Solid Pours, No Pretense, Downtown Riverside
Downtown · Riverside · American Gastropub
Reviewed June 24, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed The Salted Pig’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at The Salted Pig isn't trying to impress you — and honestly, that's fine. It's a craft beer gastropub first, a wine destination second, and the list makes no bones about that. What you get is a focused, approachable set of bottles that works for the room without embarrassing anyone.
The 30-50 label list leans heavy on California and Pacific Northwest crowd-pleasers — think Justin Cabernet from Paso Robles, Meiomi Pinot Noir, and Whispering Angel Rosé — with little room for adventurous detours. There's no deep dive into Burgundy, no natural wine rabbit hole, no obscure Rhône producer waiting to surprise you. What's here is recognizable, sessionable, and built for people who know what they like and want it without a lecture. The Provence nod via Whispering Angel is a savvy call for a restaurant doing tacos and gastropub fare in a warm-weather city, even if it's not exactly a bold curatorial choice.
Eight to twelve pours by the glass is a respectable range for a spot where beer is the star. Prices land between $9 and $14, which is genuinely reasonable for downtown Riverside and won't wreck a mid-week dinner budget. Don't expect the list to rotate much — this reads as a set-and-forget program that prioritizes consistency over discovery.
Justin Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles — $14
Justin's Paso Robles Cab punches above its glass-pour price — it's a legit, well-distributed California Cab from a respected producer, and at the high end of their by-the-glass range it's still a fair deal. Order a bottle and the math gets even better.
Whispering Angel Rosé
Yes, it's everywhere. But in a gastropub in inland Southern California, nobody's expecting a proper Provence rosé on the list. It cuts through rich, salty food like a champ and it's exactly what you want on a warm Riverside evening when the tacos are good and the patio is calling.
The Prisoner Red Blend
The Prisoner is a marketing triumph and a wine list cliché. It's fine — but at typical restaurant markups it's an overpriced bottle that coasts on name recognition. The Justin Cab next to it offers more wine for less theater.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc + Fancy Tacos
Kim Crawford's bright citrus and grassy snap is a natural foil for taco fillings — it cuts through fat, lifts spice, and keeps things lively between bites. It's not a complicated pairing, but it works every time.
The Bottom Line
The Salted Pig isn't a wine destination, but it doesn't need to be — the list is honest, the prices are fair, and there's enough here to drink well through a solid meal. Send your beer-curious friends; bring the wine drinkers who just want something familiar and cold.
· Riverside · Gastropub
Brickwood isn't a wine destination, but it's a genuinely fair deal — honest prices, lots of glass options, and a list that doesn't try to squeeze you. Send a friend here if they want a decent pour without overthinking it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Riverside · Hotel Bar & Casual Dining
The Placery is a wine list in the same way a hotel gym is a fitness center — technically true, but you're not here to get serious. Order a cocktail or grab the Ste. Michelle Cab if you need a bottle, and save your real wine night for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Canyon Crest · Riverside · Winery Bistro
Canyon Crest Winery is a genuine local gem for Riverside residents who want to drink well without driving to Temecula. It's not a deep-list destination, but for a casual pour at fair prices in a relaxed setting, it earns its spot on the map.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Riverside · Riverside · Steakhouse / Buffet
Sizzler's wine program is a formality, not a feature. Come for the salad bar and the cheese toast, order a soda or a beer, and save your wine curiosity for literally anywhere else.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Sierra / Tyler Mall · Riverside · American / Sports Bar
Yard House is a beer destination that happens to pour wine, and the wine list knows its place. Unless you're genuinely stuck here and need something in a glass, skip the wine, order a craft draft, and let the beer list do what it was built to do.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Riverside · Riverside · Steakhouse
Cask 'n Cleaver isn't a destination for wine, but it's not embarrassing either — come for the prime rib, pick Jordan Cab, and call it a solid night. If you're serious about the bottle, check the markup before you commit.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Round Rock · American Gastropub
Cover 3 Round Rock is a solid gastropub doing a lot of things right — just not wine. The list is undocumented, almost certainly underdeveloped, and not the reason anyone is walking through the door. Order a local craft beer or a cocktail, enjoy the Chicken Fried Chicken, and save your wine curiosity for a restaurant that earned it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Old Town · Scottsdale · American Gastropub
A long wine list that mixes Arizona and California bottles with Italian, French and Spanish wines, posted as pairs like 14 / 44 and single prices like 86. Start with the 13 / 48 Les Hauts Plateaux Rosé, or the 101 Scythians Red if you want the one Cucamonga Valley wine, and ask what each number in a pair covers. The restaurant's menus page and its linked PDF differ on some wines, so confirm before you go. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
The Loop · Chicago · American Gastropub
A glass list that tags every pour by style, with 18 wines from $15 to $25 and a 128-line bottle list from $50 to $550. Start with The Gage Brut at $15 or the Troupis 'Ekato' orange Moschofilero at $16, and confirm prices because the menu is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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