Colorado Springs' Eastern Med Wine Rabbit Hole
Westside · Colorado Springs · Mediterranean · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 9, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Caspian Cafe’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're in Colorado Springs on Sinton Road, not exactly a wine destination, and then Caspian hands you a list with Château Musar and a Greek Assyrtiko on it. That's a plot twist. This is a neighborhood Mediterranean spot that clearly thought harder about its wine program than it had to.
The list is compact — maybe 20 to 30 bottles — but it's pulling from corners most Colorado restaurants wouldn't dare touch: Lebanese Bekaa Valley, Greek island whites, Turkish Kavaklidere, and a South American Malbec thrown in as a crowd concession. Château Musar alone is worth a double-take; that's a wine with serious pedigree and an eccentric oxidative streak that most casual diners have never encountered. The Greek Assyrtiko signals someone actually thought about what wines would make the food sing. The Malbec is the one gesture toward the table that just wants something safe.
The by-the-glass program runs four to eight options, which is functional without being impressive. We don't have confirmed rotation details, but given the static nature of the list, don't expect weekly surprises — what's on the menu is probably what's been on the menu. The upside: if they're pouring the Assyrtiko by the glass, that's an immediate order.
Greek Assyrtiko — null
Pricing isn't confirmed, but Assyrtiko from Greece at a mid-range Mediterranean spot is almost always a value play — briny, crisp, high-acid whites that typically retail well below their quality ceiling. At a $$ restaurant, this is almost certainly your best bottle-for-dollar on the list.
Kavaklidere
Turkish wine in Colorado Springs is about as rare as a snowless April. Kavaklidere is one of Turkey's most established producers and most Americans have zero frame of reference for it — which means zero price inflation. It's genuinely interesting and worth the curiosity tax.
Malbec
It's fine, it's probably drinkable, and it has absolutely nothing to do with why you're at a Lebanese-Greek-Turkish restaurant. You can get a Malbec anywhere. Order something you won't find at every Applebee's in the tri-state area.
Château Musar + Shish Taouk
Musar's earthy, slightly funky red has the structure to handle char and the Old World complexity to match the spiced yogurt marinade on the chicken without bulldozing it. It's the same geography on both sides of the plate, and that always works.
The Bottom Line
Caspian Cafe isn't a wine destination, but it's making an honest effort with a short list that punches well above its zip code. If you've never had Château Musar and you're eating kebabs in Colorado Springs, this is your moment.
Broadmoor · Colorado Springs · Steakhouse and American
La Taverne is a well-run, properly staffed wine program inside one of Colorado's most storied resort properties — expect to pay for the privilege and the setting. If you stick to Jordan and Peter Michael and resist the siren call of the trophy bottles, you'll drink very well here.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Broadmoor · Colorado Springs · Italian (Northern Italian, trattoria-style)
Ristorante del Lago is the rare resort restaurant where the wine program actually earns some respect — the Italian focus is real, the sommelier knows the list, and a few genuinely exciting bottles are hiding in there if you look past the marquee names. Just go in knowing you're paying Broadmoor prices, and order accordingly.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Colorado Springs · Colorado Springs · Steakhouse
Famous Steakhouse is the dependable old hand — the wine list won't excite you, but it won't embarrass you either, and with a prime rib in front of you and a Stag's Leap in the glass, that's a perfectly decent Thursday night. Just don't come looking for discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Manitou Springs · Colorado Springs · Mexican / Tex-Mex
Crystal Park Cantina is a genuinely fun spot for tacos and margaritas with a mountain view — lean into that and skip the wine entirely. The list is overpriced grocery store inventory with no ambition, and no amount of scenery changes that.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Manitou Springs · Colorado Springs · Upscale American, Contemporary Fine Dining
The Cliff House wine program is the dependable friend who always shows up dressed well — you know exactly what you're getting, and it's genuinely good, even if it never blows your mind. For a special occasion in the mountains, this is a comfortable, well-run room that will take care of you.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown / West Colorado · Colorado Springs · Fine Dining / Steak & Seafood
Pepper Tree is a reliable wine stop for what it is — a classic Colorado fine-dining room where the tableside Steak Diane is the main event and the wine list is a well-behaved supporting cast. Don't come here chasing discovery, but do come knowing you'll drink decently without drama.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Mediterranean
Kitty Dare is punching well above its weight for an Atlanta restaurant wine list — fair prices, genuinely adventurous selections, and the rare willingness to pour all of it by the glass. We don't have visibility into service or food specifics, but the list alone is worth coming for. If you want a Lebanese white from 70-year-old vines for $13/glass, this is your place.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Mediterranean
Fia has the bones of a genuinely good wine program — thoughtful white selections, a few hidden gems, and a Champagne section that sets a mood — but steep markups and a list that doesn't stray far from the expected hold it back from greatness. Go for the Aligoté or the Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, skip the trophy bottles, and you'll drink well without feeling taken.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Monterey · Mediterranean
Dametra Cafe isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be one either — and that honesty is refreshing. The sparkling selection is genuinely fun, prices are fair across the board, and the few left-field picks like Chateau Musar Jeune give the list just enough personality. If you're in Monterey and want a bottle that doesn't feel like a markup shakedown, this is a safe call.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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