Four Wines, Zero Effort, Full Markup
Salt Lake City · Salt Lake City · Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 1, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Blue Gene's is less a list and more a bulletin — four bottles, total, sitting alongside a cocktail menu that's clearly where this bar puts its energy. This is a 21+ late-night hangout with pool tables and karaoke next to Urban Lounge, and the wine program communicates exactly that level of priority.
Four labels, four regions, zero coherence. Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, Barefoot Chardonnay from California, Kung Fu Girl Riesling from Washington, and Trapiche Alaris Malbec from Argentina — it reads like someone grabbed one bottle each from the checkout aisle at Smiths. There's no depth, no regional story, and no real nod to the steakhouse label the restaurant carries. Kung Fu Girl is a legitimately decent Riesling that doesn't belong in this company, and the Malbec is serviceable, but neither of them can carry a wine program on their own.
All four bottles are available by the glass at $6–$9, which is the one honest thing happening here. The problem is that when the bottle prices run $40–$45, you're looking at markups between 200% and 400% — Barefoot Chardonnay at $40 a bottle is a genuine offense when it retails for $8. Pour the glass and don't do the math.
Kung Fu Girl Riesling — $9/glass
At $9 a glass it's at least a wine that punches above its shelf position — off-dry, crisp, and at 200% markup it's the least egregious pour on the list.
Trapiche Alaris Malbec
Nobody's ordering Malbec at a karaoke bar, but Trapiche Alaris is a solid everyday Argentine red that holds its own — order it by the glass and move on with your night.
Barefoot Chardonnay
A 400% markup on an $8 retail bottle is the single worst value on this list. Order literally anything else, or just get a cocktail — which is what this place actually does well.
Trapiche Alaris Malbec + Unknown — no menu food items available
If Blue Gene's carries any bar snacks or meat-forward bites, the Malbec is your only real option — it's the only red on the list and it can handle something with weight.
❌ The Bottom Line
Blue Gene's is a cocktail bar that accidentally has a wine list, and it shows in every possible way. Come for the karaoke and the highballs — skip the wine unless you're really committed to that glass of Riesling.
Sugar House · Salt Lake City · Steakhouse and Seafood with Scandinavian/European Influences
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Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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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
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Seafood and Steakhouse
Market Street Grill is a solid, dependable restaurant that deserves a more adventurous wine list — the oyster program alone could support something far more interesting than what's here. Come for the seafood, order the Sonoma-Cutrer, and don't spend too much time staring at the bottle list hoping it changes.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Fargo · Fargo · Bar
The Library is a solid neighborhood bar that happens to serve wine — nothing more, nothing less. If you're in Downtown Fargo and want a glass of something recognizable in a comfortable room, you'll leave fine; just stick to the Duckhorn and skip the Kim Crawford at that markup.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Sugar House · Salt Lake City · Bar
Blue Gene's wine list is a grocery run, not a wine program — but at these prices, in this atmosphere, nobody's coming here for the Burgundy. Grab the Kungfu Girl Riesling, get on the karaoke waitlist, and stop overthinking it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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