Natural Wine Is In and Here’s Where to Drink It in LA

Inside Jon & Vinny’s beats the heart of LA’s natural wine scene: Helen’s Wines—a tiny shop that stocks no small measure of wonderful options. Proprietor Helen Johannesen is also a director of operations for the Joint Venture Restaurant Group, meaning she oversees the beverage program here, as well as at Animal, Son of a Gun, and Trois Mec, to name a few. Across the board, she focuses on naturally-driven and organically farmed labels, showcasing small production vineyards that utilize low intervention methods and make wine with integrity.

Owners Emily Fiffer and Heather Sperling are passionate about pouring the good stuff. In fact, they characterize the wines on their menu as “vibrant, distinctive and alive… wines that we think are very special, and that you should feel really, really good about drinking.” Order a glass or a bottle to go with your food, then don’t forget to peruse Botanica’s storefront market for a take-home prize.

The all-natural selection at each location of NIGHT + MARKET is built to pair perfectly with the spice-laden Thai fare that draws a deep roster of devotees from near and far. Delight in the list’s detailed and playful descriptions as you choose a skin contact wine or a chilled red to drink alongside larbs and curries. Looking to indulge? Ask for chef-owner Kris Yenbamroong’s reserve list.

At newcomer Ronan, helmed by husband-and-wife duo, chef Daniel Cutler and general manager Caitlin Cutler, seasonal share plates and Neapolitan pizza take center stage. But that’s not all: wine is integral to the experience, with a rotating selection of natural and biodynamic bottles suited to the ever-changing menu, curated by Caitlin Cutler herself.

If you follow Kismet on Instagram, you know they’re always playing around with their wine program, excited to share what goes well (hint: the natural stuff) with their vibrant and tangy Middle Eastern-inspired cuisine. To top it off, happy hour here starts at noon and runs ‘til 6pm, when three featured wines are sold for a killer price.

Given that Randy Clement of Silverlake Wine—the beloved natural-forward bottle shop—is a partner in Everson Royce, it’s no surprise that the offering is stacked with organic and biodynamic options. Best of all, on Wine Wednesdays (5–8pm), guests can enjoy a $25 flight of three wines paired with bites from award-winning chef Matt Molina.

A neighborhood oasis tucked into Loz Feliz, All Time is a principled eatery devoted to sourcing its ingredients responsibly, an ethos that includes its wine. A hand-written menu boasts an assortment of varietals that are “natural yes, but even more importantly, honest.” Plus, on the second Tuesday of every month, the restaurant hosts a Wine Garage Sale & BBQ where guests can taste stuff, meet visiting producers, and hang with locals.

Equal parts wine bar and restaurant, Marvin invokes the French countryside, dishing out simple, satisfying snacks (cheese, oysters) and heftier fare (dover sole, duck breast) best enjoyed with a glass of something new. Their lengthy list is filled with fun organic selections like Patrick Sullivan’s Jumpin’ Juice Yellow from the Yarra Valley (served by the glass) or Ariana Occhipinti’s Il Frappato from Sicily (as a magnum). Grab a date or a few friends, and stay a while.

Pop into Hayden’s bright, youthful space within Platform, Culver City’s oh-so-hip culture complex, and draw your attention to the raw wines section of their beverage offering. There are plenty of delicious bottles to try, and during Golden Hour (5-7 pm), you can savor a glass for a steal ($8). Or, come after 4pm on Thursdays for Flight Night, when the team pours three wines that tell a story for $15.