Annette
Chef-driven fire meets serious wine in suburbia
Aurora · Denver · Wood-fired American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 14, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
You don't expect to find a 50-75 bottle list this thoughtful in an Aurora strip mall, but chef Caroline Glover (James Beard nominee, Food & Wine Best New Chef) clearly cares as much about what's in the glass as what's coming off the wood-fired grill. The list punches way above its suburban weight class with producers like Radikon, Mayacamas, and López de Heredia sitting next to approachable California picks.
Selection Deep Dive
This is a California-France-Oregon triangle with real depth in all three corners. You've got Napa heavy-hitters like Matthiasson Cabernet and Mt. Veeder Mayacamas Chardonnay, but also esoteric stuff like 2010 Radikon Pignolo and 2011 Viña Tondonia. The Burgundy selection includes Whitcraft's Sanford & Benedict Pinot and Charles Van Canneyt, while the French side explores Jura (Domaine du Pelican Arbois Chardonnay) and serious Barolo (Tenuta La Volta Cabutto). There's even Austrian representation with Veyder-Malberg Riesling from Wachau. It's a tight, opinionated list that favors producers with a point of view over crowd-pleasers.
By the Glass
The 12-15 glass options get aggressive during happy hour with half-price pours across the board — probably the best deal on this list. Outside happy hour, you're looking at standard Denver markups on solid picks like Scar of the Sea Pinot Noir and Reeve Chardonnay. The glass program rotates seasonally and shows the same thoughtfulness as the bottle list, leaning into expressive producers rather than safe bets.
Charles Van Canneyt 2022 Pinot Noir Burgundy — ~$65-75
Entry-level Burgundy that drinks above its station, especially if you catch it during happy hour at half-price
Veyder-Malberg 2023 Riesling Wachau
Austrian Riesling from one of the Wachau's best producers — most people skip past it for Napa Cab, but this has the tension and minerality to cut through wood-fired richness
Reeve 2023 Chardonnay Septime Sonoma Coast
$76 for a current-vintage Sonoma Chardonnay feels steep when there's Mt. Veeder Mayacamas on the list for similar money
R. López de Heredia 2011 Viña Tondonia Rioja + Steak frites
Classic aged Rioja with that oxidative, savory edge plays perfectly with char-grilled beef and crispy potatoes — this is what Tempranillo was born to do
Happy Hour — Half price all wine by the glass during happy hour
🎲 The Bottom Line
A James Beard-nominated chef who clearly knows wine built a list worthy of downtown Denver and stuck it in a suburban strip mall. The markups sting outside of happy hour, but the selection is legitimately exciting.
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