California Classics Done Right in Dupont
Washington · American, European · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 11, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Pembroke’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into The Pembroke, the velvet banquettes and marble tables set expectations high — this is a room that takes itself seriously. The wine list follows suit: polished, California-forward, and built for guests who know what they like. It's not trying to surprise you, and it mostly succeeds on its own terms.
The 150-250 bottle list leans hard into California's greatest hits — Caymus, Silver Oak, Stag's Leap, Jordan, Duckhorn, Cakebread — a who's-who of names that read comfortably to a DC business-dinner crowd. There's nothing wrong with that lineup, but adventurous drinkers looking to wander outside Napa and Sonoma will find slim pickings. Wine Spectator handed out their Award of Excellence here in 2025, and it's earned on the strength of California depth, not regional diversity. Philip Dunne is the sommelier steering the ship, and the list feels curated rather than just assembled.
The by-the-glass program runs 12-20 options in the $12-$18 range, which is reasonable for Dupont Circle. Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay showing up by the glass is a genuinely good call — it's a step above the usual house pours. The selection doesn't rotate aggressively, so don't expect a seasonal surprise.
Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay — $18
At the top of the by-the-glass range, this is still a fair pour of a wine that punches well above its price point. Russian River fruit, restrained oak — it delivers more than most glasses at this price in a hotel restaurant.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot
Everyone at the table is ordering Cab, and honestly, they're missing out. Duckhorn's Merlot is one of California's most consistent overachievers — plush, structured, and often overshadowed by the Cabernet crowd. Order it with the dry-aged beef tenderloin and don't announce what you're drinking.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is a fine wine, but it's also one of the most marked-up bottles in American restaurant culture. You're paying for the name recognition, and in this price range you can do better. Let the table next to you order it.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon + Dry-aged beef tenderloin
Jordan's restrained, old-school style — more Bordeaux-leaning than the fruit-bomb Cabs on this list — gives the dry-aged beef tenderloin room to breathe. Neither one tries to dominate the other, which is exactly how this should work.
The Bottom Line
The Pembroke is a reliable, well-run wine program that knows its audience and serves them well — just don't come expecting to discover anything new. If California classics in a beautiful room sound good to you, Philip Dunne and team have you covered.
Washington · Washington · Seafood
Oceanaire is a safe, well-executed wine destination for California Chardonnay lovers who want reliable bottles with their seafood without too many surprises. Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence since 2017 is well-earned for what it is — just know this list was built for comfort, not adventure.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Georgetown · Washington · French
Lutèce is a strong place to explore French wine with a firm budget in mind. The posted list runs from a $64 Southern Rhône red to $600 Champagne, so tell Chris Ray what you want to spend and let that guide the conversation. Confirm prices and availability when you book or arrive.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Washington, DC · Washington · Steakhouse
STK DC is a vibe restaurant that treats wine as an accessory, not a feature. If you're here for the scene, the cocktails will serve you better than the list ever will.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Washington · Middle Eastern / North African
Maydan's wine list is one of the most geographically coherent and genuinely adventurous in Washington, DC — it matches the kitchen's ambition and then some. If you're willing to let go of the familiar, this is one of the best by-the-glass programs in the city for opening your eyes to what the wine world looks like beyond Europe.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Washington · Restaurant
Moon Rabbit's wine list is doing something rare: it's short enough to read in two minutes and interesting enough to talk about for twenty. If you care about well-chosen, adventurous bottles at prices that won't wreck your dinner bill, send your people here.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Washington · Washington · Spanish
Xiquet is doing something genuinely rare in D.C. — a tightly edited, Spain-first wine program inside a room that actually earns it. Four sommeliers and a Wood Spectator Award of Excellence since 2023 confirm this isn't an accident; just know you're paying for the setting as much as the bottle.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Bend · Bend · American, European
Flights is the kind of wine bar that earns its stripes by caring about the right producers in the right regions — it's not trying to be everything, just a solid Old World anchor in an unlikely zip code. If you're passing through Bend and want a proper glass of something Italian or French without flying to the coast, this is your stop.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Plattsburgh · Plattsburgh · American, European
Anthony's is the kind of reliable, well-maintained wine list that earns its three-decade Wine Spectator credential without ever trying to surprise you — and on a Wednesday when everything is half price, it's genuinely one of the better wine deals in the North Country. Send your parents here; they'll be happy.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Las Vegas Strip · Las Vegas · American, European
Ramsay's Kitchen earned its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence on the strength of a well-curated California list and a respectable by-the-glass program, and that credential is deserved — just don't come expecting adventure. It's a dependable, if pricey, wine stop on the Strip where the Wednesday half-price deal is the real story.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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