Wine Down Wednesday Saves This Casual List
Fort Collins · Fort Collins · Southwestern · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 1, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Coyote's is exactly what you'd expect from a margarita-forward Southwestern spot near CSU — short, safe, and built for people who want a glass of something familiar without overthinking it. Six labels, all recognizable names, no surprises. That's not necessarily a knock; it just means wine is clearly supporting cast here, not the headliner.
All six bottles are grocery store stalwarts: Kim Crawford, Oyster Bay, La Crema, Shannon Ridge — brands you've seen at every Costco and Total Wine from here to Tampa. There's no regional story, no small producers, no attempt to riff on the Southwestern theme with, say, a New Mexico red or a Texas Tempranillo. Whites lean crisp and easy, reds go safe with a Cab and a Pinot Noir. The Banshee Red Blend is the one wildcard on a list that otherwise plays it completely straight.
Every bottle on the list is available by the glass, which at least means you're not locked into a bottle of something you're unsure about. Pours run $9–$13, which is reasonable for Fort Collins without being impressive. Don't expect much rotation — what's on the menu is what's on the menu.
Oyster Bay Pinot Grigio — $9/glass, $39/bottle
Lowest price on the list for a brand that actually delivers — bright, clean, and easy to drink. On a Wednesday, that bottle drops to $19.50, which is basically theft.
Banshee Red Blend
Most people here are ordering the Cab or the Pinot Noir by name recognition alone. The Banshee Red Blend is the one bottle with any personality — approachable but with more going on than the other reds. Worth asking for.
Lodi Estates Cabernet Sauvignon
At $13 a glass it's the priciest pour on the list, and Lodi Cab at this tier is rarely worth the premium. You're paying for a label position, not the wine.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc + Smothered Burrito
The bright acidity and citrus snap of Kim Crawford cuts right through the richness of green chile and melted cheese. It's not a complicated pairing — it's just the right call.
Wednesday — Wine Down Wednesday — all day, 11am–9pm: $2 off all glasses, 50% off all bottles (dine-in or takeout)
✔️ The Bottom Line
Coyote's isn't a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — but the pricing is fair, the Wednesday deal is genuinely excellent, and there's nothing actively wrong here. Show up on a Wednesday, order a bottle of Pinot Grigio for $19.50, and focus on the burrito.
Fort Collins · Fort Collins · Steakhouse
The Still is a genuinely fun spot for whiskey and red meat, but the wine list is a clear afterthought — overpriced grocery store bottles with no story to tell. Order a pour from their whiskey program and save the wine night for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Fort Collins · Fort Collins · French-influenced bistro; seafood-focused
Bistro Nautile is a genuinely appealing restaurant let down by a wine list that plays it safe with familiar labels and then charges aggressively for the privilege. Drink by the glass, stick to the interesting outliers, and don't let the French bistro atmosphere talk you into a $68 bottle of Daou.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Fort Collins · Fort Collins · Casual Seafood Chain
Red Lobster isn't trying to be a wine destination and the list makes that abundantly clear — grab the Riesling, enjoy the biscuits, and don't come here expecting anything beyond the expected. If wine matters to your dinner, eat somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fort Collins · Fort Collins · Casual Italian-American chain
Olive Garden's wine list is a corporate afterthought — overpriced supermarket bottles with no rotation, no discovery, and no one behind the bar who's going to help you find something interesting. Order the Moscato, enjoy the breadsticks, and save your serious wine questions for literally anywhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fort Collins · Fort Collins · New American, Wood-Fired Pizza & Seasonal Cuisine
Restaurant 415 is a solid neighborhood dinner spot where the wine list does exactly what it needs to do without doing anything that would actually excite you. Come for the pizza and the happy hour pour, not for the bottle list.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Old Town · Fort Collins · Brewpub fare / American tavern food
CooperSmith's is a genuinely great Old Town brewpub, and if you're here for a pint of their award-winning craft beer, you're doing it right. The wine list exists because restaurants feel obligated to have one, not because anyone here cares about it — order a beer.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Plano · Plano · Southwestern
Blue Mesa Grill is worth a visit for the food, but the wine list is an afterthought — nine grocery-store bottles and a happy hour to make them feel less sad. Order a margarita and save your wine budget for somewhere that earned it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown · Colorado Springs · Southwestern
Four by Brother Luck isn't a wine destination, but it's running an honest, fair-priced list in a restaurant where the food is clearly the main event. Send a friend here for dinner and tell them to order the Barbera — they'll thank you.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Southwest Fort Worth · Fort Worth · Southwestern
Bonnell's runs one of the most thoughtful wine programs in Fort Worth — big enough to get lost in, focused enough to actually navigate, and staffed by people who can help you do both. If you're eating wild game or a serious steak in Texas, this is where you want to be drinking.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
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