Solid pub list with a few genuine surprises
Avenues · Salt Lake City · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 5, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Avenues Proper’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Avenues Proper leads with its beer program — this is a brewpub first and a wine destination second, and the list doesn't pretend otherwise. What you get is a tight, approachable selection of about 25 labels that covers the basics without embarrassing anyone. It's the kind of list that exists to complement a good burger or a plate of pub food, not to make a statement.
The list leans heavily California with France and Italy filling in the gaps, so don't come in hunting for anything from the Southern Hemisphere or Iberian Peninsula. Recognizable names dominate — Rodney Strong Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Francis Coppola Merlot, Bonterra Oaked Chardonnay — which tells you the kitchen is thinking about accessibility over adventure. The one genuine bright spot is the Montefalco Rosso, a Sagrantino-blend from Umbria that has absolutely no business being on this list and is better for it. The bubbly section covers Veuve Clicquot, Mumm Brut Prestige, and Jeio Prosecco, which is a reasonable spread for a neighborhood pub.
Six options by the glass isn't a lot, but the Underwood lineup — Pinot Grigio, Rosé, and Pinot Noir — handles the everyday pours competently at $15-$17 a can. The rotation doesn't appear to change much, so what you see is what you get, week after week. If you're looking for something more interesting off the glass list, you're probably out of luck — but the Tangent Sauvignon Blanc is a reasonable step up when you want something with a little more brightness.
Rodney Strong Russian River Valley Pinot Noir — $32
Russian River Pinot at the low end of the bottle list is a genuine deal — this producer consistently overdelivers for the appellation, and you're not getting gouged for the zip code on the label.
Montefalco Rosso
Nobody walking into a Salt Lake City brewpub expects to find a Sagrantino-blend from Umbria on the list. It's earthy, a little rustic, and completely out of place in the best possible way — order it before someone realizes it doesn't belong here.
Veuve Clicquot Brut Champagne
Veuve at a brewpub means you're paying full restaurant markup on a bottle that's already overpriced at retail. Save it for a place that actually celebrates it — here it just feels like a bottle they keep around for proposals.
Tangent Sauvignon Blanc + Fish and chips
The bright acidity and citrus-forward profile of the Tangent cuts through the fried batter and lifts the fish — it's the right move when you want something crisp and the beer list feels like too obvious a choice.
The Bottom Line
Avenues Proper is a brewpub that takes its wine list just seriously enough to not embarrass itself, with fair pricing and a sommelier on staff who clearly keeps things from going off the rails. Send a friend here for a low-key dinner — just remind them to order the Montefalco Rosso before the kitchen runs out.
· Salt Lake City · Steakhouse
STK Salt Lake City has the bones of a wine program but none of the follow-through — three by-the-glass options and a bottle list built around brand recognition rather than quality. Order a cocktail, or spring for the Veuve if you want to feel good about what's in your glass.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Sugar House · Salt Lake City · Steakhouse and Seafood with Scandinavian/European Influences
Kimi's earns its reputation as one of Salt Lake City's better nights out, and the wine program has real bones — a sommelier, a thoughtful Italian-leaning list, and proper glassware. Just go in knowing the markups are aggressive on the bubbles, anchor yourself to the Riesling if you're watching the spend, and let the room do the rest of the work.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
9th & 9th · Salt Lake City · Middle Eastern
Mazza isn't a wine destination, but it's doing something genuinely interesting by building a list around Lebanese producers that actually belong on the table with this food. If you're in Salt Lake City and want to drink something you won't find anywhere else in town, this is worth a detour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Japanese and Sushi
Takashi is a great restaurant with a wine list that's just along for the ride — functional, safe, and a little overpriced relative to what you get. Go for the sushi, order the Cloudy Bay or the Oregon Pinot, and don't expect the wine program to keep pace with the kitchen.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Seafood and Raw Bar
Market Street Oyster Bar is a reliable spot for wine if you calibrate your expectations accordingly — this is a crowd-pleaser list built for a crowd-pleaser room, and it mostly delivers. Send a friend here for oysters and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, not for a wine education.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Cottonwood Heights · Salt Lake City · Seafood and Steakhouse
Market Street Grill Cottonwood is a dependable neighborhood anchor with a wine list that does exactly what it needs to — nothing more. Send a friend here for the oysters and the Sonoma-Cutrer; just don't send them expecting to discover anything new.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
7th Ave / Dolores · Carmel By The Sea · New American
Seventh & Dolores isn't a destination wine list, but it's a respectable one that at least knows where it is geographically. Come for the steak, order the Wrath, and don't expect to go down any rabbit holes.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Vail · Vail · New American
Vin48 is a genuinely surprising wine program hiding inside a Colorado ski resort, and if you're a wine-first diner passing through Vail, it absolutely warrants a stop. The markups reflect the zip code more than we'd like, but the depth and curation of the list are the real deal.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown Solvang · Solvang · New American
Root 246 is the rare hotel restaurant that actually earns your wine attention — a focused Santa Barbara County list with real producers, a sommelier who knows the material, and pricing that doesn't punish you for being curious. If you're passing through Solvang wine country, this is where you eat.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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