South Lake Tahoe

Hell's Kitchen Tahoe is a reliable wine destination if your standards are 'good bottles, properly stored, served by someone who knows what they're talking about.' It's not a destination for wine nerds, but it's not trying to be — and at least it doesn't embarrass itself.

Chart House Tahoe is a beautiful place to watch the sun drop over the water, but the wine list is strictly an afterthought — safe, generic, and clearly not a priority for the kitchen or the chain. Drink the Riesling with your fish, order the Sherry with dessert, and save your serious wine budget for somewhere that cares.

The Edge is the rare resort wine program that earns its ambition — 1,000 labels, a real sommelier, and a setting that makes you want to linger over a second bottle. The markups are real and unapologetic, but if you know what you're looking for, the list rewards you for it.