Rittenhouse's Chill Spot With Surprisingly Fair Pours
Rittenhouse Square · Philadelphia · American · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 24, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Love’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 wine list at The Love is a pleasant surprise — not trying to be a wine bar, but not phoning it in either. It's lean enough to read in two minutes but curated enough to make you think someone actually cared. For a buzzy Rittenhouse date-night spot, that's already better than most of the competition.
The list stretches across Spain, Italy, Argentina, and California with a few French stops along the way. It won't win any awards for depth — you're not finding aged Rioja or anything off the beaten path — but the picks are sensible and drinkable. Zorzal's Terroir Único Pinot Noir from Tupungato brings some genuine interest from Argentina, and the Château de Saint-Cosme Sauvignon Blanc/Viognier blend from Pays d'Oc adds a quirky French touch you don't usually see at a place like this. The California side leans commercial with Juggernaut and Field Recordings, which is fine but unremarkable.
Eight by-the-glass options at $14–$18 is a respectable range for Philly without breaking the bank. The markup sampling here is legitimately shocking in the best way — several pours are priced at or below retail, which almost never happens. Rotation doesn't appear to be a strength, but the core selection holds up.
Zorzal 'Terroir Único' Pinot Noir, Tupungato, Argentina 2023 — $16/glass
Retails for $20 and they're charging $16. That's not a markup — that's a discount. Tupungato Pinot Noir punches above its price point and this is one of the better glass pours on the list. Order two.
Château de Saint-Cosme Sauvignon Blanc/Viognier, Pays d'Oc, France 2023
Most people at a place like The Love are gravitating toward the Pinot Grigio or Cab. The Saint-Cosme blend is the sleeper — a southern French white with the brightness of Sauvignon Blanc softened by Viognier's floral weight. It's different in all the right ways.
Pinot Grigio 'Il Nido', Parolvini delle Venezie, Italy 2023
At $14 a glass it's technically affordable, but Parolvini delle Venezie Pinot Grigio is entry-level grocery store territory. With the Zorzal Pinot Noir or the Saint-Cosme blend right there at $16, there's no reason to settle.
Lagar de Indra Albariño, Rías Baixas, Spain 2023 + Shrimp and Grits
Rías Baixas Albariño and shellfish is one of the most reliable combos in the book — the wine's saline minerality and citrus snap cut through the richness of the grits while echoing the brininess of the shrimp. It's a no-brainer.
The Bottom Line
The Love won't dazzle a wine nerd, but it earns serious respect for genuinely fair pricing in a city where markups are routinely brutal. If you're heading to Rittenhouse for dinner and want a solid glass without feeling like you're being fleeced, this is your spot.
Philadelphia · Philadelphia · American
Vernick Fish is a reliable wine destination for anyone who wants quality Chardonnay and Burgundy alongside serious seafood — just know you'll pay for the privilege. Send a friend here, but tell them to avoid the trophy bottles and lean into the French side of the list.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Rittenhouse Square · Philadelphia · French
Parc is a reliable, France-first wine list that fits the room perfectly — you won't discover anything new here, but you also won't go wrong. If you're eating onion soup and steak frites in a beautiful Parisian-style brasserie, this list does exactly what it should.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Rittenhouse Square · Philadelphia · American, French
a.kitchen+bar is the real deal — a deep, well-curated list run by sommeliers who actually know what's on it, earning that Wine Spectator badge honestly. The markups sting on the high end, but the depth and staff knowledge make this one of Philadelphia's best rooms to drink serious wine.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Center City · Philadelphia · Italian
Vetri Cucina is the Italian wine list Philadelphia deserves and rarely gets — stacked with producers that serious collectors chase, staffed by people who can actually talk you through it. Yes, the markup stings on the trophy bottles, but the depth here earns every bit of that Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Old City · Philadelphia · Italian
Panorama has been one of Philadelphia's most credible Italian wine programs for three decades and the list backs that up with producer-level specificity and fair pricing. If you're eating in Old City and wine matters to you, there's no better seat in the neighborhood.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Philadelphia · Philadelphia · Italian
Osteria is one of the best Italian wine programs in Philadelphia, full stop — the depth of producers alone earns the Rager badge. Budget for it, skip the obvious names, and let the list take you somewhere you haven't been.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Eagle Ranch · Vail · American
The Wild Sage is your dependable neighborhood spot in Eagle Ranch — the wine list won't blow your mind, but it won't embarrass you at dinner either. Watch the markups on the top-shelf Napa bottles and stick to the mid-range, and you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront · Traverse City · American
Warehouse Kitchen + Cork won't win any awards for depth or ambition, but it plays its hand honestly — fair prices, solid local representation, and a full by-the-glass program that respects your wallet. If you're in Traverse City and want a glass of something local with a water view, this works.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Truckee · Truckee · American
Sunnyside is a casual lodge restaurant wearing a serious wine list under its flannel — the markup is steep and it won't win any awards for staff expertise, but the producer lineup is legitimately impressive for where you're sitting. If you're already at the lake, this is absolutely worth ordering a real bottle.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
