California Classics With an Ocean View
Huntington Beach · Huntington Beach · American · Visit Website ↗
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
Yuma Palms / East Yuma · Yuma · American
Chili's Yuma is a place to drink a margarita and eat fajitas, and there is absolutely no shame in that. Just don't come here for the wine — order a cocktail, enjoy your ribs, and save the bottle of wine for somewhere that actually cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North side / Tippecanoe area · South Bend · American
Tippecanoe Place is a beautiful room with a wine list that plays it very, very safe — fine for a anniversary dinner where the ambiance is doing most of the work, but don't come here expecting the wine to match the architecture. Order the Jordan, enjoy the mansion, and leave the exploration for another night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Kirkland · American
The Heathman isn't going to make you rethink your relationship with wine, but it's a genuinely decent hotel list anchored by wines worth drinking — and the Monday/Wednesday half-price bottle deal turns a steep markup into something actually worth your time. Show up on a deal night, order the Col Solare, and you'll leave happy.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
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