Rick Bayless Does Wine Right, Too
River North · Chicago · Mexican · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 8, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Frontera Grill’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
A Mexican restaurant that actually cares about wine — and not just as an afterthought. The list runs 75-100 bottles deep with a clear point of view: celebrate Mexican and Latin American producers while keeping the door open for smart international picks.
This is where Frontera earns its Wild Card badge. You'll find Valle de Guadalupe bottles sitting next to Alsatian Pinot Blanc and Central Otago Pinot Noir — an eclectic mix that somehow makes sense. The Mexico-forward approach is refreshing in a city where most restaurants default to the same Napa-Sonoma-Burgundy playbook. Alsace gets proper respect with Gustave Lorentz and Kessler Riesling, both smart choices for the bold, chile-forward menu. The list skews approachable with most bottles landing in the $50-65 range, though there are some gaps in the mid-tier Old World categories.
Six glasses is lean, but they're thoughtfully chosen. The 2023 Gustave Lorentz Pinot Blanc ($14) and Kessler Riesling are textbook picks for Mexican food — crisp, aromatic, built to handle spice. The Valle de Guadalupe pour ($15) gives you a taste of Mexico's wine country without committing to a full bottle. At $13-16, the pricing is fair for downtown Chicago.
2020 Foxglove Zinfandel, Paso Robles — $50
A $50 Zin that can stand up to carne asada and mole without breaking the bank — exactly what you want here
Valle de Guadalupe, B.C., Mexico
Most diners skip Mexican wine entirely, but Baja's wine country is producing serious stuff — this is your chance to try it without flying to Ensenada
2017 Peregrine Pinot Noir, Central Otago
At $65, it's the priciest bottle by the glass and Pinot rarely plays nice with bold Mexican flavors — save your money
2023 Gustave Lorentz Pinot Blanc, Alsace + Ceviche
Alsatian whites were born for citrus and seafood — the wine's stony minerality and bright acidity cut through lime and chile like a dream
The Bottom Line
Rick Bayless clearly put thought into this list, and it shows. The Mexico-centric approach is bold and overdue, markups are fair, and there's enough range to keep things interesting. Would we send a friend here for wine? Absolutely — especially if they're tired of drinking the same old Chardonnay with tacos.
West Loop · Chicago · Californian
The Oakville Grill earns its Wine Spectator credential and the sommelier duo makes this list accessible, not intimidating. Wednesday half-price wine night alone is reason enough to get a reservation — just let go of the idea that anything other than California is on the agenda.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Lincoln Park · Chicago · American
John's is a neighborhood spot that punches well above its casual format — two sommeliers, a thoughtful France-and-California list, fair prices, and half-price bottles every Monday. Send your friends here, especially on a Monday.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
River North · Chicago · American, Seafood
Terrace 16 earns its Wine Spectator badge and delivers a respectable, California-and-France-focused list in one of Chicago's most dramatic dining rooms. Just don't expect to be surprised — the wine is as reliable as the skyline view, and nearly as expensive.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
River North · Chicago · French, Indian
Indienne is the Wild Card in the truest sense — a fusion kitchen with a genuinely considered wine program that earns its Wine Spectator nod. Yes, send a friend here for wine, but make sure they skip the Napa Cab and lead with Riesling.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
West Loop · Chicago · Steak house
BLVD Steakhouse doesn't reinvent the steakhouse wine list, but it executes the formula competently — solid producers, proper storage, and enough range to keep a table of Cab loyalists happy all night. Just go in with your eyes open on the markups and skip the trophy-bottle trap.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Magnificent Mile · Chicago · American
Adorn is a reliable, well-staffed wine program in a high-overhead setting — you're paying for the view and the address, but the list itself is legitimate. Send a friend here who wants solid French and California bottles without doing homework first.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Vail Village · Vail · Mexican
Los Amigos is a Vail institution built on margaritas, mountain vibes, and nachos — and it delivers all three with confidence. The wine list is clearly not the point, and if you order off it expecting more than a simple, overpriced pour to wash down your tacos, that's on you.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
13th Street area · Hood River · Mexican
Hood River Taqueria is here for the tacos and the margaritas, and that's completely fine — but the wine list is an afterthought and everyone involved knows it. Order the cocktails, leave the wine to restaurants that care.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Uptown Sedona · Sedona · Mexican
Oaxaca isn't a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — come for the rooftop patio, the margaritas, and the chile verde. But the list is priced fairly, the Torres and Ste. Michelle picks are dependable, and you won't regret a glass of Rioja with your enchiladas.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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