We raided some of L.A.'s best restaurant wine lists so you can sip your way through spring on wines that wow.
From Inotheke
The wine alone is enough of a reason to make reservations at Inotheke, a Greek restaurant by Carolos Tomazos. The list—curated by Tomazos, who began his career as a sommelier in Vienna—is heaviy influenced by Greece: It spotlights roughly 35 wines from the country. One of Tomazos's favorites is the 2015 Kitma Vourvoukeli (glass $13, bottle $54). "It's a red grape variety that dates back to ancient Greek times," says Tomazos. Homer frequently refers to the wine in The Odyssey.
From Mélisse
Choosing a wine at Mélisse can be a daunting task; there are 1,500 bottles on the list, which focuses on chardonnay and pinot noir. "I like to get the list out of people's hands and just talk about wines they like or don't like," says Matthew Luczy, the restaurant's uber-talented sommelier. His favorite at the moment: a 2011 Alain Verset Cornas (glass $28, bottle $120). "It's a perfect expression of a savory, rustic and gamey French syrah, which is one of my favorite styles of wine on the planet."
From Night + Market and Night + Market Song
Chef-owner Kris Yenbamroong asks his diners one thing when choosing a wine: "Do you want to party?" Yenbamroong curates a list heavy on pétillant naturels—he became familiar with the natural sparkling wines while working at his parents' restaurant. The chef has a special place in his heart for the Mon Cher from Noella Morantin (bottle $60), a light and elegant 2015 gamay. "Sarah, my wife, participated in the harvest," he says. "It's very personal."
From République
Maria Garcia became République's wine director on January 1 this year, inheriting a cellar with roughly 1,800 selections. The L.A. native is all about finding New World wines that mimic the classics. For spring, Garcia brings in a 2015 Christophe et Fils Chablis (bottle $65), a crisp chardonnay. "This wine is really exciting for me because it's a quality producer with a smaller following," she says. "Liking chardonnay sometimes seems less hip because it's so old school, but it's a classic for a reason."
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