Art-filled walls, surprisingly serious wine list
Downtown · Boise · Mexican · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 7, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Coa De Jima’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You walk in expecting margaritas and maybe a house red — instead you're handed a 60-label wine list with Bollinger, Domaine Serene, and a Bodegas Hermanos Peciña Rioja that has no business being in a Mexican restaurant in downtown Boise. It's a genuine surprise, and a welcome one. The list signals that someone here actually cares.
The list spans Argentina, Spain, Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, France, Italy, and New Zealand — which sounds chaotic but mostly holds together. There's a Latin America thread that makes sense given the cuisine, anchored by the '21 Catena Malbec and a nod toward Spanish bottles like the Peciña Rioja. The Oregon and Washington presence is strong, with Stoller Pinot Noir and Dunham Cellars 'XXV' Cabernet both showing up — the latter being a legitimately impressive inclusion. Gaps exist: the list leans heavily Cabernet-heavy on the red side, and there's not much here for someone who wants something lighter or more food-friendly with spicy dishes.
Fifteen by-the-glass options at $11–$15 is a respectable program for Boise — you're not stuck choosing between house red and house white. The glass range appears to mirror the bottle list in style, skewing toward crowd-pleasing reds, though rotation doesn't seem to be a priority. It's functional, not inspired.
'19 Dunham Cellars 'XXV' Cabernet — $80
A 14% markup on a $70 retail bottle is practically a gift. Dunham is a serious Washington producer and this is one of the most fairly priced bottles on the list. If you're going big, go here.
'17 Bodegas Hermanos Peciña 'Rioja' Spain
A 2017 Rioja from a traditional producer in a taco spot — most people will scroll right past it for the Caymus. Don't. Peciña makes old-school, earthy Rioja that's genuinely interesting and cuts right through rich, fatty dishes.
'21 Catena 'Mendoza' Malbec Argentina
At $48 on a bottle you can grab for $20 at the store, this is a 140% markup on a wine that's already everywhere. The Malbec is fine — it's just not worth the math here when better deals exist on the same list.
'17 Bodegas Hermanos Peciña 'Rioja' Spain + Pork Belly and Chicharron
Aged Rioja's earthy, dried-fruit character and firm tannins are built for fatty pork. The crispy chicharron needs something with enough structure to not get steamrolled, and Peciña's traditional style delivers exactly that.
The Bottom Line
Coa De Jima is a genuine wild card — a vibrant Latin heritage restaurant with a wine list that punches well above the concept's expectations. Markups are inconsistent enough to require some navigation, but the upside is real: a few bottles here are legitimately well-priced, and the list's breadth is hard to find anywhere nearby.
North End / State Street · Boise · Russian/Eastern European
Alyonka is a neighborhood gem doing Russian comfort food right, and the wine list is sensible enough to stay out of the food's way. Send a friend here for the pelmeni and borscht — the wine is just fine for the occasion.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Boise · Boise · Wine bar with Italian-influenced small plates and brunch
Acero is a great spot for a social evening out in downtown Boise — the atmosphere delivers, the happy hour pricing is legit, and the boards give you something to drink against. Just don't come expecting a revelatory wine list, and definitely don't spring for the Dom.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Garden City · Boise · Boutique Winery Tasting Room
Split Rail is doing something Idaho wine needs badly — taking the state seriously without taking itself too seriously. If you've written off Idaho as a wine region, this is your corrective.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Garden City · Boise · Urban wine bar and tasting room
Coiled is the kind of place that makes you feel good about drinking local — not because it's a novelty, but because the wine is actually good and the pricing is mostly honest. Send your adventurous friends here; tell your Napa loyalists to stay home.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Garden City Greenbelt · Boise · Winery Tasting Room / Snacks
Telaya is a legitimate Wild Card: a single-producer tasting room that somehow doesn't feel limited, with markup fairness that should embarrass most full-service restaurants in town. If you're skeptical that Idaho wine belongs in a serious conversation, this is where you get corrected.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Boise · Fondue / American
The Melting Pot Boise won't win any awards for its wine program, but it's a functional, inoffensive list that pairs reasonably well with an inherently indulgent dining experience. Send your friends here for the fondue and just steer them toward the Sonoma-Cutrer or the Jordan — they'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Tucson · Mexican
Seis Kitchen is almost certainly doing great things with food, but the wine program is essentially nonexistent — three unnamed pours at bare-minimum prices with zero information to guide a choice. Come for the tacos, order a beer or a margarita, and don't look at the wine list.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Irvine Spectrum · Irvine · Mexican
Javier's Irvine is a genuinely good night out — the food is the draw, the room delivers, and the wine list will get you through dinner without embarrassing anyone. But if you're coming specifically to drink well, temper expectations: this is California-safe territory with pricing that reflects the zip code more than the cellar. Order the carne asada, ask what's open by the glass, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Sedona · Mexican
89Agave is almost certainly a fun spot to eat — it's a cantina in Sedona, and the margaritas are probably doing the heavy lifting here anyway. The wine list, though, is purely functional and priced without much generosity, particularly at the higher end. If wine matters to your evening, order something simple by the glass and move on; this program isn't the reason to visit.
Grocery Store
Steep
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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