Yakima Valley Grapes Meet Carnitas Plates
West Yakima · Yakima · Mexican · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 10, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Xochimilco Mexican Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You don't walk into a Yakima combo-plate spot expecting to see Taittinger on the menu, and yet here we are. The list is short — 19 wines total — but it leans into the Pacific Northwest's backyard in a way that feels intentional rather than lazy. For a neighborhood Mexican restaurant, this is a genuine surprise.
The list runs a tight Pacific Northwest corridor with some California backup — Washington and Oregon dominate, which makes sense given Yakima's position in wine country. You've got local credibility with Bergevin Lane's She-Devil Syrah and Three Rivers Merlot representing Washington, Willamette Valley Vineyards holding it down for Oregon, and California filling in the gaps with Terra D'Oro Zinfandel and Wines by Joe Pinot Noir. The sparkling section is a genuine flex: Taittinger Brut La Francaise, J Vineyards Brut Cuvée, and Anna de Codorniu Rosé Cava on a margarita-forward menu is a wild and good choice. Gaps exist — no Tempranillo, no Malbec, nothing that nods to Mexican wine culture — but what's here is curated, not random.
Ten by-the-glass options is a solid count for a casual spot, and the roster includes actual wines worth drinking rather than pure house-pour filler. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc and Goose Ridge g3 Chardonnay keep things approachable for the crowd that wants something cold and white. We'd love to see more rotation, but the foundation is respectable.
Bergevin Lane She-Devil Syrah — null
Bergevin Lane is a legitimate Walla Walla producer making serious Syrah, and finding it at a casual Mexican spot at restaurant-list prices is exactly the kind of discovery Yakima makes possible. Order it with the carne asada plate and stop overthinking it.
Anna de Codorniu Rose Cava
Most people at a Mexican restaurant go straight to the margarita list and ignore the sparkling section entirely. That's a mistake here. A dry Rosé Cava has the acidity and bubble to cut through cheese-heavy enchiladas and fried anything — and it costs a fraction of the Taittinger sitting next to it on the menu.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc
Kim Crawford is fine. It's also available at every grocery store in America for under $15. There's nothing wrong with it, but when there are legitimate Pacific Northwest producers on this same list, defaulting to a mass-market New Zealand import feels like leaving the interesting stuff on the table.
Wines by Joe Pinot Noir + Carnitas plate
Oregon Pinot has the kind of bright acidity and red fruit character that doesn't fight with slow-cooked pork — it lifts it. Carnitas can get heavy fast, and a lighter-bodied Pinot keeps the meal moving rather than doubling down on the richness.
The Bottom Line
Xochimilco is not a wine destination, but it's doing more with its wine list than most restaurants twice its ambition level. If you're eating in Yakima wine country and want something local in your glass with your enchiladas, this is a legitimate option.
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One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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