Jackson Hole's Surprisingly Fair Pour
Town of Jackson · Jackson Hole · Fine Dining · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 16, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You're in a converted historic house in Wyoming, surrounded by elk medallions and live music, and the wine list is... actually good? The by-the-glass program spans Italy, France, South America, and the Pacific Northwest without feeling like someone just grabbed whatever showed up on a distributor sheet. For a ski town where restaurants routinely charge Manhattan prices because they can, Blue Lion is playing a different game.
The list hits the expected Old World anchors — Italy and France do most of the heavy lifting — but there's genuine thought here. A Deux Vallees Chenin Blanc from the Loire sits next to a Gramercy Cellars Red Blend from Washington, and neither one feels out of place. The Sancerre from Domaine Curot is a legitimate pour, not a token fancy bottle. We'd love to see more depth on the bottle list and a few more adventurous picks beyond the crowd-pleasing Malbec and Bordeaux, but for Jackson Hole, this clears the bar by a comfortable margin.
Thirteen options by the glass is a solid count, and the $17–$24 range is surprisingly restrained given the zip code. The selection mixes approachable crowd-pleasers with a few genuinely interesting picks — the Chenin Blanc and the Gramercy Cellars blend being the standouts. There's no rotation program we can find, which means the list can get stale, but what's there is worth drinking.
Gramercy Cellars 'Lower East' Red Blend, Washington — $22
This bottle retails for around $30, so getting it by the glass at $22 is a straight-up win. Gramercy is one of Washington's best producers and this blend punches well above the price on the menu — it's the kind of pour that makes you feel like you found something.
Deux Vallees Chenin Blanc, Loire France
Most people at a Wyoming steakhouse-adjacent spot are going to reach for the Chardonnay or the Sauvignon Blanc. The Chenin Blanc from the Loire is the smarter move — it has the texture to stand up to richer dishes and the acidity to cut through them, and at $18 it's basically invisible on this list.
Domaine Curot Sauvignon Blanc, Sancerre France
Look, it's not a bad wine — it's Sancerre, it's fine. But at $24 a glass you're paying full retail just to say you ordered Sancerre at dinner in Jackson. The Deux Vallees Chenin Blanc a few lines up is from the same region of France, costs $6 less, and will surprise you more.
Chateau Pontete Bellegrave, Bordeaux France + Rack of Lamb
Rack of lamb and Bordeaux is a classic for a reason — the structured tannins in the Pontete Bellegrave lock onto the fat in the lamb and the whole thing gets more interesting with every bite. At $24 a glass it's the move when you're ordering the table's showpiece dish.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Blue Lion isn't trying to be a wine destination, but its markups are shockingly fair for a Jackson Hole fine dining room and the by-the-glass program has enough interesting picks to reward the curious diner. We'd send a friend here without hesitation.
Jackson Town · Jackson Hole · Barbecue
Bubba's doesn't pretend to be a wine destination, and we respect the honesty — but the list is the definition of set-it-and-forget-it. Order a beer, enjoy the ribs, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that reciprocates.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Teton Village · Jackson Hole · Outdoor Bar
The Handle Bar is the kind of wine program that does exactly what it needs to do for its setting — no more, no less. You'll drink well here if you pick smart, but this isn't a destination for wine people so much as a very competent resort bar that happens to have Opus One on the list.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Jackson · Jackson Hole · Cafe / Bakery
Persephone isn't a wine destination, but it absolutely punches above its weight for what it is — a bakery-café with a genuinely thoughtful short list of natural pours at fair prices. If you're in Jackson and want a glass of something interesting without the steakhouse markup, this is your move.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Town of Jackson · Jackson Hole · French-Inspired Bistro
The Bistro earns its stripes as a reliable wine destination in Jackson Hole — the sommelier influence is visible, the European focus is coherent, and the list has depth worth exploring. Just go in knowing the markups are hotel-resort territory, and steer toward the Old World bottles where the curation is strongest.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
East of Jackson · Jackson Hole · Steakhouse / Grill
The Grill at Spring Creek Ranch delivers a competent, crowd-pleasing wine list that matches the lodge aesthetic perfectly — reliable, a little expensive, and zero risk. If you're here for the views and the bison, you'll drink well enough; just don't come expecting the list to match the drama outside the window.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Town Square · Jackson Hole · Tapas / Wine Bar
Bin22 is the wine bar that has no business being this good in the middle of Wyoming ski country, and that's exactly why we're sending people here. If you're in Jackson Hole and you care about what's in your glass, this is the only address that matters.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · El Paso · Fine Dining
Cafe Central is running a world-class wine program in a city that most wine people wouldn't put on their radar — and the pricing is fair enough that you can actually drink at the level this list deserves. If you're passing through El Paso, this is a genuine destination worth building a trip around.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Duke West Campus · Durham · Fine Dining
Fairview is a reliable, well-run hotel wine program that does its job — it won't embarrass you on a date night or a client dinner, but it's not the reason to make the drive. Come for the occasion, drink the Jordan, and leave the exploration for another night.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Hartford · Hartford · Fine Dining
The Foundry is doing something rare in Connecticut: running a genuinely ambitious, globally curious wine list in a room that looks the part and has the staff to back it up. Send your friends here without hesitation — and tell them to skip the safe choices.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.