Montecito's Italian Night Out, Backed by Local Vines
Montecito · Santa Barbara · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 11, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Tre Lune’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Tre Lune opens with a clear sense of identity — Italian through and through, with a nod to the Santa Barbara County backyard. Wine Spectator has flagged this list before, and you can see why: it's curated with intention, not just assembled. It feels like someone actually thought about what you'd want to drink with housemade pasta on a warm Montecito evening.
The backbone is Italian, leaning into the regions that make sense alongside the kitchen — expect Tuscany, Piedmont, and the boot's familiar cast of characters doing their thing. What's genuinely interesting is the house-labeled collaboration with Margerum, one of Santa Barbara County's more respected producers, giving the list a local anchor that most Italian trattorias never bother with. The list runs 80-150 bottles deep, which is enough range to keep a wine-curious table busy without becoming overwhelming. Gaps in the data make it hard to call out specific Italian producers by name, but the breadth signals a kitchen and front-of-house that take their wine program seriously.
Somewhere between 12 and 20 pours by the glass, which is a healthy spread for a neighborhood trattoria. The house Margerum labels anchor the by-the-glass program with local credibility — the Tre Lune Rosé at $14 is an easy entry point, and the Tre Angeli Pinot Noir at $21 a glass is where things get interesting. Rotation isn't confirmed, but the program feels stable rather than dynamic.
2020 Rosé 'Tre Lune' – Margerum, Santa Barbara County — $14/glass, $56/bottle
A house-labeled wine from a producer who knows Santa Barbara's terrain cold. At $14 a glass, it's a crowd-pleasing pour that actually reflects where you are, not just what sells. The bottle price holds up too — no reason to feel squeezed here.
2020 Pinot Noir 'Tre Angeli' – Margerum, Sta. Rita Hills
Estate-grown Sta. Rita Hills Pinot for $21 a glass sounds like a splurge until you remember what Sta. Rita Hills Pinot can do — cooler climate, more tension, less jam. Most tables will default to something Italian and miss this entirely. Don't be that table.
Generic Italian house pours
Without specific data on the lower-tier Italian pours, the risk is landing on something forgettable when the Margerum options are sitting right there for comparable or better value. If the server can't tell you where a wine is from or who made it, push past it and go Margerum.
2020 Pinot Noir 'Tre Angeli' – Margerum, Sta. Rita Hills + Osso buco
Sta. Rita Hills Pinot brings enough structure and red-fruit brightness to stand up to braised veal shank without overwhelming the dish's delicate saffron and gremolata notes. It's the kind of pairing that makes you look smarter than you actually are.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Tre Lune isn't trying to reinvent anything — it's a well-loved Montecito Italian with a wine list that earns its Wine Spectator nod and leans intelligently on Margerum's local chops. Send a friend here knowing the wine will be fairly priced and thoughtfully chosen, even if the excitement ceiling is comfortable rather than thrilling.
Downtown · Santa Barbara · New American / California Cuisine
Finch & Fork is a reliable pour in a great wine region — the list champions its Santa Barbara backyard with real conviction, even if the markups occasionally make you wince. Send a friend here if they want to drink local and drink well; just steer them toward the Foxen and away from the M5.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Santa Barbara · Italian Pizzeria
Ca' Dario Pizzeria isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — the list does its job, the prices are fair, and the Santa Barbara rosé alone justifies looking past the cocktail menu. Send a friend here if they want solid Italian wine with their pizza and zero fuss.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waterfront / Cabrillo Blvd · Santa Barbara · Italian Steakhouse
Ca' Dario Steakhouse is a reliable wine destination for anyone who wants serious Italian bottles with their steak without having to navigate a 300-label monster list. The markups trend steep, especially on the celebrity bottles, but the Santa Barbara Syrah and Sicilian options give value-hunters a legitimate path.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waterfront / East Beach · Santa Barbara · Contemporary Oaxacan and Mexican
Flor De Maiz isn't a wine destination, but it's a Wild Card in the best sense — a waterfront Oaxacan spot that took the time to build a small, thoughtful list with local producers and a genuine Mexican anchor. Come for the mole, stay for the Barden Brut Rosé.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Public Market / Downtown · Santa Barbara · Thai and Taiwanese-inspired noodle bar
Empty Bowl is a genuinely excellent noodle bar that deserves a better wine program than this — come for the Khao Soi, grab a sake, and don't let the wine list talk you into a $36 Chardonnay. The kitchen is working hard; the wine list is not.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Presidio/Arts District · Santa Barbara · Italian deli, market, and casual eatery
Olio Bottega punches well above its weight class for what it is — a casual Italian market with counter service and a focused, honest wine list. If you're in Santa Barbara and want a low-key lunch with a genuinely interesting glass of wine, this is an easy yes.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / State Street · Santa Barbara · Italian
The Chase is a solid neighborhood Italian with a wine list that plays it very safe — you'll find what you're looking for if what you're looking for is Caymus, but check the markups before you order on autopilot. Stick to the European wildcards and the local Santa Barbara pours for the best value on the table.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Montecito · Santa Barbara · Italian
Osteria Montecito has the bones of a genuinely good Italian wine program — the right regions, some interesting local producers, recognizable prestige bottles — but the pricing is aggressive enough to sour the experience before the first sip. Stick to the Santa Barbara County pours, avoid the imported crowd-pleasers, and maybe order a Negroni instead.
Solid Range
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Millcreek · Erie · Italian
Falcone's wine list is a capable supporting actor — it won't steal the show, but it won't embarrass you either. Come for the pasta, drink the rosé, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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