Denver's steakhouse wine list earns its stripes
Downtown Denver · Denver · Steak House · Visit Website ↗
Updated November 2026
Reviewed April 7, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Guard and Grace’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list arrives with the same confidence as the soaring ceilings above you — big, bold, and clearly built to impress. At 400-600 selections, this isn't a list someone threw together; there's real intent here. California, France, and Italy anchor the program, and Wine Spectator handed them a Best of Award of Excellence in 2024, which tracks.
The California backbone is exactly what you'd expect from a serious steakhouse — Caymus, Silver Oak Alexander Valley, Jordan, Stag's Leap, Chateau Montelena, and Dominus Estate all show up, covering the spectrum from crowd-pleaser to collector's table. France punches hard with Château Lynch-Bages Pauillac holding it down for Bordeaux lovers who want old-world structure with their dry-aged ribeye. Italy brings genuine firepower: Gaja Barbaresco, Antinori Tignanello, and Sassicaia aren't afterthoughts — they're serious bottles that belong in this company. The list doesn't wander far outside these three regions, so if you're hunting for something from the Rhône, Iberia, or the Southern Hemisphere, you may come up short.
Twenty to thirty-five options by the glass is a generous pour program for a steakhouse, with prices running $14–$30 — respectable range that gives you a real decision to make before the bottle list even opens. The quality of what's available in that range aligns with the broader list's California-forward identity. No evidence of a rotating glass program or weekly by-the-glass features, which is a missed opportunity at this level.
Jordan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon — $60–$80 range
Jordan is the sleeper pick on a list full of headline names. It's consistently well-made, food-friendly, and comes in at a fraction of what Opus One or Dominus will cost you — and honestly holds its own at the dinner table.
Gaja Barbaresco
Most people coming to a Denver steakhouse are reaching for California Cab without a second thought. Gaja Barbaresco is a genuinely world-class Nebbiolo that matches the richness of red meat while bringing complexity the Napa crowd won't see coming. Worth every penny.
Opus One
Opus One is a beautiful wine, but at a restaurant with steep markups, you're paying a serious premium for a label that's already priced high at retail. The same money gets you bottles with more character and less logo tax on this very list.
Château Lynch-Bages Pauillac + Dry-aged prime ribeye
Lynch-Bages brings the classic Pauillac combination of black currant, cedar, and firm tannins — exactly what you want cutting through the fat and char of a dry-aged prime ribeye. It's a textbook match that doesn't feel tired because the wine is genuinely great.
The Bottom Line
Guard and Grace earns its Wine Spectator hardware with a deep, well-sourced list that takes California, France, and Italy seriously — this is one of the stronger wine programs on the Denver steakhouse circuit. Markups are steep, as expected, so come with a budget and a target bottle in mind.
· Denver · Steakhouse
STK Denver is a place where wine exists to support a vibe, not to excite a drinker. If you're here for the scene and the steak, grab a glass of Bonanza at happy hour and call it a night — but don't come expecting the wine list to be part of the experience.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Denver · Denver · American, Steakhouse
Range is a confident, well-kept steakhouse list that won't surprise you but absolutely won't let you down — especially if California Cabs are your language. Just come in with your eyes open on pricing, and let Dan steer you toward the Jordan.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Cherry Creek · Denver · American, Seafood
Salt Water Social plays it safe with wine but plays it well — California classics at fair prices, with a Wednesday half-price night that makes it a genuine weekly option. No one's discovering anything new here, but you won't be disappointed either.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Denver · Denver · Regional Steakhouse
Urban Farmer is a solid, no-drama wine stop for anyone who loves California Cab and wants a proper glass with a well-cooked steak. It won't surprise you, but it won't disappoint you either — and in Denver's steakhouse scene, that's worth something.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
LoDo · Denver · Mediterranean, Spanish
Rioja earned its Wine Spectator nod, and then some — a Spanish wine list this focused and this well-stocked is rare anywhere, let alone Denver. If Spain is your thing, or you want it to become your thing, this is the room.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Denver · Denver · Italian
Restaurant Olivia is the kind of neighborhood Italian spot that quietly holds a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and earns it without making a fuss about it. Send your friends who think Denver can't do wine right — this list will change the conversation.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Washington · Washington · Steak House
A 20-wine by-the-glass list with every pour between $14 and $30, split across four sparkling, six white, two rosé and eight red. With a steak, start with the $26 Clos Duval Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon or the $22 Monte Antico Supremus; for the cheapest glass, take the $14 Dr. Loosen Riesling. Pour sizes aren't posted and the page is undated, so confirm today's wines. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Chicago Loop · Chicago · Steak House
A Napa-leaning Cabernet list with a Library & Reserve section that reaches 3,098 and glass pours from $13.99 to $49.99. Start with the $15.99 Broadbent Cabernet by the glass, or the $41.99 Stag's Leap Artemis if the ribeye is on the table, and confirm current availability since the list does not guarantee vintages. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Union Square · San Francisco · Steak House
A glass list that does the steakhouse job: 36 pours, a tidy Napa Cabernet set and prices from $13. Order the $15 Beringer Cabernet with your steak, or the $14 Guado Al Tasso Vermentino if you are starting with seafood, and confirm availability since the page is undated and Morton's says pricing may vary. This unrated guide covers the posted glass list, not service, storage or markups.
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