Azafran

An Indian restaurant in Broomfield with a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence — held since 2012, no less — is exactly the kind of thing that makes you do a double-take. The list leans California and French, which sounds like a mismatch until you realize that the right white Burgundy and a spice-forward curry are actually a brilliant combination. Credit where it's due: somebody here thought about this.

The list runs 80-120 bottles with a clear California-and-France backbone, anchored by recognizable names like Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon and Louis Jadot Burgundy. It's not a deep-cellar situation — don't come hunting for grower Champagne or obscure Rhône producers — but the range is genuinely thoughtful for the context. Jordan Chardonnay and Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling signal that someone considered aromatic wines as a real strategy for navigating the menu's heat and complexity, not just an afterthought. Gaps exist, particularly in anything adventurous or off the beaten path, but the core is dependable.

Ten to sixteen by-the-glass options is a respectable spread for a suburban Indian restaurant, and it covers enough ground to make a meal without committing to a bottle. The program doesn't appear to rotate aggressively — what you see is largely what you get, visit after visit. That said, having both a Riesling and a Pinot Noir on the glass list means you have real options depending on what you're ordering.