Wine Wednesday Saves an Otherwise Safe List
Downtown Bakersfield · Bakersfield · Latin American / Mexican / Spanish / American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 23, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Zama Latin American Cuisine’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Zama looks the part — upscale Latin American interior, energetic patio, the kind of room that makes you want to order a bottle. The wine list arrives and it's fine, recognizable, inoffensive. Nothing here is going to surprise you, but it's also not going to embarrass you.
The list runs about 30–40 labels across California, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and Chile — which sounds more exciting than it is. What you actually get is a greatest-hits collection: Caymus Cab, Bonanza, Simi Sauvignon Blanc, Mionetto Prosecco, Schmitt Söhne Riesling. The Latin American angle the restaurant markets is real but thin — a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc from Mayu and a handful of other South American selections round things out, though exact labels are hard to nail down. There's no deep bench here, no interesting grower Champagne, no Rioja producer worth getting excited about — just crowd-pleasers doing their crowd-pleasing thing.
Eight to ten pours by the glass, ranging $9–$14, with bubbles, whites, and reds all represented — which is a reasonable spread for a mid-sized restaurant list. The Mionetto Prosecco at $9/glass and the Simi Sauvignon Blanc at $10/glass are the obvious entry points, and the Schmitt Söhne Riesling at $10/glass is the most interesting of the bunch. Rotation doesn't appear aggressive — this reads more like a set program than a frequently refreshed selection.
Bonanza by Caymus, California Cabernet Sauvignon — $35/bottle
It's the Chuck Wagner name without the Caymus sticker price. A serviceable, fruit-forward California Cab at the lowest bottle price on the list — and a smarter order than the $75 Caymus sitting right next to it.
Schmitt Söhne Riesling, Germany
Nobody at a Latin American restaurant is ordering the German Riesling, which is exactly why you should. At $10/glass or $38/bottle, it's a bright, off-dry white that cuts through bold, spiced dishes better than anything else on this list.
Caymus California Cabernet Sauvignon
At $75/bottle, you're paying a hefty premium for a label that moves units at Costco. The brand reputation is doing all the work here and the markup doesn't reward you for it — order the Bonanza and save $40.
Simi Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma + Ceviche (or any citrus-forward Latin seafood dish)
Simi's Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc brings enough bright acidity and citrus character to stand up to lime-heavy preparations without fighting the heat of any chili components. At $10/glass it's also the easiest yes on the menu.
Wednesday — Wine Wednesday promotion runs weekly on Wednesdays. Discount details (specific wines included, exact percentage off) are not fully confirmed in public materials — check with the restaurant directly, but the promotion appears to be a consistent weekly event.
The Bottom Line
Zama is a fun room with a wine list that plays it safe — the markups are real, the picks are predictable, but Wine Wednesday changes the math considerably if you time your visit right. Show up on a Wednesday, order the Riesling or the Bonanza, and enjoy the patio.
· Bakersfield · Wine bar + brewpub
BottleShock has a great name and a wine list that hasn't caught up to it yet. Four labels — including a Prosecco and a Chianti Classico you've seen a hundred times — isn't enough to earn the wine bar designation. Until the list grows up, come for the brew side of the menu and treat the wine as an afterthought.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Bakersfield · Hotel lounge
MI Greatroom is doing exactly what a Marriott convention hotel bar is designed to do — serve recognizable, inoffensive wines to people who aren't thinking about wine. There's no shame in that, but there's no reason to come here specifically for what's in the glass. Order the Maso Canali, catch up with whoever you're meeting, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bakersfield · American
Yard House Bakersfield is a beer hall that happens to sell wine, and the list makes no effort to hide that. Markups are aggressive, selections are safe to the point of being anonymous, and the only reason to open a bottle here is if your table voted against another round of IPAs. If you're wine-focused, redirect your budget to the Jean-Luc Colombo Rosé by the glass and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bakersfield · Steakhouse and Seafood
This is a wine program that exists only because restaurants are expected to have one. If you're at Sizzler Bakersfield, order a beer, a lemonade, or whatever they're mixing at the bar — the wine list is not the reason to be here, and it's not trying to be.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bakersfield · Hotel bar and small plates
Brimstone Bar isn't trying to be a wine destination — but whoever put Terre Rouge on the menu made a real choice, and that's more than most hotel bars can say. If you're in Bakersfield and you want something other than a mass-market Cab, this is the move. Just don't come expecting options.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Bakersfield · Bakersfield · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Bakersfield is a reliable wine stop if your expectations are calibrated to 'corporate steakhouse': proper storage, competent service, and a list that will not embarrass you or excite you. Send a friend here for the steak; the wine is a supporting actor that knows its role.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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