Grove
California Classics Done Right in the Sunshine State
Lakewood Ranch · Lakewood Ranch · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 12, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Grove reads like a greatest hits of California cabernet — familiar names, high production wines, and nothing that's going to surprise you. That's not necessarily a knock; when the room is buzzing, the bar is packed, and someone's ordering Opus One just because they can, the crowd isn't here for discovery. They're here to drink something recognizable and feel good about it.
Selection Deep Dive
Grove leans hard into California, and the list reflects that with conviction — Caymus, Silver Oak, Jordan, Stag's Leap, Duckhorn, Cakebread, Rombauer, and yes, Opus One are all accounted for. These are reliable crowd-pleasers and trophy bottles, but the list doesn't venture far outside Napa and Sonoma. You won't find any Willamette Pinot, no Rhône-style producers, and forget about natural wine or anything from the Old World — this is a California-or-bust situation. The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence they've held since 2019 validates the program's consistency, even if it's not pushing any envelopes.
By the Glass
Twenty to thirty-five by-the-glass options is genuinely impressive for a lively neighborhood spot, and at $12–$22 a glass there's enough range to cover both the 'just got off work' crowd and the 'celebrating something' table. We'd expect to see pours from the same California-focused producers on the bottle list, which means quality is there — just don't expect a rotating chalkboard of esoteric growers.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $40s by bottle
Jordan consistently punches above its price point — it's approachable, food-friendly, and far more nuanced than the Caymus crowd tends to reach for. At the lower end of Grove's bottle range, it's the smart order at a table full of red drinkers.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot
Post-Sideways trauma means Merlot still gets overlooked, which is a shame because Duckhorn's is genuinely excellent — structured, plummy, and built to handle a rich plate of food. Most tables skip straight to the Cab, which means this one often sits underordered and deserving of more attention.
Opus One
Opus One is a spectacle bottle, and Grove almost certainly prices it accordingly. It's not a bad wine — it's a great wine — but the markup at a casual-lively restaurant like this turns a $200-range bottle into something north of $300+ fast. Save this one for a dedicated wine dinner where the room and the service match the ambition.
Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay + Mini Grouper Cakes
Cakebread's Chardonnay is richer and rounder than most, with just enough oak to stand up to the crispy exterior on those grouper cakes without steamrolling the delicate fish. It's a natural fit and probably the most food-forward pour on the list for seafood.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Grove is a solid, well-stocked California-focused list that earns its Wine Spectator credential without trying to reinvent anything. Send your cabernet-loving friends here without hesitation — just know you're not leaving with a story about some obscure producer nobody's heard of.
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