Grand Junction

Come for the beer — seriously, come for the beer. The wine list is eight grocery-store bottles propped up by a Wednesday half-price deal that's the only real argument for ordering wine here at all.

Tequila's is a solid neighborhood Mexican spot that simply doesn't care about wine, and that's fine — the margaritas are probably doing heavy lifting anyway. Come for the tacos, skip the wine list, and don't let the four Sutter Home options talk you out of a good time.

The Goat and Clover is a pub, full stop — the wine list exists to serve people who don't want a beer, not to inspire anyone. Come for the fish and chips and a pint, but if you need a glass of wine, the Alta Vista Malbec will get you through the night without regret.

Moody's Lounge has no business having a wine list this interesting in a cocktail bar in Grand Junction, and we respect it. Markups are on the steeper side and there's no rotating program to keep things exciting, but the core selection shows real taste — and that counts for a lot out here.

Red Lobster's wine list is a chain afterthought with steep markups on brands you could grab at any gas station in Grand Junction. Skip the wine, order a cocktail, and save your wine budget for somewhere that actually tried.

Blue Moon is a fine neighborhood bar and an easy place to grab a glass of something cold after work — just don't come here expecting the wine list to match the charm of the room. Order the Alamos, enjoy the Greek food, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere else.

The Winery Restaurant is a reliable, well-meaning wine list that earns honest marks for spotlighting local Grand Valley producers and sneaking in a few Italian gems amid the Napa crowd. The markups can sting on the prestige bottles, but if you know where to look — and now you do — there's a genuinely good night of wine to be had here.