Beer First, Wine Very Much Second
Baseline / CU South · Boulder · Brewpub / American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 14, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Boulder Social is a brewpub through and through — the taps are the headline act and the wine list feels like it was assembled from the endcap of a grocery store. You'll spot names you recognize from the supermarket checkout line, which is either comforting or a little deflating depending on your expectations walking in.
The list tops out around 10–20 bottles, all firmly planted in safe, commercially familiar American territory: Josh Cellars Cab, Meiomi Pinot, Kendall-Jackson Chard. There's no regional exploration here, no small-producer detours, and nothing that would make a curious drinker linger over the menu. It's a list built for people who drink wine because they don't want beer, and it does exactly that — nothing more.
Six to ten pours by the glass, ranging from $8 to $14, which is fair enough on the surface until you clock the bottle markups sitting between 100% and 146%. The glass program is functional and recognizable, but don't expect any rotation or surprise pours — what you see is what you get, every week.
La Crema Chardonnay Sonoma Coast — $40
At exactly 100% markup it's the most reasonable bottle on the list — La Crema actually delivers some Sonoma Coast character, and at least you're not paying 140%+ for the privilege of drinking it.
La Marca Prosecco NV
Nobody comes to a Boulder brewpub ordering bubbles, which means you can pop a bottle of Prosecco without anyone trying to steal your glass. It's a party trick more than a gem, but it beats fighting over the last IPA.
La Marca Prosecco NV
At $32 for a bottle you can grab at any liquor store for $13, the markup here is the worst offender on the list at 146%. Order a local draft instead and put the difference toward dessert.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough + Pub Nachos
Kim Crawford's citrus-forward bite cuts through the cheese and sour cream in a way that a heavier pour simply won't — it's not a transcendent pairing, but it's the most sensible combo on a menu built around shareable pub food.
Tuesday — Wine Tuesday: all bottles half price in the dining room and bar areas. Best reason to drink wine here — the markups make a lot more sense at 50% off.
❌ The Bottom Line
Boulder Social is a solid neighborhood hangout where beer is the move and wine is an afterthought priced accordingly. If it's Tuesday, half-price bottles change the math — otherwise, stick to the taps.
University Hill · Boulder · Spanish- and Moroccan-inspired tapas and small plates
Cafe Aion's wine list is solidly built around its concept, and the daily 50% off bottles deal from 3pm to close is one of the most generous standing wine programs in Boulder — full stop. The markups at full price are steep enough to give you pause, so do yourself a favor and show up before dinner.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
West Pearl Street · Boulder · Italian
Via Perla isn't trying to be a wine destination — it's trying to be a great Italian osteria, and the wine list serves that goal honestly. Come for the pasta and the Barolo, don't overthink it.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Williams Village / Baseline · Boulder · Italian
Carelli's is a dependable neighborhood Italian with a wine list that matches its ambition — comfortable and crowd-pleasing, not adventurous. Send your friend here if they want a nice Italian night and a bottle of Antinori; steer them elsewhere if they're hoping to find something they've never tried before.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Pearl Street · Boulder · Spanish-inspired, wood-fired cuisine and tapas with Mediterranean influences
Gemini is the kind of place Boulder doesn't have enough of — a restaurant where the wine list actually reflects the food and the region it's inspired by. If you eat Spanish, you should be drinking Iberian, and Gemini makes that case effortlessly.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Goss-Grove · Boulder · Argentinian / Latin American
Rincon Argentino is a genuinely good casual spot for Argentine food, but the wine list is a missed opportunity — overpriced supermarket bottles with no rotation, no discovery, and no apparent effort. Grab a glass with your empanadas, but don't build a night around the wine.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Pearl · Boulder · Upscale vegetarian and vegan, globally inspired
Leaf isn't a destination wine list, but it's an honest one — organic-focused, fairly priced, and thoughtfully matched to food that most wine programs never consider. If you're eating plant-based and want a glass that actually thinks about what's on your plate, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.