Sonoma's Backyard, World-Class Wine Depth
Healdsburg · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 7, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Matheson’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into The Matheson, the wine list lands with the weight of a restaurant that knows exactly where it sits — smack in the middle of wine country and not shy about it. The 400-600 bottle range covers serious ground without feeling like someone just photocopied a distributor catalog. This is a curated list with a point of view.
California is rightfully the anchor here, with heavy hitters like Kosta Browne and Williams Selyem covering Pinot Noir, Ridge Monte Bello doing the heavy lifting for Cab, and Heitz Cellar Martha's Vineyard reminding you why Napa still matters. France and Italy round things out respectably — Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet and Giacomo Conterno Barolo are not list-filler; they're serious selections that signal someone actually cares. Pax Wines Syrah is a smart local nod that most tourists will walk right past. The gaps, if any, are probably in Southern Hemisphere and emerging regions, but when your backyard is Sonoma, that's forgivable.
Twenty to thirty-five by-the-glass options is a real program, not a token gesture — and in a lively, upscale room like this one, that matters. Glasses run $15–$30, which is the going rate for Healdsburg in 2024, so no surprises there. With three sommeliers on staff, the rotation should stay sharp and the pours should land at the right temperature.
Pax Wines Syrah — $60–$80 (estimated bottle range)
A local Healdsburg producer making some of the most exciting Rhône-style Syrah in California, and at a restaurant in wine country you'd expect this to be priced as a trophy. It isn't. Order it before the tourists figure it out.
Kongsgaard Chardonnay
Most tables in a room like this are reaching for the Domaine Leflaive or ordering Pinot by default. Kongsgaard is one of Napa's most singular white wine producers — textured, serious, and built to actually hold up to food. It gets overlooked because it doesn't have a French accent.
Ridge Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon
Ridge Monte Bello is genuinely great wine — no argument there. But it's also widely available at retail, and restaurant markup on a name this recognizable will hurt. You can do better for the same spend by going deeper into the list.
Giacomo Conterno Barolo + Sonoma Lamb
Conterno Barolo brings the kind of iron-fisted tannin structure and dried rose aromatics that make fatty, herb-forward lamb sing. It's a classic pairing for a reason, and having it in wine country with local lamb is the full experience.
The Bottom Line
The Matheson is doing it right — deep list, knowledgeable somms, and a room that's actually fun to drink in. Prices run steep in spots, but this is Healdsburg, and the list earns it more often than not. Send your friends here.
· Healdsburg · Steakhouse
Stark's is the rare steakhouse that treats wine as something other than an afterthought or a cash grab. The list is compact but genuinely considered, markups are fair across the board, and the full bottle-to-glass availability is a policy every restaurant should copy. If you're eating in Healdsburg and want to drink well without overpaying, this is a legitimate stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Healdsburg · Italian
Ciao Bruto is running one of the smallest and most coherent wine lists in wine country, which is either audacious or brilliant — probably both. If you want a 200-label deep-dive, go somewhere else. If you want eight smart picks at prices that won't make you wince, this is the move in Healdsburg.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Healdsburg · Wine Bar
Maison is what happens when someone builds a wine bar list with genuine curiosity instead of a regional checklist — you're in the heart of Sonoma Wine Country and the list keeps pointing you toward Mosel Riesling, Douro whites, and 1934 Madeira. The by-the-glass program alone justifies a visit, and the pricing is fair enough that you can explore without flinching. If you're in Healdsburg and you actually care about wine, this is the stop.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Healdsburg · New American
The Spinster Sisters are doing something genuinely unusual in Healdsburg: running an adventurous, globally-minded wine list at prices that don't make you do math before ordering a second glass. If you care even a little about wine, this list is worth your time — and if you're a local Sonoma drinker who wants to try something that isn't another Valley Chardonnay, this is exactly the detour you've been looking for.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Healdsburg · Seafood
The Marshall Store earns its reputation as a low-key, scenic spot for fresh West Coast oysters and smoked salmon — and if that's your mission, it delivers. But the wine program is effectively an afterthought: undocumented, uncurated, and not a reason to visit. Bring a bottle from one of the Healdsburg producers down the road, check the corkage policy at the door, and spend your energy on the food.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Geyserville · Healdsburg · Italian
Diavola earns its Wild Card badge because it's a wood-fired pizza joint that punches well above its weight on wine — sommelier on staff, regional focus, and a setting that practically demands you order a second glass. We can't give you the bottle-by-bottle breakdown until we get eyes on a current list, but the bones here are good enough to say: don't just order a beer and move on.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Baltimore · American
Give the international and local sections a look before defaulting to Burgundy. Sula at $70 and Old Westminster at $90 offer different budget options. These are posted bottle prices, not guaranteed stock; confirm availability. This menu guide doesn't rate service or cellar conditions.
· Key West · American
Caroline's Café is not a wine destination, and it's not trying to be — the identical pricing across all five house labels makes that abundantly clear. If you're in Key West looking for something interesting in your glass, keep walking; if you just need a cold pour of Chardonnay with your lunch and aren't asking questions, $8 gets you there without drama.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Kerns · Portland · American
Noble Rot is the rare restaurant wine program that would hold up as a standalone wine bar — deep list, sharp staff, fair prices, and a view that makes the whole experience feel earned. Send your friends here. Send yourself here.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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