Plant-based pizza, big personality, modest pours
Downtown Las Cruces · Las Cruces · Cafe / Wine Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
A plant-based pizza spot and wine lounge sharing a zip code in downtown Las Cruces — that alone earns a second look. The list is short and the names are familiar, but the prices are honest and the vibe is genuinely welcoming. This is not a place trying to impress anyone; it's trying to make its community feel at home.
The list clocks in somewhere between 15 and 25 wines, with California and Italy doing most of the heavy lifting. You'll find La Marca Prosecco, Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay, A to Z Riesling, and Daou Sauvignon Blanc — reliable names that won't surprise anyone who's browsed a restaurant wine menu in the last decade. There's no deep regional exploration here, no natural wine rabbit hole, no skin-contact wild card hiding at the bottom of the page. What you do get is a list that's easy to navigate and priced without hostility, which counts for something in a town where wine options are slim.
Roughly 10 to 15 wines pour by the glass, which is a generous ratio for a list this size — essentially the whole cellar is open to you one glass at a time. Prices run $8 to $10 a glass, which is a refreshing change from the $16-for-a-Pinot-Grigio tax you pay elsewhere. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority, but at these prices, it's hard to complain.
La Marca Prosecco — $9/glass, $28/bottle
La Marca is a legitimately crowd-pleasing Prosecco and $28 a bottle is a fair ask. It's the kind of thing you can order a second glass of without doing math in your head.
A to Z Riesling
Most people at a casual lounge skip right past Riesling without a second thought, which is a mistake. A to Z makes a clean, food-friendly Oregon Riesling that holds its own against anything on this list — especially next to a slice of plant-based pizza with some heat to it.
Daou Sauvignon Blanc
At $38 a bottle it sticks out like a sore thumb on a list where everything else sits in the $26-$32 range. Daou makes decent wine but Sauvignon Blanc at that price point here is a tough sell when you could spend $10 less and drink just as well.
A to Z Riesling + Plant-based pizza
Riesling's natural acidity and hint of sweetness cuts through rich, cheesy toppings and plays well with any spice in the sauce. It's the kind of pairing that makes you wonder why you ever ordered Chardonnay with pizza.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Grounded is a genuinely charming neighborhood spot that happens to serve wine — don't come expecting a curated cellar, but do come expecting fair prices and a room full of people who are happy to be there. If you're in Las Cruces and want a glass of something approachable with your plant-based pie, this delivers.
Telshor / East Las Cruces · Las Cruces · Italian
Mi Piaci isn't a wine destination, but it's a reliable neighborhood Italian with a list that won't let you down if you know what to order. Grab the Chianti, seriously consider the Amarone, and save room for the tiramisu.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Telshor / East Las Cruces · Las Cruces · Mexican and New Mexican
For a hotel cantina in Las Cruces, this list earns genuine respect by putting New Mexico producers front and center instead of hiding behind safe California imports. If you're anywhere near Hatch chile country and haven't tried Gruet with your enchiladas, Garduños is a reasonable place to fix that.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Telshor / East Las Cruces · Las Cruces · New Mexican / Southwestern
Ristra isn't going to blow any wine obsessives away, but for a hotel restaurant in Las Cruces it's doing something genuinely worthwhile — championing local producers on a list that could have easily gone full lazy-California. Come for the green chile, order the Gruet, and leave more impressed with New Mexico wine than you expected to be.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Telshor / East Las Cruces · Las Cruces · Steakhouse and Seafood
Cattle Baron isn't where you go to geek out on wine, but if you're in Las Cruces and you want a decent glass with a well-cooked steak, it delivers exactly that. Send a friend here for the beef; just don't tell them to splurge on the Caymus.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Mesilla · Las Cruces · Bar / Wine-Friendly
La Posta is worth visiting for the history, the atmosphere, and absolutely the margaritas — but the wine list is a placeholder, not a program. Come here for the experience, drink the cocktails, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that's earned it.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Telshor · Las Cruces · Italian
The wine list at Olive Garden Las Cruces is a corporate formality, not a feature — overpriced for what it is, with zero ambition and zero discovery. Order the breadsticks, order the Chianti if you must, but don't come here expecting anything from the wine program.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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