Mosel Riesling, Piedmont, the Santa Cruz Mountains, and Hungarian dessert wine. Pricing and by-the-glass availability aren't confirmed, so call ahead before making this the centerpiece of your evening. But if you trust a restaurant that offers Disznókő Tokaji as a closer, you're probably going to be just fine.
Irvine Spectrum · Irvine · Mexican
Javier's Irvine is a genuinely good night out — the food is the draw, the room delivers, and the wine list will get you through dinner without embarrassing anyone. But if you're coming specifically to drink well, temper expectations: this is California-safe territory with pricing that reflects the zip code more than the cellar. Order the carne asada, ask what's open by the glass, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Irvine · French tasting menu
Mélisse earns its reputation as one of Southern California's most serious dining rooms, and the wine program appears to match. We can't call specific bottles or prices without a sourced list in hand, but the bones — sommelier-led, France-forward, storage-conscious — are all there. If you're going, go all the way: budget for a pairing and let the room do its job.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Irvine · French and New American
The Cellar is doing more with 69 labels than most Irvine restaurants do with twice as many. The markup is fair, the by-the-glass program is genuinely broad, and there are a few smart European picks tucked in among the California staples. If you're eating French and New American in OC and you want a wine list that won't disappoint you, this is a safe — and occasionally interesting — bet.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Park Place · Irvine · Modern Mexican
Puesto is a fun spot, but the wine list is essentially decorative — five Baja bottles isn't a program, it's a placeholder. Order a mezcal cocktail and revisit this decision when they decide to take wine seriously.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Tustin/Irvine · Irvine · Steakhouse / Seafood
The Winery is a reliable date-night pick for wine drinkers who want something beyond generic and don't mind paying for the atmosphere. We'd want more pricing transparency before calling it a destination, but as a polished local option in Irvine, it's doing the work.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Irvine Spectrum · Irvine · Steakhouse / New American
Del Frisco's Grille is a reliable wine stop if you know what you're doing and keep expectations tuned to 'comfortable chain steakhouse' rather than 'serious wine destination.' The sommelier presence is real, the list is competent, and a few smart picks — particularly in the whites — reward guests who look past the Rombauer and Whispering Angel.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Honolulu · Tasting Menu
Senia's wine program is one of the more thoughtful in the state — sommelier on staff, an Old World-focused list, and a Wednesday night deal where bottles at $65 and under get cut in half plus a tasting flight. If you're serious about what's in your glass, this is where you go in Honolulu. Book a Wednesday if you can.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Sandy Springs · Sandy Springs · Tasting Menu
Bacchanalia's wine program is doing something genuinely difficult: running a 35-option by-the-glass list with real range and intention inside a tasting menu format, priced at levels that don't feel punitive. The $20 Raventos and the $24 Carl Loewen Riesling are the kind of pours that make you trust the people who built this list. If you're eating in Atlanta and care about what's in your glass, this is the room.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Carlsbad · San Diego · Tasting Menu
Lilo is the kind of place that earns a Wild Card badge not because it's rough around the edges, but because nobody expects to find this level of polish — Michelin star included — in Carlsbad. The France-and-Champagne wine focus is a smart, committed match for the seafood tasting menu, and the intimate counter format means you're likely getting attentive, knowledgeable service on the wine side. We'd recommend calling ahead if you want to explore outside the pairing format, but if you're going for the full experience, lean into the Champagne and don't look back.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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