Small List, Big Personality, Zero Apologies
· San Francisco · Wine Bar & New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 15, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Ungrafted’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Six bottles. That's it. You either trust this place immediately or you walk out — and if you walk out, that's on you. Ungrafted isn't trying to impress you with a tome; it's handing you a tightly curated argument for exactly what they think you should be drinking right now.
The list reads like someone raided the cellar of a very plugged-in California wine nerd: Martha Stoumen's Zinfandel-Carignan blend sits next to Porter Creek's Old Vine Carignan, which tells you immediately that Carignan is having a moment here and they want you to notice. Talley and Scribe covering Chardonnay from opposite ends of the California spectrum — Talley's Arroyo Grande restraint versus Scribe's Carneros cool-climate thing — is a genuinely interesting juxtaposition for six total bottles. The Beaucanon Estate Cabernet Franc 2010 gives the list some age and gravitas, and a Nerello Mascalese thrown in for good measure proves they're not afraid to go Sicilian when everyone else is still pointing at Napa. The gaps are real — no sparkling, no white Burgundy, no Rhône — but that's the point; this isn't a list, it's a statement.
By-the-glass specifics aren't confirmed from our research, which is frustrating given how much the pours could change the calculus here. With only six labels on the list, there's a real chance most or all are available by the glass — that would make this one of the more interesting BTG programs in the city. We'd ask the staff directly rather than assume.
The Bottom Line
Ungrafted is not for the indecisive or the wine-by-committee crowd — it's for people who want someone to just tell them what's good and trust that they've thought about it. Six bottles, confidently chosen, is a flex when it works, and here it mostly does.
Embarcadero · San Francisco · Peruvian Seafood
La Mar is a great dinner — the ceviche alone is worth the trip — but the wine list is along for the ride rather than driving it. Order something crisp and cold, enjoy the view, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Union Square · San Francisco · American
The Rotunda is a lunch experience first and a wine destination a distant second — the list is safe, the markup is real, and you're largely paying for the address and the atmosphere. Come for the crab salad and the occasion, order something bubbly, and don't go in expecting a serious wine program.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
San Francisco · San Francisco · Wine bar & bottle shop
Bodega SF is what happens when someone actually gives a damn about the list instead of just checking a box. Twenty-six bottles, almost all pourable by the glass, priced fairly, and built around grapes most wine bars wouldn't dare touch — send your adventurous friends here and tell them to skip the safe picks.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
San Francisco · San Francisco · Wine bar
Fig & Thistle is for people who trust a short menu built by someone with a point of view — thirteen bottles, all pouring, all worth talking about. If you need a fallback Cab or a recognizable label to feel safe, this isn't your spot. If you don't, this absolutely is.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
San Francisco · San Francisco · Steakhouse
STK San Francisco has the bones of a wine program and the ambition of a hotel minibar. With only three by-the-glass pours, a list built entirely around safe brand names, and steep markups baked into the concept, this is a place to order a cocktail or splurge on a specific bottle you already know you want.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Francisco · Wine Tavern
Big Finish is doing something genuinely different — an all-glass list built around obscure varietals, serious fortified wine, and pricing that doesn't punish curiosity. Send anyone here who wants to drink something they've never tried before and walk away feeling like they learned something.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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