Rittenhouse's Chill Spot With Surprisingly Fair Pours
Rittenhouse Square · Philadelphia · American · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed March 24, 2026
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.
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
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Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Golden Triangle Area · Denton · American
Cheddar's wine program exists to check a box, not to serve you well. Order a cocktail or a beer — they've actually put thought into those — and save the wine for a restaurant that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
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Houlihan's Denton is not a wine destination, and it has no interest in being one. The one genuine reason to order wine here is Tuesday — half-price bottles all day is a deal worth setting a calendar reminder for, especially if you're grabbing the Portillo or the Bloodroot.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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