575 Bottles Deep in the Rockies
Downtown · Aspen · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 27, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Catch Steak Aspen’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Five hundred and seventy-five selections at a steakhouse in Aspen — that's not a wine list, that's a statement. The moment you crack it open, you understand this place takes wine seriously, even if the mountain town pricing is going to make your wallet wince. There's real range here: Burgundy anchors the Old World side, California owns the New World, and there are enough curveballs to keep things interesting.
The backbone is exactly what you'd want at a prime steakhouse: serious Burgundy representation with names like Domaine Laroche and Vincent Girardin alongside a Ferrand Lartigue St Emilion Grand Cru for the Bordeaux crowd. California gets its due with Domaine Serene's Evenstad Chardonnay and Substance's Elemental Cabernet holding court alongside more approachable pours like Duckhorn's Decoy and Quilt. The real surprise is the breadth beyond the obvious — Aperture Chenin Blanc and Allende Reserva Tempranillo suggest someone on staff actually cares about the list beyond just stocking the greatest hits. Where it gets thinner is South America and anything remotely adventurous below the equator, but at 575 bottles, it's hard to stay too mad about the gaps.
Fifteen by-the-glass options at $19–$41 is respectable for a list this size, and the selections aren't phoned in — Domaine Michel Vattan Sancerre and Domaine Laroche Chablis give the white side some genuine credibility. The top end of that glass price range is steep even by Aspen standards, so lean toward the French options where the per-glass value holds up better than the California blockbusters.
Domaine Laroche Chablis 'St. Martin' — $27/glass
At $27 a glass, this is the sharpest pour on the list — Chablis this clean and mineral-driven from a producer this reliable rarely shows up at a price that doesn't hurt. Order it before your steak arrives and drink it like you mean it.
Aperture Chenin Blanc
Most people at a steakhouse blow right past Chenin Blanc on their way to Chardonnay, and that's their loss. Aperture makes one of the more compelling California Chenins around — textured, energetic, and just different enough to make the table take notice.
Veuve Clicquot NV Brut
At $37 a glass for Veuve, you're paying a serious Aspen tax on a Champagne that retails for around $60 a bottle. It's fine — it's always fine — but there's nothing here that justifies the markup when better glass pours exist on this same list.
Ferrand Lartigue St Emilion Grand Cru + Truffle Butter Filet Mignon
Right Bank Merlot-dominant Bordeaux and a butter-draped filet is one of the least surprising but most satisfying calls you can make. The Ferrand Lartigue brings enough earth and dark fruit to match the truffle without steamrolling it — this is the pairing you came here for.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Catch Steak Aspen earns its stripes with a genuinely impressive, well-curated list backed by a sommelier who clearly did the work — just know you're paying Aspen prices for the privilege. If someone else is buying, order freely; if you're watching the tab, stick to the French glass pours and call it a win.
Downtown · Aspen · Cafe / Wine-Friendly
This is a Wild Card in the truest sense — a museum rooftop café with no sommelier and steep markups that still manages to stock Lapierre, William Fevre Grand Cru, and Pierre Peters. The prices will get you, but the list itself deserves credit. Come for the view, stay for the Gruner.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / The Little Nell · Aspen · Wine Bar / Lounge
Element 47 is the rare mountain resort wine program that could hold its own in any major city — 3,300 labels, proper storage, knowledgeable staff, and glassware that actually fits the wine. Prices are high because Aspen is high, but if you're going to spend serious money on a bottle somewhere, this is a place that respects the investment.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Aspen · Bar / Mexican
Las Montañas is the rare bar where the wine list deserves more attention than the cocktail menu — a sommelier-curated, California-forward selection with enough Pacific Northwest surprises to keep things interesting. Aspen markups are what they are, but the quality and intentionality here are real.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Aspen · Upscale Italian (Milanese café and restaurant)
Sant Ambroeus Aspen is a genuinely good Italian wine program wearing a resort-town price tag — the producers are real, the Franciacorta selection alone is worth your attention, and the staff actually knows what's on the list. Just go in knowing you're paying Aspen rates for everything, and let that Bellavista do its thing.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown / St. Regis · Aspen · Lounge / Mediterranean
Snow Lodge delivers exactly what a St. Regis resort lounge should: proper glassware, knowledgeable staff, and a list that won't embarrass anyone. Just don't come looking for discovery — this list is built for comfort, and the markups reflect the altitude in more ways than one.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown / St. Regis · Aspen · Mountain American / Hotel Restaurant
Velvet Buck is a reliable, well-run hotel wine program doing exactly what a St. Regis in Aspen is supposed to do — impress people without surprising them. If you're after adventure, look elsewhere; if you're after a great glass of Far Niente after a day on the mountain, you're in the right place.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Taos · Steakhouse
Martyrs is punching above its weight class for a steakhouse in Taos — the Italian selections alone make it worth a look. The markups are real and the pricing on the classics is aggressive, but if you order smart, this list rewards you.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waterfront · Hood River · Steakhouse
Riverside Grill is a perfectly decent place to drink wine if you're also there for the ribeye and the river view — just don't come expecting the list to match the scenery. Order the Pinot Gris, watch the kiteboarders, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere else in Hood River.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / South Main Street · Canandaigua · Steakhouse
Nick's is a perfectly respectable chophouse wine list for Canandaigua — locals get two solid Finger Lakes Rieslings, steak lovers get their Napa Cabs, and there's enough Italian depth to keep things from being totally predictable. The markups on the trophy bottles are aggressive, but play it smart and you'll drink well.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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