California Classics With an Ocean View
Huntington Beach · American · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 10, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Watertable’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Sitting inside the Kimpton Shorebreak Resort on Pacific Coast Highway, Watertable's wine list feels like a love letter to California — polished, confident, and a little predictable. The list is curated rather than encyclopedic, which works fine for a beachfront hotel dining room. You're not going to be surprised, but you're not going to be disappointed either.
The 150-250 bottle list leans hard into California, with marquee names like Kistler, Cakebread, Silver Oak, Stag's Leap, and Opus One anchoring the selections. It's a greatest-hits approach — every wine a confident recommendation at a steakhouse or resort, but not a lot of left-field picks for the curious drinker. The inclusion of Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir shows some reach beyond state lines, and Duckhorn Merlot is a crowd-pleaser that actually earns its spot. Wine Spectator has recognized the list with an Award of Excellence since 2019, which tracks — this is a well-maintained program, even if it plays it safe.
With 20-35 options by the glass running $12-$22, the pour program is one of the stronger aspects of the list. That range gives you real options across varietals without committing to a bottle. Rotation appears limited — this feels more like a standing menu than a program that changes with the seasons.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $180
Jordan consistently punches above its price point as a bottle, and at a resort on PCH, finding it at the lower end of the bottle range makes it a relative steal compared to what surrounds it. It's the move if you're splitting a bottle over a ribeye.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir
Everyone at this table is ordering Kistler or Cakebread on autopilot, but Drouhin's Oregon operation quietly makes some of the most elegant Pinot on the West Coast. It's the most interesting bottle on this list and most people walk right past it.
Opus One
Opus One is a trophy bottle that belongs on a list like this — but in a resort setting with steep markups, you're paying hard for the name. The actual drinking experience rarely justifies what hotel dining rooms charge for it. Save Opus for somewhere it's priced with a little respect.
Kistler Chardonnay + Seared Scallops
Kistler's Chardonnay brings enough richness and acidity to stand up to butter-finished scallops without drowning them — and with ocean air coming off the Pacific outside, it's a genuinely great moment.
The Bottom Line
Watertable is a reliable, well-staffed wine program that leans on California's biggest names and does so without apology. Send a friend here who wants a great glass of Silver Oak with a prime ribeye — just remind them to skip the Opus One and let the sommelier steer them toward the Drouhin.
Huntington Beach · Huntington Beach · American, French
Henry's is a reliable, well-tended California wine program with a genuine expert behind it — not flashy, but consistently good. If you're eating on PCH and want a bottle that was actually chosen with care, this is your spot.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Huntington Beach · Huntington Beach · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Huntington Beach isn't a destination wine list, but it's more thoughtful than you'd expect from a national chain — especially in the Argentine and Chilean sections. Send your steak-loving friend here, point them toward the South American reds, and let the meat do the rest.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Las Vegas · American
DJT is a fine place to eat a filet mignon or a well-executed lamb dish in a comfortable room. But if wine is the reason you're sitting down, this isn't the stop. The list appears to serve the hotel, not the guest — and in Las Vegas, where genuinely great wine programs are closer than you think, that's a hard sell.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chula Vista · American
Yard House Chula Vista's wine list is what happens when wine is an afterthought at a beer-forward chain — familiar labels, steep markups, and zero sense of discovery. If you're here for the 130+ beers on draft, you're in the right place; if you came for the wine, grab the Jean-Luc Colombo rosé and manage expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Yountville · American
RH Yountville is a genuinely beautiful place to drink wine — the room earns that much on atmosphere alone, and the California-forward list will keep most guests happy without any friction. But in Yountville, where the competition includes some of the most serious wine programs in the country, 'happy without friction' isn't the same as memorable. Go for the experience, order confidently by region, and don't expect the list to surprise you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
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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