Antipodean Whites That Actually Earn Their Keep
· Gilbert · Mediterranean · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · October 7, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Virtù Honest Craft’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Twenty-two labels isn't a lot of real estate, but Virtù uses it with a clear point of view: this is not a Napa-and-Sonoma greatest-hits list. The strong lean toward Australian and New Zealand producers signals that someone in this building has an opinion, and that's already more than most Gilbert restaurants can say.
The white wine section is the spine of this list — a serious cluster of Aussie and Kiwi Chardonnays and Pinot Gris anchors things, with Astrolabe Farm Dry Riesling 2019 and Printhie 'Topography' Pinot Gris 2021 offering genuine texture and specificity. Reds are thinner: a handful of Pinot Noirs across New Zealand and Australia, capped by the Lusatia Park Pinot Noir 2017 at $270 as the obvious trophy bottle. Willunga 100 Grenache 2020 is the one red that breaks the Pinot monotony, and it's welcome for it. The bubbles section punches above its weight — Palmer & Co. Brut Champagne at $48 and Pierre Moncuit Hugues de Coulmet 2020 at $76 give Champagne lovers two real options instead of defaulting entirely to Moët.
By-the-glass options are not publicly listed on the sourced menu, so we can't speak to the pour program with confidence. Given the list's size and focus on bottled selections, it's reasonable to plan around bottles here rather than expecting a robust glass pour rotation.
The Bottom Line
Virtù has a focused, regionally interesting wine list that rewards anyone willing to look past the familiar names — but the markup on prestige labels like Cloudy Bay is hard to ignore, and the absence of a transparent by-the-glass program limits flexibility. If you're in Gilbert and you want something more adventurous than the usual steakhouse roster, this list earns a visit; just go in with a bottle strategy and a budget.
· Gilbert · Tasting Menu
Sel earns a Wild Card badge because the setting, the food ambition, and the regional wine diversity — including Arizona producers — point to a program with real intention behind it, even if the data doesn't let us get granular. For a tasting menu destination at $140 a head, the wine side of things should be sharper and more transparent. Go for the food, ask thoughtful questions about the wine, and don't assume the list depth matches the kitchen's ambition.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Gilbert · Southwestern fine dining
Lon's at The Hermosa offers a competent, crowd-friendly wine program that plays it safe with recognizable labels and a markup structure that reflects the fine dining setting. The bubbles selection is the genuine highlight — Roederer Estate at $18/glass alone justifies opening the wine list. If you're looking for discovery or value hunting, you'll find limited opportunities here, but if you want a reliable glass of something respectable on a Southwestern patio, Lon's will not embarrass you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Gilbert · Burgers and Wine Bar
Zinburger isn't trying to be a wine bar, and that honesty is what makes the wine program work. Fair prices, full glass availability on every bottle, and a Malbec that overdelivers at $9 a pour — that's a better wine experience than plenty of sit-down restaurants twice the price. If you're eating a burger in Gilbert and want something decent in your glass without a markup headache, this does the job.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Gilbert · Seafood
Ocean 44 in Gilbert is running the most ambitious Champagne and sparkling list we've seen at an Arizona seafood restaurant, and the grower Champagne selections — Pierre Péters, A Margaine, Charlier et Fils — give it genuine credibility beyond the usual prestige-house lineup. Markups are steep across the board, so go in with a strategy: anchor on Roederer Estate or Raventos i Blanc and let the house houses be someone else's splurge. If bubbles with seafood is your thing, this list is worth the drive.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Gilbert · Fine Dining
The Wrigley Mansion wine program is doing something genuinely unusual — a fully by-the-glass list with serious producers like Cédric Mousse, Peay, and A Tribute to Grace mixed in with accessible entry points around $13. The pricing skews steep in places and the sheer number of open bottles creates real questions about freshness and consistency, but if you stick to the $15–$22 range, you'll find more to like here than almost anywhere else in the East Valley. Come for the Grenache and the Riesling; skip the Dom Pé by the glass.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Gilbert · Italian and Pizza
Oregano's is a pizza bistro, and it leans into that identity with a wine list that's clearly an afterthought — 14 labels deep, heavy on brands you'd find in a gas station with a liquor license, and light on anything that would make a wine lover linger. Come for the pizza, skip the wine list, and maybe see if they make a decent spritz.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Little Italy · San Diego · Mediterranean
Barra Oliba is doing something genuinely interesting for San Diego — a Spain-focused wine program in a polished Little Italy setting, backed by real culinary intent and a sommelier keeping things honest. We'd send a friend here without hesitation, especially if they're ready to let the staff steer. The full list isn't something we've been able to verify in detail, so consider this a strong lead worth confirming in person over a glass of Albariño.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Mediterranean
Elektra's list is small and smart — a rare combination. The commitment to Greek, Lebanese, and Southern French producers gives it a personality most restaurants with three times the selection can't claim. If you're in the mood to drink something you haven't tried before without getting lectured about it, this list holds up.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Mediterranean
Kitty Dare is punching well above its weight for an Atlanta restaurant wine list — fair prices, genuinely adventurous selections, and the rare willingness to pour all of it by the glass. We don't have visibility into service or food specifics, but the list alone is worth coming for. If you want a Lebanese white from 70-year-old vines for $13/glass, this is your place.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.