Aspen's Wine Cellar Flexes Without Apology
Aspen · Aspen · American
Reviewed April 5, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Element 47 lands with the quiet confidence of someone who knows exactly what they have. It's thick, it's serious, and it covers Burgundy, Bordeaux, California, Rhône, Italy, and Champagne with the kind of depth that makes you want to cancel your next three dinner reservations and just stay here. This is a Grand Award list — has been since 1997 — and it shows on every page.
With somewhere between 1,200 and 1,800 selections, this is not a wine list you browse casually over bread service. Burgundy is the crown jewel: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Henri Jayer Vosne-Romanée, Armand Rousseau Chambertin, and Leroy Musigny all appear, which means the cellar has receipts going back decades. Bordeaux is equally stacked — Château Pétrus and Château Le Pin are present for those with both the budget and the occasion to justify them. California gets serious representation too, with Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate, Bond Estates, and Opus One covering the collector's wishlist, while Italy shows up strong via Giacomo Conterno Barolo Monfortino and Sassicaia. Champagne lovers should look hard at Krug Clos du Mesnil and Salon Blanc de Blancs before defaulting to the obvious stuff.
Twenty to thirty-five options by the glass is a real program, not an afterthought. The range means you can eat a full dinner here and drink well without committing to a bottle — which, given the price points on the deep cuts, is a legitimate strategy. We'd expect the glass pours to rotate with the cellar and the season, though there's no indication of a formal rotation program.
Opus One — $80+
In the context of a list where Pétrus and DRC set the ceiling, Opus One is practically a floor-level entry point. It's a recognizable, well-made Napa-Bordeaux blend that drinks above its weight in this room, and it won't require a second mortgage.
Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Most people at a table next to a DRC bottle aren't reaching for Grenache from the southern Rhône — and that's their loss. Rayas is one of the most singular wines made anywhere in France, and it tends to get overlooked here when the Burgundy column is doing its gravitational thing.
Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon
It's iconic, it's California, and it is absolutely priced accordingly at a luxury Aspen resort. You're paying for the name as much as the wine, and at these markups, there are better ways to spend that money in this very same cellar.
E. Guigal La Landonne + Roast Duck
La Landonne is a single-vineyard Côte-Rôtie — inky, smoky, and built on Syrah with just enough northern Rhône iron to cut through duck fat without flinching. It's the kind of match that makes you put your fork down just to think about it.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Element 47 is the real deal — a proper wine destination wearing the clothes of a hotel restaurant. If you're in Aspen and serious about what's in your glass, this is where you go.
Aspen · Aspen · American
Cloud Nine is a trophy-list restaurant in a trophy-list town, and it earns its Wild Card badge for keeping things interesting with a real sommelier, a legitimate French focus, and a Tuesday half-price program that's practically criminal at this level. If you're not dining on Tuesday, go in with eyes open on price — but go in.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Aspen · Aspen · Mediterranean
The Wild Fig is the kind of French-focused wine list you don't expect to find tucked into a Mediterranean spot in Aspen, and that element of surprise is exactly what earns it the Wild Card. Markups can sting, but Ben Brennan knows his list and the Southern French selections give you real value if you know where to look.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Aspen · Aspen · Steak House
The Monarch is the real deal for a special-occasion steakhouse wine experience in the Rockies — Ryan Brown's list has genuine depth and the chops to back it up. Prices are Aspen prices, so come prepared, but you're getting a Wine Spectator-caliber program to match every dollar you spend.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Aspen · Aspen · American Steakhouse
Steakhouse No. 316 is one of the few places in Aspen where the wine list is genuinely as impressive as the room — deep on Burgundy and California, staffed by someone who actually knows what's on the shelves, and worthy of the Best of Award of Excellence hanging on the wall. Yes, it's Aspen prices, but you're getting Aspen quality to match.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Aspen · Aspen · American
Prospect isn't coasting on Aspen's wine budget or its Wine Spectator badge — Claire Crosby has put together a list that would hold up in any serious food city. Markups are what they are in a ski resort, but the depth and range here are the real thing.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Aspen · Aspen · American
PARC earned that Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence honestly — this is a serious list run by someone who knows what they're doing, in a room that actually deserves it. Yes, Aspen markups are real, but the depth of selection and the quality of guidance from Alexandra Bisson make this worth every dollar for the right bottle.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
CityPlace · West Palm Beach · American
RH Rooftop is a great place to drink wine you already know in a room that photographs extremely well — just don't come expecting to discover anything. If you're a guest who wants reliability and a gorgeous sunset view, this delivers; if you're chasing depth or value, this list isn't going to find you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Northwood / near downtown · West Palm Beach · American
Table 26 punches above its neighborhood weight with a list that has real ambition and a happy hour program that's one of the best deals in South Florida. The markup on the trophy tier is aggressive, but if you drink smart — and especially if you show up before 6 PM — this place absolutely delivers.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
South End / near The Breakers · West Palm Beach · American
Henry's isn't a wine destination, but it's not pretending to be one either — the list is familiar, the markups are fairer than you'd expect from a Breakers property, and the flight program gives you a reason to explore. Send your friends here for dinner without worrying they'll get gouged on wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.