Beer Country, But Wine Shows Up
Riverside Plaza · Riverside · American gastropub / bar and grill
Reviewed June 24, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walk into Yard House and the beer towers are doing all the talking — 100+ taps will do that. But flip past the draft list and there's a real wine section sitting quietly in the back, 30-some options deep, waiting for whoever didn't feel like a pint tonight. It's not trying to be a wine bar, and that's fine.
The list leans hard into California and plays the hits: Duckhorn's Decoy Cab, Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay, The Prisoner Red Blend — the kind of names that move volume at casual dining spots coast to coast. There's some international representation tucked in for variety, but don't come looking for anything adventurous or regional. This is a greatest-hits list built for a crowd that wants recognizable labels, not discovery. It does that job without embarrassing itself.
Somewhere in the 15-25 glass range, which is genuinely solid for a sports-bar-adjacent concept. Pricing sits between $9 and $16 a glass — reasonable for the region and the setting. Rotation appears minimal; this feels like a list that gets reviewed annually, not seasonally.
Duckhorn Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon — $13
Decoy punches above its casual-dining price point. It's got enough dark fruit and structure to hold up against the Korean ribeye without asking you to spend serious money.
La Marca Prosecco
Most people ordering bubbly at a gastropub reach for whatever's cheap and sweet. La Marca is actually a solid, consistently made Prosecco — and in a room full of IPAs, ordering a glass of it feels like a small act of rebellion worth doing.
The Prisoner Red Blend
The Prisoner is fine wine, but it's also one of the most over-leveraged names in American casual dining. You're paying for the label recognition here — you can find this bottle at Costco for less than what they'll charge you for a glass.
Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay + Poke Nachos
KJ Chard is ripe and just off-dry enough to play nice with the soy and sesame notes in the poke nachos. It's not a cerebral pairing — it's a practical one, and it works.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Yard House Riverside isn't your destination for wine, but it's not a write-off either — fair prices, recognizable bottles, and enough by-the-glass options to keep you happy while your friend orders their fourth IPA. Send a friend here if they want a reliable pour in a loud, fun room.
Canyon Crest · Riverside · Winery Bistro
Canyon Crest Winery is a genuine local gem for Riverside residents who want to drink well without driving to Temecula. It's not a deep-list destination, but for a casual pour at fair prices in a relaxed setting, it earns its spot on the map.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Riverside · Riverside · Steakhouse / Buffet
Sizzler's wine program is a formality, not a feature. Come for the salad bar and the cheese toast, order a soda or a beer, and save your wine curiosity for literally anywhere else.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Sierra / Tyler Mall · Riverside · American / Sports Bar
Yard House is a beer destination that happens to pour wine, and the wine list knows its place. Unless you're genuinely stuck here and need something in a glass, skip the wine, order a craft draft, and let the beer list do what it was built to do.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Riverside · Riverside · Steakhouse
Cask 'n Cleaver isn't a destination for wine, but it's not embarrassing either — come for the prime rib, pick Jordan Cab, and call it a solid night. If you're serious about the bottle, check the markup before you commit.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Riverside · Riverside · Burgers
Islands Riverside is not a wine destination and makes no attempt to be one — the list is an afterthought bolted onto a beverage program built around beer and cocktails. Order a cold beer or a tropical cocktail, enjoy your burger, and save the wine for a different night.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Riverside · Riverside · Casual Tex-Mex / Fresh-Mex
Come to Chevys Riverside for the fajitas, the tableside guac, and absolutely the margaritas — the wine list is there for completeness, not conviction. If wine is your priority tonight, this is the wrong zip code.
Grocery Store
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.